Total Complaints
168 filings
DODGE RAM 3500 · model year
168 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001DODGERAM 3500 carries 168 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 4 fires, 21 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 RAM 3500 is structure with 23 filings, followed by steering (11) and fuel system, diesel (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2001 RAM 3500, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
168 filings
Crashes Reported
15 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 23 |
| STEERING | 11 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 8 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 6 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| SUSPENSION | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 5 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
| TIRES | 5 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 4 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 3 |
AIR BAGS
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 NORT
AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH AND AS SEMI TRUCKS PASS ME THIS ROADTREK 190 VERILITE DODGE RAM 3500 UNCONTROLABLY MOVE A FOOT TO 2 FEET TOWARD THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD WHICH I FEAR COULD CAUSE A HEAD ON COLLISION. I HAVE TRIED VARIOUS TIRE PRESSURES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS. I BASICALLY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES AND EXCELLENT TREAD ON TIRES.
Mileage: 30,000
THE DASHBOARD HAS CRUMPLED UP AND CAVE IN THE PLASTIC HAS DETERIORATED ALSO RUST HAS DEVELOPED UNDER THE DOORS AN UNDERBODY
Mileage: 76,000
MY TRUCK WAS IN PARK BUT STILL RUNNING. I GOT OUT TO SHUT THE GATE AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO ACCELERATE BACKWARDS, ROLLING THROUGH MY GATE, KNOCKING DOWN PART OF A NEIGHBOR'S FENCE, OVER TWO CEMENT PARKING STOPS AND INTO A TREE. WHEN I GOT TO THE TRUCK, IT WAS STILL RUNNING AND STILL IN PARK.
Mileage: 155,000
MY DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART. THERE ARE PIECES OF PLASTIC EVERYWHERE INCLUDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE AIRBAG, WHICH WOULD QUITE LITERALLY TURN INTO FLYING DEATH PARTICLES IF THE AIRBAG EVER WENT OFF, COMPLETELY DEFEATING THE PURPOSE OF THE AIRBAG. THIS REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL ISUE AS IT HAS QUITE A BIG IMPACT ON SAFETY OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WITH BRITTLE PLASTIC SHARDS FLYING EVERYWHERE. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE, IT'S HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS, AND I EVEN KEEP A DASH COVER ON IT SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. THE PLASTIC IS JUST SIMPLY POOR QUALITY, IT'S NOT FROM SUN FADING, OR ANYTHING ELSE.
Mileage: 300,000
MY DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART. THERE ARE PIECES OF PLASTIC EVERYWHERE INCLUDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE AIRBAG, WHICH WOULD QUITE LITERALLY TURN INTO FLYING DEATH PARTICLES IF THE AIRBAG EVER WENT OFF, COMPLETELY DEFEATING THE PURPOSE OF THE AIRBAG. THIS REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL ISUE AS IT HAS QUITE A BIG IMPACT ON SAFETY OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WITH BRITTLE PLASTIC SHARDS FLYING EVERYWHERE. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE, IT'S HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS, AND I EVEN KEEP A DASH COVER ON IT SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. THE PLASTIC IS JUST SIMPLY POOR QUALITY, IT'S NOT FROM SUN FADING, OR ANYTHING ELSE.
Mileage: 300,000
PLASTIC DASH IS CRACKING AND LOOSE SHARP PIECES HAVE BEEN COMING OFF INTO THE CABIN
Mileage: 90,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH MUD TERRAIN T/A KM2 (NA) TIRES, SIZE: LT255/85R16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 300,000
THE DASH ON THIS TRUCK HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN IN, EXPOSING THE WIRING INSIDE THE DASH TO THE SUN. THE WIRING INSULATION IS NOT RATED FOR EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT (UV EXPOSURE) AND IS DECOMPOSING, PUTTING THE TRUCK AT RISK OF A FIRE INITIATING INSIDE THE CAB AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXPOSED WIRING SHORTING TO GROUND. DODGE REFUSES TO REMEDY IT, DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE, YET THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED CHRYSLER/FIAT INTO A RECALL, CLAIMING THAT IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. DO YOU NEED TO SEE DEATH BEFORE YOU ACT?
Mileage: 72,000
THE DASH ON THIS TRUCK HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN IN, EXPOSING THE WIRING INSIDE THE DASH TO THE SUN. THE WIRING INSULATION IS NOT RATED FOR EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT (UV EXPOSURE) AND IS DECOMPOSING, PUTTING THE TRUCK AT RISK OF A FIRE INITIATING INSIDE THE CAB AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXPOSED WIRING SHORTING TO GROUND. DODGE REFUSES TO REMEDY IT, DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE, YET THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED CHRYSLER/FIAT INTO A RECALL, CLAIMING THAT IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. DO YOU NEED TO SEE DEATH BEFORE YOU ACT?
Mileage: 72,000
THE DASH ON THIS TRUCK HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN IN, EXPOSING THE WIRING INSIDE THE DASH TO THE SUN. THE WIRING INSULATION IS NOT RATED FOR EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT (UV EXPOSURE) AND IS DECOMPOSING, PUTTING THE TRUCK AT RISK OF A FIRE INITIATING INSIDE THE CAB AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXPOSED WIRING SHORTING TO GROUND. DODGE REFUSES TO REMEDY IT, DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE, YET THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED CHRYSLER/FIAT INTO A RECALL, CLAIMING THAT IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. DO YOU NEED TO SEE DEATH BEFORE YOU ACT?
