Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle wobbled while driving. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but a failure could not be found. The technician replaced the steering box, ball joint, and front stabilizer shocks; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the failure began when the vehicle was purchased, but no one could repair the failure. The contact called lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of billings (2229 king ave w, billings, mt 59102, [phone]) and was informed to schedule an appointment. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
When exiting at highway speed and coasting and hitting a bump the truck shook violently to the point of almost loosing control. After searching on the internet for a cause it appears this is a common problem with Dodge rams called the death wobble.. It never happened before and have a problem believing something so extreme could be worn bushings or suspention parts that wear out over long periods of time.
Steering wanders all over the place. 2001 Ram pickup 2500 with only 19,224 miles on it problem first surfaced around 15,000 miles. Dealer serviced at 17,207 miles as a licensed inspection mechanic, this vehicle will fail the state inspection sticker test when it is due. The amount of play at the steering wheel is currently at 5+ inches and getting worse. Inspection procedures require the play to be measured while observing the tire movement. ( example : turn the steering wheel to the left until visable movement of the tire is seen, mark a reference point on the steering wheel, now turn the steering wheel to the right untill visable movement of the tire , now measure the distance the mark on the steering wheel has traveled. Anything over a 2 1/2 " travel is cause for failing the state vehicle inspection sticker. …
My main reason for this complaint is it is known across the united states that Dodge put a faulty front suspension on its pickups that lead to dangerous steering at highway speeds and death wobbles. My vehicle has the death wobble at highway speeds, understand this death wobble literally tries to pull the steering wheel from your hand and makes the vehicle very hard to manage. My death wobble was severe enough to bust a battery clamp, blow out both headlights, make my quad cab door not open caused my outside temperature sensor unit to malfunction, broke my steering box, broke the clip on my sunglasses holder and caused my track bar to fail again. Please understand due to the faulty sloppy drifting steering I had already replaced all tie rods, track bar, ball joints and steering dampener shock. …
Just after the power train warrenty was up the trans started to slip. I check fluid. It was okay. Took it to the dealership and they rebuilt the trans at my cost of 2500. It still didn't shift right. The dealership told me it was fine. Last year I had to have the trans rebuilt again at 2500. It ran fine for exactly 12 months. The truck is currently in the shop again to have the trans rebuilt for the third time by a licenced facility. I had it fixed one time by a friend also. The trans shop will warrenty the labor this time but, they want over 1600 for parts. This truck was $40,000 and 2,500 per trans per year and the front end redone 3 times also. The engine is too heavy and powerful for the truck and trans. A fault by engineers at Chrysler should not be a constant head ache for myself and my wallet. I have replaced nearly every part on this truck x 3. …
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.
2001.5 Dodge 2500 quad 4x4 diesel. Steering has been bad for last few years. Took in and all up front is bad, hubs, joints, ball joints, tie rods and even the gear box output shaft. I was told that the dealer knows that the 2500 comes off the line with 1/4" give or take play in the ball joints as it sits new and are actually too small for application which causes all else to go bad over time. I am not hard on my Dodge with driving style. Cost to fix with stock and after market parts only to prevent is 2600.00. Labor is 100.00 per hour how can anyone handle this kind of money up front. Truck sits afraid to drive more then local. Started seeing at 95000 and have just over 103000. Dealer will not fix recalls of 2001 year because its to old!
Dealer replaced at 20,000 miles the left wheel bearing, and at 40,000 miles the right wheel bearing needed to be replaced. Consumer stated normally wheel bearings were replaced at 85,000 miles. Dealer stated that consumer should have bought an extended warranty and won't have this problem. Left wheel bearing failure occured at 20,000 miles. Dodge refused to talk to consumer's wife about the wheel bearing failure. Finally dealership replaced the wheel bearing at the cost of $100.00. Consumer feels that it is premature for the wheel bearing to have failed for a front end truck that is female driven.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH the engine started sputtering and smoking resulting in a loss of power. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for inspection. The mechanic determined the injection pump needed to be replaced, which no repairs were made. Also, the mechanic noticed the tie rods were pulling apart on the front left and right side. The mechanic replaced the front left and right tie rods and ball joints. The dealership and manufacturer were alerted.
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 reg cab long bed pickup. Vehicle has 26,000 original miles and after major front end repairs( upper and lower ball joints, stabilizer bar links, stabilizer shock and both wheel bearings) for steering problems, the problem still exists. The truck is almost uncontrollable and wanders into oncoming traffic if constant attention and over correction of steering is not adhered too. Driving is a task and is very dangerous.
Suspension complaints in other Ram 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2001 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the suspension of the 2001 Dodge Ram 2500, 8% of the model year's 469 complaints. The component named most often is front (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
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.