2001 DODGE RAM Complaints

STEERING WANDER/DRIFTING CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHILE DRIVING. LOCAL DEALER HAS TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED SOON AFTER THE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND COMPONENTS WITH VEHICLES WITH DIESEL ENGINES. WHEN THE STEERING COMPONENTS LOOSEN UP IT CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION REQUIRING EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL CORRECTION.*AK

THE STEERING ON THIS TRUCK IS HORRIBLE. IT WONDERS TERRIBLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AT ANY SPEED. THE DRIVER HAS TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT STEERING IN ORDER TO MAKE THE VEHICLE TRAVEL IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS BECOMES VERY TIRING ON TRIPS AND PRESENTS A HAZARD DURING INCLIMATE WEATHER.*AK

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DRIVER SIDE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GOODYEAR, WRANGLER TIRES WITH THIRTY THOUSAND MILES ARE DETERIORATED. ALSO, SIDEWALLS CRACKED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

DOOR JAMB STICKER CALL FOR 41LBS AIR IN TIRES, TIRE CALLS FOR 35LBS MAX. WHICH IS CORRECT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AT ANYTIME THE STEERING WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE. ON THE FIRST 3 INCEDENTS A HARD JERK OF THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BREAK IT FREE FROM ITS EXTREMELY TIGHT CONDITION. THE TRUCK WOULD ONCE AGAIN RETURN TO NORMAL AS IF THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM. AFTER THE FIRST INCEDENT I GAVE THE TRUCK'S STEERING SYSTEM A THOROUGH CHECK. NOTHING SEEMED WRONG OR OUT OF PLACE.I TRIED TO CONTACT MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER HOWEVER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT OPEN ON SATURDAYS. SINCE THE TRUCK NOW SEEMED FINE I ATTEMPTED TO GO TO MY HOUSE IN IT. I DROVE 40-50 MILES TOWARD MY HOME WITHOUT A PROBLEM. WITHIN 6 MILES OF HOME IT OCCURED AGAIN, JUST AS IT DID THE FIRST TIME ONCE AGAIN A HARD JERK FREED THE WHEEL. ANOTHER CHECK OF THE STEERING SYSTEM REVEALED NOTHING, EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE FINE. 1.5 MILES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I REPEATED THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN. AT THIS TIME I DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN MY SPEEDS TO 35-40MPH TO HELP AVOID DANGER JUST TO MAKE IT HOME AND MONDAY I WOULD CONTACT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO TOWN. HOWEVER, UPON APPROACHING THE NEXT BEND IN THE ROAD I WAS UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE CURVE RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A CLUSTER OF TREES. I SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES COMMON IN THAT TYPE OF ACCIDENT. SINCE THEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER MAKING A FORMAL COMPLAINT, RESULTING IN A INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR LOOKING AT MY TRUCK. I STRESS LOOKING AT IT BECAUSE THAT IS ALL HE DID BESIDES TAKING PICTURES OF IT. HE NEVER REMOVED ANY COMPONENT. I RECEIVE A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER STATEING THAT AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THEY CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO MANUFACTERING FLAW OF ANY KIND. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS DOING NEXT TO NOTHING TO HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. AS OF TODAY (12-6-01) THE TRUCK IS STILL IN ITS WRECKED CONDITION AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP. THE TRUCK SHOULD BE TOTALLED BUT THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WANTS TO FIX IT DESPITE A $22,000 ESTIMATE FROM A CHRYSLER COLLISION CENTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH STRUCK AN UTILITY POLE WITH RIGHT CENTER SIDE, BUT NEITHER OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HAD TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT FOR AIR BAG PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE TRIES TO STALL WHEN GOING AROUND CURVE. VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IT PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND CHRYSLER DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A PROBLEM.*AK

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE SPORT PICKUP 4X4 THAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE POINT OF ORIGIN WAS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO RUPTURE AND CATCH FIRE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. FIRE WAS CONFINED MAINLY TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BED. I HAVE FOUND WHERE THIS IDENTICAL THING OCCURRED ON THE1998 MODELS AND A RECALL 98V182000 FOR THAT MODEL TRUCK ON FUEL LINE PROBLEMS WAS ISSUED. AFTER EXAMINING MY TRUCK, THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND THAT THEY ARE NOT TRAINED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. I NEED SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER YET BUT HAVE EVERY INTENTION ON DOING SO. *AK

DEALER REPLACED RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT. HOWEVER, STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING UP WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION. *AK

THE TRUCK WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE NEW, THE STEERING HAS SEEMED "VAGUE". THE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL CAN BE 4" BEFORE TURNING THE TRUCK, THIS MAY VARY. THE STEERING SEEMS "RUBBERY". I HAVE HAD THE FRONT WHEELS ALIGNED TWO TIMES. THE DEALER CAN DO NO MORE; THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF BRINGING THE TRUCK INTO "SPECS". A SQUARE "LINKAGE TUBE" WAS REPLACED, WHICH PROVIDED LITTLE OR NO IMPROVEMENT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, CONSTANT CORRECTION IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A SEMBLANCE OF A STRAIGHT PATH. THIS PROBLEM MUST BE REPAIRED BEFORE ONE OF THE MANY COMPLAINANTS RUNS OFF THE ROAD.*AK