IllustrationUPPER DASH PANEL (PART #5GK45LAZAB) IS CRACKING INTO SHARP PIECES AND I WORRY THAT SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WILL BECOME EXPOSED OR THAT SHARP PIECES WILL FALL OFF AND INJURE OCCUPANTS. I HAVE ALREADY CUT MYSELF FROM THESE PIECES. PLEASE RESEARCH AND ADVISE MANUFACTURER TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
2001 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most RAM 1500 years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
490–25K
14125–50K
20050–75K
16575–100K
129100–150K
57150K+
741 reports with mileage · 371 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 548 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
65 crash reports34 fire reports65 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,112 reportsDASHBOARD ALL CAVED IN. *JB
I OWN A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 AND THE DASHBOARD HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND CAVED IN. THE IN DASH WIRING HARNESS IS EXPOSED. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT (AS OF JUNE 2007), THE TRUCK IS HARDLY EVER DRIVEN AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. THE DASH, LIKE NUMEROUS OTHER DODGE RAMS, HAS FALLEN APART DUE TO POO…
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I OWN A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 AND THE DASHBOARD HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND CAVED IN. THE IN DASH WIRING HARNESS IS EXPOSED. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT (AS OF JUNE 2007), THE TRUCK IS HARDLY EVER DRIVEN AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. THE DASH, LIKE NUMEROUS OTHER DODGE RAMS, HAS FALLEN APART DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING MATERIALS. THE DASH HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. *JB
I PURCHASED A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500, USED, IN 2005, WITH APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASH BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE FRONT WINDOW. THE CRACKS HAVE BEEN GROWING STEADILY. NOW THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS, FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDOW TO THE TRIM S…
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I PURCHASED A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500, USED, IN 2005, WITH APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASH BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE FRONT WINDOW. THE CRACKS HAVE BEEN GROWING STEADILY. NOW THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS, FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDOW TO THE TRIM SURROUNDING THE GAUGES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CRACKS WILL CONTINUE AND CAUSE ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. ADDITIONALLY, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DASH WILL START TO BREAK OR FALL INTO THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE AND OR FATALITIES DUE TO A FIRE OR SOMETHING. I ONLY HAVE 56,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE! *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD THAT EXTENDED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE AIR BAG. HE STATED THAT HE NOTICES A NEW CRACK EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FIVE CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD THAT EXTENDED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE AIR BAG. HE STATED THAT HE NOTICES A NEW CRACK EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FIVE CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT BE OF ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD, FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD. INCIDENT DATE IS DATE OF PURCHASE OF USED VEHICLE. ORIGINAL INCIDENT DATE UNKNOWN. *TR
SEVERE CRACKS ON DASHBOARD RIGHT OVER STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG SINCE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND ARE GETTING WORSE! LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM! WHY IS NO ONE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? DOES THERE HAVE TO BE AN INJURY OR DEATH TO HAVE THIS ADDRESSED? THERE ARE 40 OR MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS -- HELLO! WHY DON'…
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SEVERE CRACKS ON DASHBOARD RIGHT OVER STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG SINCE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND ARE GETTING WORSE! LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM! WHY IS NO ONE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? DOES THERE HAVE TO BE AN INJURY OR DEATH TO HAVE THIS ADDRESSED? THERE ARE 40 OR MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS -- HELLO! WHY DON'T YOU GET IT? *TR
I'M AN FILING THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINING TO MY 2001 DODGE RAM, IN WHICH THE DASH FELL APART PIECE BY PIECE ON ITS OWN. *JB
THE DASHBOARD IN MY 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK IS CRACKING. I AM WORRIED ABOUT PIECES COMING OFF AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY TO PASSENGERS. *JB
DASH STARTED CRACKING IN 2006. NOW HAVE 3 CRACKS THAT ARE STARTING TO JOIN TOGETHER. FROM PICTURES I'VE SEEN I WILL BE HAVING BIG HOLES IN MY DASH WITHIN A YEAR. THIS IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
Official recalls
203V504000 · Tires
Dec 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SNOW PLOW PREPARATION PACKAGE, THE TIRES SUPPLIED ON SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS THAT SLIGHTLY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TIRE LOAD CAPACITY AS DEFINED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT P245/75R16 TIRES TO MEET THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL AND ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITION OF A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SNOW PLOW AND HARDWARE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