Mileage: 72,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ *CN
Mileage: 75,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ *CN
Mileage: 75,000
I TRY TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE ON MY 2001 DODGE RAM 3500 .AND WHEN THE MECHANIC START TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD THIS START TO FALLING IN PARTS .SO HE TRY TO PUT THOSE PARTS BACK UNTIL HE EXPLAIN ME WHAT HAPPEN .I TRY TO FIND AN AFTERMARKET DASH AND PEOPLE ON THE STORE LET ME KNOW .THEY BELIEVE IT'S A OPEN RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE DASH ON ALL MODELS ON RAM .SO I CALL TO NORTHWEST DODGE ON HOUSTON TEXAS AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO ..FOR THAT REASON THEY CAN'T FIXED .AFTER A RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FIND THIS PLACE TO FILE A COMPLAINT.BECAUSE FOR ME IT'S DANGEROUS HAVE A DASHBOARD CRACKED WITH A SHARP PIECES .MY DASH COVER FALLS IN AROUND 20 PCS .AND THE BASE OF THE WHOLE DASH IN SEVERAL CRACKED PIECES ..AND CAN'T REPLACE MY HEATER CORE ..UNTIL I HAVE THE DASHBOARD. *TR
I TRY TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE ON MY 2001 DODGE RAM 3500 .AND WHEN THE MECHANIC START TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD THIS START TO FALLING IN PARTS .SO HE TRY TO PUT THOSE PARTS BACK UNTIL HE EXPLAIN ME WHAT HAPPEN .I TRY TO FIND AN AFTERMARKET DASH AND PEOPLE ON THE STORE LET ME KNOW .THEY BELIEVE IT'S A OPEN RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE DASH ON ALL MODELS ON RAM .SO I CALL TO NORTHWEST DODGE ON HOUSTON TEXAS AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO ..FOR THAT REASON THEY CAN'T FIXED .AFTER A RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FIND THIS PLACE TO FILE A COMPLAINT.BECAUSE FOR ME IT'S DANGEROUS HAVE A DASHBOARD CRACKED WITH A SHARP PIECES .MY DASH COVER FALLS IN AROUND 20 PCS .AND THE BASE OF THE WHOLE DASH IN SEVERAL CRACKED PIECES ..AND CAN'T REPLACE MY HEATER CORE ..UNTIL I HAVE THE DASHBOARD. *TR
I TRY TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE ON MY 2001 DODGE RAM 3500 .AND WHEN THE MECHANIC START TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD THIS START TO FALLING IN PARTS .SO HE TRY TO PUT THOSE PARTS BACK UNTIL HE EXPLAIN ME WHAT HAPPEN .I TRY TO FIND AN AFTERMARKET DASH AND PEOPLE ON THE STORE LET ME KNOW .THEY BELIEVE IT'S A OPEN RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE DASH ON ALL MODELS ON RAM .SO I CALL TO NORTHWEST DODGE ON HOUSTON TEXAS AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO ..FOR THAT REASON THEY CAN'T FIXED .AFTER A RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FIND THIS PLACE TO FILE A COMPLAINT.BECAUSE FOR ME IT'S DANGEROUS HAVE A DASHBOARD CRACKED WITH A SHARP PIECES .MY DASH COVER FALLS IN AROUND 20 PCS .AND THE BASE OF THE WHOLE DASH IN SEVERAL CRACKED PIECES ..AND CAN'T REPLACE MY HEATER CORE ..UNTIL I HAVE THE DASHBOARD. *TR
DRIVING 55MPH, BFG CMM TA TIRE SEPARATION AT TREAD BELT EDGE. STILL HAVE TIRE. *TR
Mileage: 118,700
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE PLASTIC WAS WARPED AND CAVED INTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND COMPONENTS INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ALSO LOW AND THE CONTACT HAD ATTEMPT TO USE THE DIMMER TO NO AVAIL. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE DASHBOARD COULD BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000
Mileage: 87,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE PLASTIC WAS WARPED AND CAVED INTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND COMPONENTS INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ALSO LOW AND THE CONTACT HAD ATTEMPT TO USE THE DIMMER TO NO AVAIL. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE DASHBOARD COULD BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000
Mileage: 87,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE PLASTIC WAS WARPED AND CAVED INTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND COMPONENTS INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ALSO LOW AND THE CONTACT HAD ATTEMPT TO USE THE DIMMER TO NO AVAIL. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE DASHBOARD COULD BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000
Mileage: 87,000
2001 DODGE RAM 3500 DASHBOARD FAILURE!! DASH STARTED GETTING LARGE CRACKS IN IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, NOW I REMOVED IT TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AND THE DASH FELL APART INTO, LITERALLY 22 PIECES. AFTER TRYING TO FIND ONE I GO TO REALIZE THIS IS A COMMON AND MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND AFTER PHONE CALLS TO THE DODGE DEALER AND TO DODGE THEMSELVES THEY DO NOT CARE NOR DO THEY WANT TO HELP AND GOOD LUCK AFFORDING A NEW ONE. ONLY THING I CAN FIND THAT IS REASONABLY PRICED IS A DASH `COVER` BUT I DO NOT EVEN HAVE ENOUGH LARGE PIECES OF DASH TO REINSTALL TO EVEN COVER IT. *TR
Mileage: 151,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.