Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
when car is cold and just started to drive ,and brakes used ,the front brake does not apply and vehicle is slow to stop when abs is disabled all brakes operate normal. I have hit 3 cars because brake did not work. this is a euro brake system installed on vehicles with frt disc and rear drum dodge would not fix after several instances reported to them I have been driving since new and many years with abs disconnected and no accidents since I disconnected the control unit
The ABS sensor wire was damaged by contact with the right wheel. This caused the ABS system to believe that the wheel was not turning and engaged the ABS system making it impossible to engage the brakes. Speed was approximately 10 MPH. This resulted in having to quickly engage the 2001 Ram 2500 into park. The truck crashed into the my garage door. If this happened in a traffic situation the results could have been very bad. If one of my children had been in the driveway this problem would have probably received more attention. This wire should not ever be able to come in contact with the wheel and the route is poorly planned.
Brakes failed when applied. ABS and brake warning lights came on with very little braking. After hard braking application the tires locked and slid about 5 inches in damp backtop and hit a car stopped at a light. Had plenty of time to brake but no or very little braking action. Later inspection showed that one of the brake lines rusted through and lost pressure. This is the second time this has happened. These trucks are prone to brake line rusting. Driver seemed to be fine and drove away after exchanging info. He later claimed injury.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. The vehicle was parked on a hill with the engine on, 30 seconds after exiting the vehicle it rolled backwards and crashed into a light pole. The parking brake was not engaged. The road conditions were clear. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle must not have been in the park position. The current and failure mileage was 60,000.
While moving forward from parked, the brake pedal went to the floor. The truck rolled into a fence. Upon inspection under the truck, brake fluid was covering the frame rail under the bed, behind the fuel tank. Upon researching the problem, it was discovered that multiple vehicles have experienced brake line corrosion in this same area.
Rear brake line rusted and blew out causing the vehicle to loose all stopping power. The line blew out on the driver's side rear near the gas tank. Line is very corroded and this is a faulty manufacturers defect
The power steering pump failed while driving on a mountain road. I was unable to steer the truck, and also unable to stop the truck, as the power steering pump also supplies power to assist the brakes.
I started my truck to head out to answer a fire call (I am a volunteer firefighter). The engine was cold, had been sitting for over 8 hours. At the first stop sign, I pressed the brake pedal, only to have it go all the way to the floor with no resistance and no stopping power. The ABS and brake warning lights came on the dashboard. I pumped the brakes twice, and the system re-pressurized and started functioning correctly. I took the truck back home, and parked it for the weekend. Sunday pm I went to drive it over to the dealership, and when I started it up, the computer codes cleared and the truck functioned perfectly. According to the dealer, Chrysler is aware of the problem, and it only occurs when the truck is cold and within the first 5 minutes after starting. The engineers have no idea why it is happening. …
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4, brake line directly behind gas tank above rear axle on the driver side rusts/corrodes which causes a major brake fluid leak and causes loss of brakes. This area is hidden from immediate sight by the spare tire and apparently buildup doesn't get washed away in the carwash or when it rains or from road spray etc. I have never seen brake lines rust so bad. They actually look like they swell as they rust and scale. The rest of the vehicles undercarrage is 90% black paint from the factory, but the brake lines are rusting. Manufacturer should have used stainless steel brake line material or at least a coated type brakeline. Loss of brakes is a big safety issue. There should be no warranty period on something like this, they should be the last thing to go on the vehicle. There should be a paid in full recall before someone gets hurt or killed.
(1) front brakes grab on one side, vehicle swerves to one side and jerks to stop (2) brake hose into calipers "callapsed". Break pads wear prematurely, rotors overheat. Loss of braking on affected side. (3) brake hose, calipers, pads, and rotors replaced. Insident occurred on left side after 40,000 miles of driving. Replaced hose on left side; both calipers, pads, and rotors on bohth sides. At 80,000 miles, right side hose collapsed. Requires hose on right side; caliper, pads, and rotor replacements on both sides. Hose assy on back order: one dealer has 18 on order, no projected date in sight. So many of this part on order and recurrence on one vehicle raises question. Soon vehicle will be undrivable, and dangerous. Incident date below is date of right side diagnosis.
Brake complaints in other Ram 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2001 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Dodge Ram 2500, 7% of the model year's 469 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2001 Dodge Ram 2500, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.