01V153000 · Air Bags
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE08047 · 2000-2001 Dodge RAM Pickup Hood Latch
Opened Jul 25, 2008 · Closed Dec 17, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch; Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
THE AGENCY OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 30 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE HOODS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 AND 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS FLEW UP AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION.THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PRIMARY HOOD LATCH AND A SECONDARY (BACKUP) HOOD LATCH.THE SECONDARY LATCH IS DESIGNED TO SECURE THE HOOD IF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED OR OTHERWISE MALFUNCTIONS.IN THESE COMPLAINTS, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED, APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION, AND DID NOT LATCH.DODGE CONDUCTED RECALL 01V-040 IN 1999 TO ADDRESS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MODEL YEAR 1994-1997 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS.THE INFORMATION CHRYSLER PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT THE MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETURN SPRINGS, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLIER RECALLED TRUCKS THAT HAD ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL RETURN SPRINGS.THE RECALLED COMPONENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION-INDUCED FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED, WHEREAS THE CORROSION FAILURES IN THE NEWER MODELS APPEAR TO BE DUE TO LUBRICATION LOSS OVER TIME (REGULAR APPLICATION OF GREASE IS ADVISED PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). ODI'S REVIEW OF CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THE RATES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE LOW AND ARE DECLINING.A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
THE AGENCY OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 30 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE HOODS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 AND 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS FLEW UP AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION.THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PRIMARY HOOD LATCH AND A SECONDARY (BACKUP) HOOD LATCH.THE SECONDARY LATCH IS DESIGNED TO SECURE THE HOOD IF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED OR OTHERWISE MALFUNCTIONS.IN THESE COMPLAINTS, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED, APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION, AND DID NOT LATCH.DODGE CONDUCTED RECALL 01V-040 IN 1999 TO ADDRESS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MODEL YEAR 1994-1997 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS.THE INFORMATION CHRYSLER PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT THE MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETURN SPRINGS, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLIER RECALLED TRUCKS THAT HAD ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL RETURN SPRINGS.THE RECALLED COMPONENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION-INDUCED FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED, WHEREAS THE CORROSION FAILURES IN THE NEWER MODELS APPEAR TO BE DUE TO LUBRICATION LOSS OVER TIME (REGULAR APPLICATION OF GREASE IS ADVISED PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). ODI'S REVIEW OF CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THE RATES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE LOW AND ARE DECLINING.A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
THE AGENCY OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 30 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE HOODS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 AND 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS FLEW UP AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION.THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PRIMARY HOOD LATCH AND A SECONDARY (BACKUP) HOOD LATCH.THE SECONDARY LATCH IS DESIGNED TO SECURE THE HOOD IF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED OR OTHERWISE MALFUNCTIONS.IN THESE COMPLAINTS, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED, APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION, AND DID NOT LATCH.DODGE CONDUCTED RECALL 01V-040 IN 1999 TO ADDRESS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MODEL YEAR 1994-1997 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS.THE INFORMATION CHRYSLER PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT THE MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETURN SPRINGS, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLIER RECALLED TRUCKS THAT HAD ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL RETURN SPRINGS.THE RECALLED COMPONENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION-INDUCED FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED, WHEREAS THE CORROSION FAILURES IN THE NEWER MODELS APPEAR TO BE DUE TO LUBRICATION LOSS OVER TIME (REGULAR APPLICATION OF GREASE IS ADVISED PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). ODI'S REVIEW OF CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THE RATES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE LOW AND ARE DECLINING.A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE00025 · Rear Safety Belt Anchorage Disengagement
Opened Jul 6, 2000 · Closed Dec 27, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
ALLEGE THAT BOTH REAR INBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES WERE FOUND TO LACK PROPER ATTACHMENTS.