DODGE RAM PICKUP · model year

2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP

21 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001DODGERAM PICKUP carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 5 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 PICKUP is structure with 6 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (2) and power train:automatic transmission (2). 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.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2001 RAM PICKUP. 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.

21
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

21 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER1
STEERING1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SERVICE BRAKES1

Recent Complaints

20120619SERVICE BRAKES

REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW AT 142000 MILES, FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE BLEW AT 143000 MILES, DODGE SHOULD HAVE USED SOME KIND OF ANTI-CORROSION LINES, ALL THE BRAKE LINES ON MY TRUCK ARE VERY RUSTY, LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN SUBMERGED IN SEA WATER. GOOGLE THE PROBLEM, EVERYONE HAS IT. DODGE SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. LUCKY FOR ME BOTH TIMES I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO STOP AND NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I NOW WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AS THIS IS THE 2ND SUCH INCIDENT AND LOOKING AT THE BRAKE LINES, I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM. SHAME ON DODGE FOR PUTTING OUT SUCH A SUBSTANDARD PRODUCT. *JS

Mileage: 142,000

20120505STRUCTURE

MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK ABOUT A YEAR AGO SO I PURCHASED AN AFTERMARKET COVER. IT DID NOT STOP THE CRACKING AND NOW THE TOP OF THE DASH HAS SHATTERED AND IN DANGER OF COLLAPSING. MY CONCERN IS THERE ARE MULTIPLE SHARP AND POINTED PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL INJURY IN A CRASH, PARTICULARLY IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

20110823UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD ON MY TRUCK IS CRACKED IN TWO OR THREE PLACES. DON'T REMEMBER WHEN IT HAPPEN BUT HAVE HEARD A LOT OF OTHER TRUCKS OR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I KNEW THE WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT SO I DIDN'T FIGURE ANYONE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT.

20110122STRUCTURE

I PURCHASED MY 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 USED WITH A CRACKED DASH. THE ORIGINAL OWNER STATED IT CRACKED THE SECOND YEAR HE OWNED IT WITH ONLY APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. IT HAPPENS ON ALMOST EVERY DODGE RAM TRUCK MANUFACTURED FROM 1998-2006 AND THERE ARE MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS FILED ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH EVERY CONCEIVABLE REGULATING AGENCY. NOTHING TO DATE HAS BEEN DONE! THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE REGULATING AGENCIES HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS!! I HAVE ALREADY HAD PIECES OF THE DASH FLY INTO MY EYE WHILE DRIVING! WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN OR THE DEFROST IS IN OPERATION, SMALL PARTICLES FLY OFF AND INTO YOUR EYES CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION!!! DODGE WILL DO NOTHING UNLESS ORDERED TO BY A REGULATING AGENCY--THEY ARE ALL ABOUT PROFITS OVER SAFETY!!! THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO FILE THESE COMPLAINTS OR ACT UPON THEM SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED SOLELY ON THE NUMBER OF "PERSONA

Mileage: 33,000

20100716STRUCTURE

2001 DODGE RAM DASHBOARD FALLING APART. EXPOSING WIRING TO SUN, AND HAS POTENTIAL TO DAMAGE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND DODGE MANUFACTURER NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, OR POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20090908STRUCTURE

MY 2001 DODGE RAM PICK-UP DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART. THAT INCREASES THE ODDS OF POSSIBLE SHOCK OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE OR FIRE HAZARD, IF IT GETS WET OR DAMAGED DUE TO EXPOSURE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND A RECALL IS NECESSARY. *TR

Mileage: 44,000

20080811STRUCTURE

DASH IS FALLING IN,CRACKING, CAUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR DAMAGE OR CUTS TO USERS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

20070816STRUCTURE

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN LATE 2005 USED IN FT WALTON BEACH FL. IT HAD APPROX 47000 MILES ON IT. NO CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. IN MID-06 CRACKS APPEARED ALMOST OVER NIGHT. NOW IT IS CRACKED IN NUMEROUS PLACES AND A PIECE OF THE DASH FELL IN. *JB

Mileage: 62,000

20040812STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE FRONT DOORS LOWER STRIKER PLATE WAS LOOSE. THIS CAUSED THE DOORS TO RATTLE AND NOT TO SHUT PROPERLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DOOR FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE STRIKERS WERE TIGHTENED BUT FAILURE STILL CONTINUED. AT 38,194 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING FOLLOWED BY A WINNING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT.

