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2001 Dodge RAM Van

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

23 reports with mileage · 10 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports5 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

33 reports
31,000 miles · Mar 8, 2005
Visibility

HEATER CORE LEAKS,AND SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE VENT ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ANTI-FREEZE POURS OUT ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT BEING BURNED. ANTI-FREEZE FILM COVERS THE WINDOWS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10113677

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2005
Seat Belts

DESIGN FLAW COMPLAINT ON DODGE RAM VAN 1500 SAFETY BELTS NEVER WORK PROPERLY. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT HANGS DOWN AND GETS STUCK BEHIND AND BELOW THE DRIVERS DOOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109698

45,001 miles · Dec 22, 2004
Visibility

VEHICLE DOESN'T DEFROST. ALL WINDOWS STEAM UP AND THEN ICE UP. INCLUDING FRONT WINDOW LEAVING ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY. TOOK TO LAKE DODGE, IN (FEB. 2004) AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RECIRCULATION DOORS RS THAT WERE STICKING AND NEEDED TO BE LUBED UP. SEEMED TO HELP UNTIL DEC. 2004. WINDOWS STEAMED UP AND ICED UP AGAIN. WAS TOLD …

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VEHICLE DOESN'T DEFROST. ALL WINDOWS STEAM UP AND THEN ICE UP. INCLUDING FRONT WINDOW LEAVING ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY. TOOK TO LAKE DODGE, IN (FEB. 2004) AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RECIRCULATION DOORS RS THAT WERE STICKING AND NEEDED TO BE LUBED UP. SEEMED TO HELP UNTIL DEC. 2004. WINDOWS STEAMED UP AND ICED UP AGAIN. WAS TOLD BY LAKE DODGE, IN THAT THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO TAKE MY ENTIRE DASH APART TO REACH THESE RECIRCULATION DOORS TO LUBE THEM UP EVERY YEAR. FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND HOW TO LUBE THEM LET ALONE TAKE MY ENTIRE DASH APART WITHOUT BREAKING ANYTHING! CALLED CHRYLSER AND JENNIFER SAID SHE WOULD HAVE SO LAKE DODGE TAKE CARE OF IT THIS TIME. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE! I HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW CLOSE CALLS. MY CHILDREN AND I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104342

16,944 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

THE VERIZON VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A VERIZON PARKING LOCATION. THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR, TRUCK BATTERY, AND VARIOUS OTHER UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS WERE BURNT. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN THIS MODEL VAN AND FEELS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION TH…

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THE VERIZON VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A VERIZON PARKING LOCATION. THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR, TRUCK BATTERY, AND VARIOUS OTHER UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS WERE BURNT. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN THIS MODEL VAN AND FEELS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI #10086724

6,057 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

THE VERIZON VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN WHICH ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR, TRUCK BATTERY, AND OTHER UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS WERE BURNT. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN THIS MODEL VAN AND FEELS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI #10086718

40,000 miles · Feb 24, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED ON MY 2001 DODGE FULL SIZE RAM VAN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058862

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2004
Visibility

VEHICLE DOESN'T DEFROST. WINDOWS STEAM UP AND ICE UP, CREATING ZERO VISIBILIT OUT ALL OF THE SIDE WINDOWS AND WRAPS AROUND THE FRONT WINDOWS.. THIS WAS BROUGHT IN TO SOUTH OAK DODGE, IN ILLINOIS WHILE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY DEODORIZED THE EVAPORATOR COIL AND SAID I WAS FIXED. WENT BACK A WEEK LATER WITH SAME PROBLEM…

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VEHICLE DOESN'T DEFROST. WINDOWS STEAM UP AND ICE UP, CREATING ZERO VISIBILIT OUT ALL OF THE SIDE WINDOWS AND WRAPS AROUND THE FRONT WINDOWS.. THIS WAS BROUGHT IN TO SOUTH OAK DODGE, IN ILLINOIS WHILE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY DEODORIZED THE EVAPORATOR COIL AND SAID I WAS FIXED. WENT BACK A WEEK LATER WITH SAME PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CALLED CHRYSLER AND SANDY SAID THIS IS RETARDED" AND SHE CALLED THE DEALER, ONLY TO TELL ME, SORRY WE CAN'T HELP YOU. I CANT SEE OUT MY WINDOWS. YOU CANT BACK A VAN UP WITHOUT MIRRORS. THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF THIS ISN'T FIXED. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056534

35,700 miles · Dec 9, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

VEHICLE DOESN'T DEFROST. WINDOWS STEAM UP, IF COLD ENOUGH ICE UP. NO VISIBILITY OUT ALL SIDE WINDOWS. BROUGHT IN WHILE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. WENT BACK A FEW WEEKS LATER AND WAS TOLD IT IS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS VEHICLE, "PUT SOME CARDBOARD IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR". I TRIED IT AND IT DID…

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VEHICLE DOESN'T DEFROST. WINDOWS STEAM UP, IF COLD ENOUGH ICE UP. NO VISIBILITY OUT ALL SIDE WINDOWS. BROUGHT IN WHILE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. WENT BACK A FEW WEEKS LATER AND WAS TOLD IT IS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS VEHICLE, "PUT SOME CARDBOARD IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR". I TRIED IT AND IT DIDN'T WORK. THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF THIS ISN'T FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10049477

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2003
Seat Belts

I HAVE A 15 PASSENGER VAN AND THE BACK BENCH IS SUPPOSE TO HOLD 4 PEOPLE ,BUT THE TWO MIDDLE SEATBELTS DO NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY. THE MALE AND FEMALE BELTS ARE ATTACHT TO THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FLOOR FOR THE RIGHT PASSENGER AND THE MALE AND FEMALE BELTS FOR THE LEFT PASSENGER ARE ATTACHED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOOR MA…

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I HAVE A 15 PASSENGER VAN AND THE BACK BENCH IS SUPPOSE TO HOLD 4 PEOPLE ,BUT THE TWO MIDDLE SEATBELTS DO NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY. THE MALE AND FEMALE BELTS ARE ATTACHT TO THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FLOOR FOR THE RIGHT PASSENGER AND THE MALE AND FEMALE BELTS FOR THE LEFT PASSENGER ARE ATTACHED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOOR MAKING IT SO THE BELTS FORM A KIND OF A NOOSE AROUND THE TWO MIDDLE PASSENGERS. IN OTHER WORDS ALL THE SEAT BELTS ARE CONECTED TO THE OUSIDE EDGES OF THE VAN FLOOR IN THE BACK ROW MAKING IT SO THE TWO MIDDLE BACK RIDERS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE RESRAIND FROM BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE HIPS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10036689

6,000 miles · Jul 1, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANKS MOVE AROUND, WHEN BRAKING FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025243

Official recalls

1

07V555000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Dec 4, 2007

ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER 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

1

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.