2001 DODGE RAM 2500 Complaints

2001 DODGE RAM 2500. REMOVED LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER DUE TO A SQWEAK THAT COULD BE HEARD AT LOW SPEED. ONE BRAKE PAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE METAL BACKING. WHEN INSPECTING OTHER 3 BRAKES, AT LEAST ONE PAD IN EACH CALIPER SHOWS SIGNS OF BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. PADS HAVE A MINIMUM OF 1/2" OF MATERIAL LEFT. VEHICAL MILEAGE IS 41966. ALL PADS WERE REPLACED. THE OLD ONES ARE AVAILABLE.*AK

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE'S CLUTCH FAILED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SENDER UNIT FOR THE FUEL WAS NOT WORKING AND NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE BALL JOINTS WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE CLUTCH. AT THE 200 MILE MARK THE ROD WHICH WHEN PUSHED ACTIVATES THE CLUTCH WENT OUT. *TC *JB

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. AS I STARTED A 215 MILE TRIP TO BOULDER CO NOTICED SOME TYPE OF FASTENER ON THE FLOOR BOARD. AT THE 200 MILE MARK THE ROD WHICH WHEN PUSHED ACTIVATES THE CLUTCH WENT OUT! THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO EASE THE TRUCK TO THE RIGHT LANE, MADE AN ILLEGAL RIGHT TURN AT THE LIGHT, AND KILLED THE ENGINE AS I PARKED IT AT A GAS STATION. BUT WHAT IF THAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY? I MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT THE USE OF THE FASTENER, AND REPLACE IT ON THE ROD. AT THIS POINT I WILL BE GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT AS SUGGESTED BY THE BOOKLET PROVIDED ENTITLED CUSTOMER ARBITRATION PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN JUST A PART REPLACEMENT. I DO NOT TRUST THE FASTENER TO PROVIDE THE SAFETY. I WORK AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST FOR BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOLS. WHEN WE GET A SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL I USE THE VEHICLE FOR TRAVEL. MY CONCERN IS HAVING AN ACCIDENT IN THE PARKING LOT, WHERE IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR STUDENTS TO MINGLE IN THE PARKING LOT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO THE POWER ASSIST FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER HAD NO STEERING AND NO BRAKES. *SC *JB

FAN BLADE CLUTCH BROKE AND ASSEMBLY CAME OFF AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO RADIATOR, SHROUD, HOSES, PULLIES, BELT AND FAN BLADE. ALL ITEMS HAD TO BE REPLACE AND TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS $1200.00. *AK

1. STEREING WHEEL WOULD NOT CENTER UP, VEHICLE DROVE STRAIGHT. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL TO COMPENSATE FOR TORQUE, NO WARRANTY REPAIR, TOOK TO A SUSPENSION SHOP FOR REPAIR $ 1200.00 (SEE DETAILS BELOW). 2. TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED IN TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK UP. DELAER FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, BUT CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. $ 2200.00 FOR NEW HD TORQUE CONVERTER AND HP VALVE BODY (SEE DETAIL BELOW) **ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN WHILE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE, HAD TO PUSH HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN TO MERGE TO SHOULDER, PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO RED LINE, SHUT DOWN THE MOTOR. MOTOR WOULD NOT START ONLY CRANK. DEALER SAID THE INJECTOR PUMP AND CONTROLLER AWERE BAD, $ 3000.00 FOR REAPAIR. REPLACED BALL JOINT 6/2002, REPLACED TRANSMISSION 10/2004, REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR PUMP 12/04. SUM TOTAL OF REPAIRS $ 6600.00.*AK

FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT AND NEED REPLACING. TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF ROAD AND MOST MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES. DEALER SUGGESTED I CONTACT DODGE BUT WHEN I DID THEY REFUSED ANY HELP. LATER THAT EVENING ISAW AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER ABOUT DODGE HAVING BALL JOINT RECALLS ON DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS.THIS COULD BE RELATED AND REPORTED.*AK

AT 41,857 MILES, MY 2001 DODGE CUMMINS DIESEL 3/4 TON 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW ON MAY 24, 2000 AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE STIFF, RIGID GEARS AND CLUTCH EVER SINCE. I COMPLAINED BUT TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE TORQUE, IT WAS "NORMAL". THEN, THE CLUTCH FAILED AND I BARELY MADE IT TO TOWN AND TO THE DEALERS GARAGE. THIS TRUCK WAS BOUGHT N FROM THE LOCAL DEALER, RIDGEWOOD MOTORS AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED EVER SINCE. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. SINCE RIDGEWOOD MECHANICS REPLACED THE CLUTCH, IT DRIVES LIKE A DIFFERENT TRUCK, SMOOTH AND EFFICIENT. I CALLED AND EMAILED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY AND IT WAS MY TOUGH LUCK. I'M OUT $898.26 AND NOW WONDER WHAT ELSE WILL FAIL IN A TRUCK THAT DODGE CALLS "RAM TOUGH"! I'M FURIOUS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND DAIMLER-CHRYSLER'S CONDESCENDING ATTITUDE. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED MY COSTS TO REPLACE THIS CLUTCH, PROBLEMATIC FROM DAY ONE. *JB

I HAD A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED SHAKING OF THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. I NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEWER BALANCED TIRES, AND HAVE NOT ALTERED ANY COMPONENTS EXCEPT FOR UPDATED SHOCK. WHILE THE SHAKING OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AT ALL.*AK