2000 Dodge RAM 2500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
210 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 121 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 210 complaints (21.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 42 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 36 | 17.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 6.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 5.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure | 44 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Suspension | 8 |
Structure: 44; Steering: 18; Unknown Or Other: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10; Structure:Body: 10; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Suspension: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 89 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 23 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 21; 2001: 10; 2002: 23; 2003: 17; 2004: 20; 2005: 12; 2006: 12; 2007: 13; 2008: 18; 2009: 8; 2010: 14; 2011: 13; 2012: 4; 2013: 5; 2014: 4; 2015: 7; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000044 · 2002-12-14 (December 14, 2002)
ABS FAILURE AT SPEED OF NO MORE THAN 35 M.P.H. STOPPING DISTANCE WAS SUFFICIENT FOR SPEED BUT, UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEY IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SLIDE.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,688 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000261 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
2000 DODGE 2500 DIESEL TRUCK - TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT SIX TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, INCLUDING ONCE WHILE PULLING A 30 FT. CAMPER. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL ON A WET ROAD ON A HILL IN PA. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY PARTS BECAUSE NO CODES SHOW UP WHEN IS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AFTER LEAVING THE ENGINE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT HAS NOT FAILED NEAR ENOUGH TO HOME AND WHEN THE DEALER WAS OPEN. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000261 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003754 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES HAD FRONT END COLLISION AT 30MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005043 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
I PURCHASED A USED 2000 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 A FEW WEEKS AGO. SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP IT HAS BECOME EXTREMELY CLEAR TO ME THAT THE STEERING QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY POOR. THE TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND REQUIRES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CORRECTIONS. I HAVE HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I HAVE LET OTHERS TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THEY ALL ASK WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007999 · 2003-02-22 (February 22, 2003)
LOOSE STEERING CANT BE FIXED, LIES AND DECEPTION BY CHRYSLER AND THEY ALWAYS SAY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK AT WWW.DODGETRUCKSTEERINGPROBLEMS.COM AND HELP US
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008809 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE REAR AXLE ONTO THE BRAKES WHICH WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE SEAL. THE OIL SATURATED THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THEM TO LOCK UP WHEN APPLIED.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014369 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
FRONT END/STEERING PROBLEMS. WHENEVER I HIT A LARGE BUMP IN THE ROAD, MY 2000 DODGE RAM 2500 JUST ABOUT WANDERS OFF OF THE ROAD. IT SEEMS AS A LARGE VIBRATION OF SOME SORT IS TAKES OVER THE STEERING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015233 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE BRAKE PADS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015233 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V153000 · Air Bags
Reported: 2001-05-08 (May 8, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT ("J" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 19, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; LAGO ALBERTO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("M" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; AND SALTILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("G" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000. IMPORTANT: VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROPER CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL.
Consequence: WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 2001. ALSO SOME 1997-200 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA campaign record ↗