2001 Dodge RAM 1500

The contact owned a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while exiting a parking lot and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal floored, causing the contact to roll to a stop on the side of the road. The ABS and Brake Warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to drive at 2 MPH to their home. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the brake line had blown and replaced it where it had failed. Approximately 6 months later, the ABS and brake warning lights illuminated again. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed no leaks. When restarting the vehicle, the warning lights were no longer illuminated. While driving at an unknown speed, the ABS and brake lights illuminated again. The vehicle was taken to Meineke Car Care Center to a certified mechanic. The following morning, the lights were not illuminated. The vehicle was returned to Meineke Car Care Center, who stated that it may have been a computer glitch causing the lights to illuminate, then turn off when the vehicle was restarted. The contact had the brakes replaced as routine maintenance; however, after doing so, while driving in the rain at approximately 25 mph and attempting to apply the brakes, the brakes failed, causing the vehicle to rear-end the vehicle in front. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain injuries or require medical attention. The contact assumed the other driver had injuries, but could not confirm. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive at a slow speed to their home. The ABS and Brake lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to Meineke Car Care Center, where it was diagnosed that the other brake line had blown. The front end and brake line, which had blown was repaired. After the vehicle had been repaired, when coming to a stoplight, the failure occurred again, causing the vehicle to crash a second time. There were no injuries, air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact drove the vehicle to Meineke Car Care Center, who was

LEAVING A GAS STATION, I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO MOVE INTO TO DRIVE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE NEXT TO THE GARAGE/MECHANIC I USE AND DROVE IT INTO HIS LOT. THEY ARE FIXING IT TODAY. I WAS VERY LUCKY I HAD TO STOP FOR GAS AT THAT TIME AND THIS FAILURE DIDN'T HAPPEN AT AN INTERSECTION. I HAVE HAD MANY VEHICLES OVER MY THIRTY YEARS OF DRIVING AND HAVE NEVER HAD A BRAKE LINE "RUST" AND FAIL LIKE THIS. *TR

THE BRAKE LINE HAS FAILED. THERE IS A PIN HOLE LEAK. THE METAL BRAKE LINE IS BETWEEN THE GAS TANK AND THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAS RUSTED OUT SO MUCH THAT IT CAUSED THE LINE TO FAIL. THE LINE IS HIDDEN IN THE FRAME, WHICH DOESN'T PROVIDE THE ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF SPACE FOR THE ROAD WASH TO ACTUALLY CLEAN THE LINE. IT SITE ON THE FRAME AND RUSTS AWAY. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE IF I WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF GREATER THAN 25MPH OR STARTED BRAKING WHEN I NORMALLY DO. IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVE WAY SO NO ACCIDENT, BUT THIS CAN'T BE THE RIGHT WAY TO BRING THAT LINE BACK TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS LINE CONTROLS ALL THE REAR BRAKES. *TR

ON MY 2001 DODGE 1500, THERE IS A TON OF RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE PARTS. THE FRAME AND BODY AREN'T BAD, BUT THE THINGS THAT ATTACH ARE FAILING. THE BRAKE LINES WENT, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ALL WENT AT THE SAME TIME, ALMOST RESULTING IN A WRECK. THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK IN PLACE RUSTED OUT. THE SHEET METAL ATTACHMENT FOR THE FRONT AXLE IS THE LATEST. I'S ALMOST RUSTED OUT, AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE FRONT AXLE TO DETACH IF NOT REPLACED. ($$$$) YES, THE TRUCK IS 10 YEARS OLD AND I LIVE IN NW PA WHERE WE USE SALT. CRITICAL PARTS NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM RUST OR MADE FROM STAINLESS. THIS TRUCK COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE, PROBABLY ME! *TR

ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 231 IN LAFAYETTE INDIANA, WHEN SUDDENLY I REALIZED I COULD NO LONGER USE THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK. I TRIED TO SLOW MY VEHICLE BY BRAKING BUT MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING SO I JUST LET UP ON THE GAS. AT THIS POINT MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AS DID MY ABS LIGHT ON THE CONTROL PANEL. I WAS STILL ABOUT 40 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME AND STILL HAD ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING TO DO BEFORE I REACHED MY DESTINATION. I DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES AN HOUR WITH MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND WAS PREPARED TO US MY EMERGENCY BRAKE IF I NEEDED TO. THANKFULLY THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AT THE TIME ON PARTS OF HIGHWAY 231 AT THE TIME, SO PARTS OF HIGHWAY 231 WERE SLOW GOING ANYWAY. HOWEVER, THE LOSS OF MY BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I MADE IT SUCCESSFULLY HOME WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2010. HOWEVER, MY TRUCK IS ONLY 9 YEARS ONLY AND THIS INCIDENT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN PLACE. WHEN I RETURNED HOME ALL OF MY BRAKE FLUID WAS PORING OUT AND WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE MASTER TANK UNDER MY HOOD. FURTHERMORE, LOOKING AT THE BRAKE LINES, THE HARD LINES THAT LEAD TO THIS PROBLEM REVEALED THAT SEVERE RUST HAD LEAD TO THE TOTAL BREAKDOWN AND ACTUALLY CAUSED THE HARD LINES OF MY BRAKES TO BRAKE IN HALF, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN A NINE YEAR ONLY VEHICLE, THAT IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACE MY BRAKE SYSTEM WITH ALL NEW PARTS AND BLEED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE ALSO TOLD PEOPLE WITH WHOM I NOW HAVE OTHER DODGE'S ABOUT MY INCIDENT, TO AT LEAST CHECK THEIR BRAKE SYSTEM FOR POSSIBLE RUST SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH. I HAVE KEPT THE OLD PART, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE, IN CASE I NEED TO PROVE THAT THIS REALLY DID HAPPEN AND THESE WERE REALLY BAD PARTS THAT CHRYSLER INSTALLED ON THESE TRUCKS. MOST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS AFTER THERE WERE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS SAME INCIDENT. *TR

ON 8/19/2009, I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON RT 360 IN CHESTERFIELD CO, VA IN MY 2001 DODGE 1500 PICKUP TRUCK. AS I APPROACHED THE LIGHT AT TURNER RD, I APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE TRUCK WAS NOT STOPPING AS NORMAL. I STRUCK THE NISSAN IN FRONT OF ME IN THE REAR. DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH VEHICLES BUT THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME RAIL HAD BURST CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO FAIL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY RESPONDED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED THE OLD BRAKE LINE. IT APPEARS FROM SEVERAL DODGE FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SOME MODEL YEARS BUT DODGE REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AS THE NEXT VICTIM MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS I. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A YEAR AGO THE FRONT BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE BROKEN AND COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84710.