general problems of the 2001 Dodge Ram 1500

The headlights no matter what bulbs I buy are extremely dim making it unsafe to drive at night. Now truck will not start for some unknown reason. It tries to turn over but will not crank. The mileage flashes no bus. I was literally only getting at best 8 miles per gallon.

I turned the key to start the engine and as it started cranking smoke started coming out of the defroster and then fire started coming out the engine hood. Luckily I had a fire extinguisher handy and opened the hood and put out the fire. Wondered where the fire started so tried starting again and fire started immediately at the rear of the engine or on top of the bell housing. I also smelled fuel. The truck was next to my garage and had been driven a few days earlier. If I had not put out the fire my whole house could have burned down. I donated the truck to wheels 4 vets.

I have a Dodge Ram 1500 truck. My entire dash is coming apart. A piece flew off and hit me in the face while driving I slammed on the brakes and my wife hit the windshield cracking it. My lights on my ceiling went out don't work.

The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving 30 mph, the power steering failed. The vehicle has had a past failure with the brakes, corrosion of the frame, a cracked dashboard, and warning indicators illuminating since 26,000 miles. The vehicle was repaired for these failures, but not for the steering failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

Dash is falling apart and causing electrical problems. While driving.

Blows fuse for dash lights and tail lights.

I have the same issue as thousands of others with the dash falling apart, this incident happened when the bezel just fell off of the dash onto the steering wheel while traveling down a busy highway. I had to try and steer with one hand while using the other to dislodge the bezel and hold it away from the steering wheel until I could safely pull over to the shoulder of the road. Since then my glove box has fallen off along with the drink holder. I am also concerned that if I am involved in an accident where the air bags may be deployed that the passenger side airbag will cause the dash to explode and send plastic schrapnel inside the cab. This could cause serious damage or death for the passenger and\or driver.

The dashboard has been cracking for over 2 years. Large pieces are breaking off and falling into the dash area where there are many electrical wires and vacuum hoses. The pieces that are breaking off are large and have sharp edges that may cut into the wires and hoses and may start fires or electrical failures/shorts. I researched and found out this is a common failure in this vehicle year due to manufacturing. Sometimes as I'm driving, the broken pieces pop out towards passengers in the vehicle. I'm also concerned that a short may deploy the airbags.

The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the vehicle caught on fire without warning. The fire department extinguished the fire and a police report was filed. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated that the cause for the fire was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 227,000. The vehicle was destroyed.

I own a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. This vehicle however, has a defect, the dashboard cracks and is starting to basically disintegrate. I however, am not the only one with these issues. As you can see on the forums and websites below. . Read more...

Headlights were on high beam and dimmed lights and lost all of the headlights . It was early morning but there was enough light for me to slow and pull over to the side of the road. I kept moving the dimmer switch back and forth between high and low beam until the lights finally came back on. I left them in low beam and drove the rest of the way to work on low beam. When I got home later after work I waited till night time and pulled my truck into my car port and repeated what had happened on that morning. On about the fifth try the lights went out again , I then repeated flipping the dimmer switch back and forth between high and low beam and after many attempts was able to get the headlights back on. The next day took it to the dealer for repairs , they replaced the dimmer switch and the mechanic who worked on my truck told me that was no the first one he had replaced and told me I was very lucky. If it had failed in heavy traffic on a two lane highway and under darker night conditions and at a higher rate of speed I probably would have wrecked. I believe this is a design flaw. ## VIN passed ## Dodge Ram 1500 ##.

Interior dash has several severe cracks. Dash is starting to crumble and collapse.

Truck was running just fine. When truck was parked for less than 10 minutes, with engine off it suddenly ignited in the engine compartment. The truck was a complete loss. There was no warning before the event took place.

Dash is cracked and falling in. Vehicle stops running due to wires being exposed.

Like many others, the dash fell apart. . . You aren't doing a thing about it until what? someone dies? 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 truck. Everyone I talk to knows someone whose truck did the same thing. If we are in a wreck and the airbag doesn't deploy due to the support system being missing. . . . Falling apart totally. . . . Then if we die, will something be done to make Chrysler stand good for the repairs? I have contacted them and they want us to pay 800 for our part. No. . . It is their widespread defect and we will not pay a penny. We have had a fire in the dash as everything is open to the elements now. . . . We had to stop on the side of the road and crawl up under and find the wires burning. Whenever you turned on the key, it smoked and burned. Finally, after the truck was towed home, he traced the wire to the heated mirrors and removed it. Waiting for the next fire, I guess. What a shame for Chrysler to take bailout money and not help customers and ensure their safety. Will someone please step up?????.

I filed a complaint a few weeks ago about my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 since then I am now having electrical problems. First the windows then the radio and dome light and now this morning when I was leaving for work at :30 my head lights went out. This is ridiculous. What if I had been on the road. I drive down the interstate every morning at around 5:30.

I own a 2001 Dodge ram pu truck 5. 2 . I was driving down road at night and went to click my bright lights on and the lights went out. This has happened several times. Checked the fuse and it was good. This is very dangerous.

