Structure. Review the 181 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports11 fire reports15 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

26 reports

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46,480 miles · May 10, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THERMOSTAT CLOSED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, BOILING THE COOLANT OUT OF THE COOLING SYSTEM OUT OF THE OVERFLOW PIPE, PAST THE RADIATOR CAP, THROUGH THE COOLANT RECOVERY BOTTLE. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES: DESTRUCTION OF ENGINE THROUGH OVERHEATING, POSSIBLE FIRE. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT FUNCTION DUE TO LOSS OF COOLANT. SERVICE DEALER AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER STATE THAT THE THERMOSTAT IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM, EVEN THOUGH NOTHING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CONTRACT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION THAT I HAVE STATES THIS. INSTEAD. DAIMLER CHRYSLER COVER THE CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE AND ALL INTERNAL COMPONENTS. THIS IS AND WAS INTERPRETED BY THIS OWNER AS MEANING THAT THE THERMOSTAT, BEING AN INTERNAL ENGINE PART, SHOULD BE COVERED, AND ALL LITERATURE SUPPLIED ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IMPLY THIS. FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD RESULT IN A FIRE OR ENGINE DESTRUCTION. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10072349

125,000 miles · Dec 8, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10050172

7,525 miles · Jan 3, 2003

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. TIRE PRESSURE WAS TOO LOW. STEERING BOX FAILED AND REPLACED. WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND REPLACED. VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT AT 40 MPH. CLUNKING NOISE FROM PARK TO REVERSE. FOUND NORMAL OPERATION. OIL LEAK IN FRONT OF MOTOR. OVERFLOW BOTTLE TOO FULL. VEHICLE WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD. STEERING BOX ADJUSTED. AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE WAS TO BLAME. CONSOLE ON SEAT DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. TURBO WHISTLES ON ACCELERATION. NO PROBLEM FOUND. TRANSMISSION SURGES AT 10 TO 45 MPH. NO PROBLEM FOUND. POWER STEERING BOX LEAKED AND REPLACED SECOND TIME. LEAK WAS FOUND AT VACUUM PUMP SEAL CAUSED LEAK AT POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. STEERING DRIFTS TO RIGHT AND WHEEL IS OFF CENTER. CENTER DRAG LINK ADJUSTED SECOND TIME. AFTER SET FOR A FEW DAYS, VEHICLE WON'T MOVE WHEN IT IS PLACED IN DRIVE. NORMAL. NO PROBLEM FOUND. ALL ACCESSORIES WORK WITH THE KEYS OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH. COULD NOT DUPLICATE. FLUID LEAKING FROM TRUCK. REPLACED STEERING BOX FOR THIRD TIME. BRAKES PULSATES WHEN APPLIED. LOW FLUID FOUND DUE TO STEERING LEAK. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10001940

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE OIL. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL THE ENGINE OIL BLOW OUT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE OIL FILTER WAS PUT IN WRONG. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023328

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OIL WILL BURN OUT QUICKLY, AND CONSUMER WILL BE FORCED TO PULL OVER AND REFILL VEHICLE WITH OIL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018464

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN, FUMES FROM THE CRANKCASE FILL THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND COME INTO THE CAB. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE FUMES ARE BEING CAUSED BY THE OPEN CRANKCASE SYSTEM AND STATES THAT THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERSONAL HEALTH HAZARD. *YD

NHTSA ODI #565425

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA, CLAIM 59-V606-925. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #6900897

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, CLAIM 55-S396-819. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #6900894

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN ACTING FUNNY, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 37-3264-228. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #6900572

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN ACTING FUNNY, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 37-3264-228. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #6900896

Official recalls

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

PE08047 · 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

Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments