U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Dodge RAM 1500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,112 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 740 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 483 of 1,112 complaints (43.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	144	12.9%
Braking behavior	88	7.9%
Steering behavior	77	6.9%
Transmission and shifting	71	6.4%
Fuel system concerns	14	1.3%
Engine operation	10	0.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure

483

Unknown Or Other

113

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Electrical System

Structure:Body

Air Bags

Air Bags:Frontal

Steering

Structure: 483; Unknown Or Other: 113; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 58; Electrical System: 53; Structure:Body: 46; Air Bags: 44; Air Bags:Frontal: 38; Steering: 26

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

141

50,000 to 74,999

200

75,000 to 99,999

165

100,000 to 149,999

129

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 49; 25,000 to 49,999: 141; 50,000 to 74,999: 200; 75,000 to 99,999: 165; 100,000 to 149,999: 129; 150,000 and above: 56

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (200). 372 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

166

2008

124

2009

104

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2000: 4; 2001: 42; 2002: 55; 2003: 60; 2004: 77; 2005: 66; 2006: 59; 2007: 166; 2008: 124; 2009: 104; 2010: 99; 2011: 64; 2012: 40; 2013: 26; 2014: 34; 2015: 23; 2016: 17; 2017: 12; 2018: 18; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Structure leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 144 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 88 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 77 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10037441 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)

1998-2001 B-VAN (DODGE FULL SIZE). THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS PROTECTED WITH A 40 AMP FUSE. A 10 GA. WIRE COMES OUT OF THE CONTROL MODULE, THEN THIS 10 GA. WIRE "Y'S" OUT TO TWO 14 GA. WIRES. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE ABS PUMP OR THE RELAY STICKS ON THESE VANS. THEN ONE OF THE 14 GA. WIRES OVERHEATS AND CATCHES THE WIRING HARNESS ON FIRE. THE 40 AMP FUSE DOES NOT BLOW. THE FIRE THEN CONTINUES UNTIL THE VAN IS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THIS VAN WAS BOUGHT BACK FROM US BY CHRYSLER CORP. IN 2002. THE OFFICIAL FIRE INVESTIGATION REPORTS CONDUCTED BY …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,867 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037441 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057068 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)

THE WIRING HARNESS ON THIS YEAR MODEL HAS AN INSUFFICIENT GROUND WHICH LEADS TO A SHORT IN THE HARNESS. THIS IN TURN CAUSES MULTIPLE PROBLEMS,SUCH AS THE TRUCKS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND OR CATCHING ON FIRE COMPLETELY. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057068 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004620 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TS CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKES MAY HAVE LOCKED UP.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004620 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005408 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

REAR BRAKES LOCKING UP. ABS OPTION INSTALLED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005408 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015675 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)

FRONT WHEELS TURNING FAR ENOUGH MAKING CONTACT WITH LOWER CONTROL ARM. WHICH CAUSED EXTREME WEAR ON THE TIRE CUTTING THE GROOVE IN THE SIDEWALL APPROVIAMATELY 1 1/2 INCHES FROM THE TIRE BEAD. THE DEALER STAED THAT THE TURNING STOPS IN THE STEERING BOX WERE WORN AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MR SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015675 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018149 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING THE STEERING GEAR WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR.DEALER NOTIFIED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018149 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003083 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE RAM WITH 23,600 MILES ON IT. TWO WEEKS AGO THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED 2 HOURS FORM MY HOUSE. IT LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A TRUCK LOAD OF HUNTING GEAR. OF COURSE IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. DIAMLER CHRYSLER COULD CARE LESS THAT IT WAS 9PM AND I HAD NO WAY HOME. THE DEALER IN ANNAPOLIS REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION - THEY CLAIMED THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. 3 DAYS AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL AGAIN. NOW ITS AT LEESBUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003083 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021339 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)

PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY, THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. IT STARTED BACK, BUT SEEMED TO HESITATE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO HESITATE. I ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TOOK A "TEST DRIVE" IN THE DRIVEWAY TO SEE IF IT CONTINUED TO HESITATE. IT DID NOT, BUT I NOTICED FLUID LEAKING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK (THE TRANSMISSION FLUID I HAD JUST PUT IN). I HAD TO CALL A ROLL-BACK TO TOW IT TO A MECHANIC. HE SAID IT TOOK HIM A DAY AND A HALF JUST TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION. HE NOTICED METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISS…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021339 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088397 · 2004-08-23 (August 23, 2004)

THE IN-TANK, ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILED IN MY 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP TRUCK. THE CONNECTOR AND WIRING ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WAS BURNED AS WAS WIRING IN THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. CHRYSLER IS REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP AND REPAIRING THE WIRING. HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED NO WARRANTY COVERAGE AND NO COVERAGE OF THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE PUMP FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088397 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10255080 · 2009-01-14 (January 14, 2009)

THERE IS A FUEL LINE LEAK ON MY TRUCK, 2001 DODGE RAM 1500, 5.9 LITER ENGINE, VIN (REMOVED). THE LINE CONNECTS THE TWO FUEL INJECTOR RAILS. IT IS INSTALLED WITH A BEND AND AT THE APEX IT FAILED . I CAUGHT IT THE FIRST TIME AND PURCHASED SOME HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE AND REPLACED IT. WHEN IT FAILED THE SECOND TIME I WAS IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC. BY THE TIME I COULD GET TO A SAFE PLACE I PROBABLY PUMPED GALLONS OF GAS ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS THAT BAD UNTIL I GOT OUT AND INSPECTED IT VISUALLY. I JUST HEARD THE HISSING S…

Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255080 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001141 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)

CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIME AT ANY SPEED DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDED FURTHER. TS *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001141 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10081789 · 2004-07-13 (July 13, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY REVVED AT EXTREMELY AT HIGH RPMS. THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE 2001. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS OF FIXING THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081789 at NHTSA ↗