Mileage: 9,091

20040812POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE FRONT DOORS LOWER STRIKER PLATE WAS LOOSE. THIS CAUSED THE DOORS TO RATTLE AND NOT TO SHUT PROPERLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DOOR FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE STRIKERS WERE TIGHTENED BUT FAILURE STILL CONTINUED. AT 38,194 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING FOLLOWED BY A WINNING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT.

Mileage: 9,091

20040707CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SPRAINED A FOOT, BROKE A WRIST,2 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED HEAD LACERATIONS. *AK *SC *JB

20040618FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

2001 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL TRUCK. THERE HAVE BEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEMS ON THESE TRUCKS. DODGE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE BAD DESIGN OF THE FUEL PUMPS. MY TRUCK LIKE OTHERS HAS RUN VERY WELL, BUT THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ACT UP WHEN I WOULD GET TO 1/4 OF TANK LEFT IN DIESEL. THE FUEL GAUGES HAVE BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THESE TRUCKS AS IT BEGINS TO MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY INCORRECT FUEL AMOUNTS. WHICH IN A DIESEL IF YOUR RUN OUT OF FUEL YOU BEGIN TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN ON THE 2000-2002 DIESELS WAS CHANGED TO A ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THIS NEW DESIGN OF PUMP SYSTEM WHICH CONSITS OF THE LIFT PUMP AND THE INJECTOR PUMP, HAS NOT BEEN VERY RELIEBLE. THE MECHANIC WHICH HAS WORKED ON MY TRUCK HAS STATED THAT THIER IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM ON THESE TRUCKS AND A RECALL IS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. A INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD (HTTP://WWW.TURBODIESELREGISTER.COM/) HAS ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AN

Mileage: 140,100

20040107VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS WERE VERY LOOSE. THE CONSUMER TRIED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO TIGHTEN THEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK *JB

Mileage: 50,000

20031103STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH HOOD SECONDARY LATCH FAILED TO HOLD THE HOOD. AS A RESULT THE HOOD FLEW OPEN, AND OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VIEW. RECALL 97V095000 DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 27,527

20030819POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED IT DOES NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE MAINTAINS A CONSTANT SPEED AND THE BRAKES DO NOT ADEQUATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS TO STOP ON ITS OWN. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED TWICE AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HAS WORN OUT. *AK THE DANGER IN PARKING AND STOPPING. THERE WAS A LOST OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE DANGER OCCURRED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR, THE COMPUTER FED THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, WHEN THE VEHICLE NEARLY SURGED FORWARD. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 38,670

20030718STEERING

THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, IT REQUIRED CONSTANT CORRECTION AT ALL SPEEDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK *JB

Mileage: 31,975

20030501SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

CALIPER PIN PENETRATION CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO TEAR AND DAMAGE TO THE RIM. *NLM

Mileage: 15,000

20030429POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE SHIFTING THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. UPON INSPECTION METAL SHAVING WERE FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN. *NLM

Mileage: 60,000

20021105STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAB FELL ONTO THE FRAME RAIL. THE BODY AROUND THE FRONT CAB MOUNT HAD CRACKED AND BROKE. WHICH RESULTING IN THE CAB DISCONNECTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

20020806AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON FRONTAL IMPACT. NLM

Compare 2001DODGERAM PICKUP to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP have?
The 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP has 21 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP?
The most-complained component for the 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP is STRUCTURE with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.