Flashing light on odometer reads, "no bus" and the gauges do not work. What is wrong with this trucks electrical system?.

My father bought this truck new in 2001, and I bought it from him in 2008. About 20000 miles on the unit when I bought it. In 2008, the dash started cracking and became very brittle, pieces began to break out and has continued to crack and break. It is now 2014, about 32000 miles on this unit, and I am going to have to replace the dashboard with an aftermarket product. Based on the number of complaints from other owners, I would believe that the materials used in the original dash were below acceptable quality. No front end zerk fittings for steering components- cheap design and construction. I had to have new front end assemblies with zerk fittings, at a cost of about $1400. 00. (because crysler/Dodge went cheap in construction. ) my last Dodge vehicle, I think I can do better.

The dashboar d is cracked in several places , and also a few places have caved in. There are some electrical problems with dashboar d also.

The dashboard has fallen apart piece by piece. Wires are now dangerously exposed and the broken pieces could turn into dangerous, sharp flying debris in the event of an accident.

The dashboard started falling apart shortly after I purchased the truck. Pieces of the dash keep falling down into the area where the wires are at.

2001 Dodge 4x4, 1500 quad cab truck. While driving down the hwy going 75 mph, at night time, the head light turned off and would not come back on until you kept flicking the high and low beams. Vehilce was taken to dealership and they replaced the (multifunction switch) if there would have not been other vehilce drivng in front of my vehicle, it could of been a serious or deadly crash with no lights at night going the hwy speed limite on winding roadways.

My 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 dash is completely cracked and has several holes in it where the plastic has caved in. I am concerned the holes and continued cracking will cause exposed wires to be burnt or severed, which could endanger the lives of the passengers in the vehicle.

Brake light computer control board had electrical short that caused light not to work. Had to replace board to get brake light to work. Could cause rear end accidents if brake lights do not work. Dealer(cass burch quitman, GA. ) advised no manfacturer recall and they have replaced several.

Had the vehicle serviced at a little over 30,000 miles and noticed the (mil) light came on then went off, and currently s back on a and was staying on. Contacted the dealership and they want to charge consumer to look at it.

The dash is cracked bad and could cause a person to get cut from this. Really cracked badly from the sun. Poorly made from plastic. If you want photos,let me know,and I will send you some.

My 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 has had the dashboard disinigrating since 30,000 miles as I was informed by the previous owner. It only had cracks but since I have owned it the dash has literally disinigrated with sharp objects flying about the cab when windows are down. My research suggest that Chrysler used inferior products as a cost reduction, did not aquire the proper manufacturing temperatures which results in cracking, and the dash is inadequatly mounted causing flexing. This is a very dangerous situation. . . . . . . . . And not a cosmetic issue as Dodge has hidden behind!! when the dash breaks, sharp objects are in flight throughout the cab. When it breaks near the air bags, I believe they will deploy themselves and that alone is a serious event while driving in traffic! Dodge has a history all the way back to my first purchase of a brand new 1973 Dodge ram, ignoring warranty and making excues of why things aren't their fault! it's high time this company assumes it's responsibility especially after tax payers bailed them out!!!! I have fought many battles with this company concerning warranty issues as well where a brand new 1976 Dodge ram I purchased spun the races in the rears as a result of defective manufacturing!!! the time for making excuses is old, it's time for action and assuming responsibility for an inferior product!!!.

The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the dashboard cracked into pieces and the speedometer does not work. The dealer stated that the warranty for the interior of the vehicle expired at 36,000 miles. The estimated cost to repair the dashboard front cap is between $450-$600. The contact feels that the failure is a fabric defect and the manufacturer should be responsible for the repair cost. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 37,000 and current mileage was 67,179.

Dash had began to crack and cracks have progressed to point of they reach the trim bezel. Initially dealer said to just wait they felt Dodge would recall because it was very common problem. They didn't advise to replace because it would just happen with new one as well. But nothing was ever done and after contacting Dodge customer assistance I was told because of age of truck and mileage now (60,000) nothing could be done. My concerns are if involved in an accident the dash could just crumble and send sharp pieces flying throughout interior. As well as interior of dash being exposed and causing operational issues while driving.

I have a 2001 Dodge ram off road with 54000 miles on it and I've already had a new computer put in it, had the transmission rebuilt at 27000 miles because of the torque converter, and my dashboard is cracked all over the place from the heat. I've had nothing but trouble out of this truck and I will not buy another Dodge again.

Vehicle experienced partial fire under the hood near steering column, the fire originated at the electrical distribution panel from the vehicle charging system, claim 43-r794-475.

Partial fire under hood near steering column on drivers side, fire originated at the electrical distribution panel from the vehicle charging system, claim 43-r794-475.

Dash panel has went out on my truck 3 times already and is acting up now. Check engine light has been on more than it has stayed off.

The headlights would go out when the high beams or dimmers were on. Sometimes the headlights stayed on. The dealer had been contacted.