Most common 2001 Dodge Ram problems
Share of the 459 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram complaints by model year
Best Ram years: 2011, 2009, 2007. Years to avoid: 1996, 1998, 2001, 1997, 1999. Compare all years →
2001 Dodge Ram recalls (9)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
On certain van and wagon vehicles equipped with 4-wheel antilock brake systems (ABS), aftermarket batteries May leak electrolyte onto the ABS control module connector, which can compromise sealing integrity of the connector.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ABS control module connector for electrolyte damage and replace the connector as necessary. The recall will begin on September 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
On certain pickup trucks, the alternator wire connection to the power distribution center (pdc) can loosen.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the installation of the alternator wire connection to the pdc and if necessary, reposition the wire so that the crimp connection will face upward and tighten the fastener to the correct torque…
Tires
Vehicle description: certain 2500 wagons were equipped with incorrect load range tires.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the load range 'd' tires with correct load range 'e' tires. Owner notification began September 24, 2001.
Electrical system › Wiring
Vehicle description: vans and wagons not equipped with power front seats. In the presence of road salt, water, and possibly other debris, the power seat connector located beneath the driver's seat could develop a high resistive short circuit that cycles the circuit breaker.
Remedy: Owners will receive instructions for removing the circuit breaker from the fuse panel. If an owner desires, their dealer can perform the repair. Owner notification began August 27, 2001.
Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Vehicle description: vans. A substitute wheel lug nut tightening process May not have been sufficient to assure proper torque of the lug nuts.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wheel lug nuts for proper torque and correct if necessary. Owner notification began June 4, 2001. All owners have been contacted.
Air bags
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th VIN position) from May 16, 2000 through October 23, 2000; st.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began June 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed,…
Show 3 more recalls
Suspension › Rear
Vehicle description: quad cab pickup trucks equipped with a camper package and overload springs. The rear axle spacer plate could lead to deformation of the upper spring plate during assembly of the axle to the vehicle resulting a soft joint.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the spacer plates and the spring plates will be replaced. Owner notification began February 5, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
Child seat
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." some of the owner's manuals for these vehicles are missing instructions that provide a step-by-step procedure, including diagrams, for properly…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper arm
Vehicle description: quad cab pickup trucks. The upper control arms attached with cadmium coated nuts can cause the bolts to stretch due to the application of a higher than specified clamp load. Breakage of the upper control arm fasteners could cause the axle to rotate forward under braking conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper control arm bolts and nuts.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2001 Dodge Ram:
2000-2001 Dodge Ram pickup hood latch
The agency opened this investigation based on 30 complaints alleging that the hoods on model year (my) 2000 and 2001 Dodge Ram pickup trucks flew up and blocked the driver's vision.these vehicles have a primary hood latch and a secondary (backup) hood latch.the secondary latch is designed to secure the hood if the primary hood latch is not properly closed or otherwise malfunctions.in these complaints, the secondary…
Engine compartment electrical fires
What 2001 Dodge Ram owners say
Body & structure all 91 →
Cracked dash-we purchased our 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 quad cab used in oct 2003 with less than 46,000 miles on odometer. When we purchased the truck the cup holder was not closing properly and we asked the dealership to adjust it. They did but it still did not close properly or hang properly and was not usable as is. Cup holder fell completely off within about 3 months although we couldn't use it much. Our dash began to crack within the same time of purchasing the truck and now the bezel is cracked so badly is it falling in. We are looking into purchasing a bezel now because it is just so bad now. When the truck was purchased the dash had a rattling that we couldn't figure out, it is obviously the bad dash bezel design. We did purchase a new cup holder when fixing it didn't work anymore. I do not have the old cup holder but I can tell you the hinges broke completely off of it. …
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup has cracked dashboard. Started about 2 years after I bought the truck new. Still has new cracks developing. Some cracks extend into passenger airbag compartment and into driver's instrument panel. Installed carpeted dashboard cover to help prevent the cracks from progressing but they still remain to increase in size. Appears that whenever the A/C or heater is used the cracks extend and can be heard audible. The rapid change in interior temperature when using the A/C or heater can cause the cracks to quickly extend. Have to slowly increase temperature to reduce the failure rate. Have tried everything to prevent the cracks but nothing helps. Concerned now about the airbag compartment being comprised and leading to premature airbag deployment. The dashboard appears to very brittle and every precaution is used not to place any weight on dashboard. …
Steering all 63 →
On my way to work, as usual, on a "slightly" bumpy part of the highway my steering wheel and front end started vibrating so violently that I almost lost control. I could barely hold the steering wheel; and could not steer at all; all I could do was start braking and come to a stop. I got out and checked my tires and front end and everything appeared normal. I continued to work at about 40 MPH (I had gone to work early so no traffic) . At 8:00 I called my local mechanic and took it to him to check out what happened. He check everything and nothing showed. The next day it happened again; then again 2 days later. About 2 weeks later I took pickup in for regular oil/fuel/air filter change service. He test drove with me along and I explained further what happened. He said he has seen it before with Dodge 2500 & 3500 and it has been labeled the "Dodge death wobble". …
Vechile difficult to control while driving on highway after hitting a moderate sized bump. Trouble started at approximately 18,000 miles and was not somewhat resolved for nearly 10,000 miles. While traveling at highway speeds and striking a bump with the driver's side front wheel, the front of the vehicle would shake violently and start to leave the lane of travel. The shaking and shuttering of the front end gave a feeling like the left front tire was either bouncing down the road or wobbeling. This was reported several times to the dealer and a contol arm and steering arm was replaced at different attempts to correct the problem. During this time frame, I expierenced excessive wear on the tires. A front end alignment has seemed to reduce the problem, but it would seem that if this was the symptom of the need for alignment, then the service center would have know this.
Transmission & drivetrain all 61 →
The check engine light related to the transmission in my 2001 Dodge Ram pickup lit up at around 45,000 miles. I had the light checked out and found out there was a problem. I was told that the transmission would need to be rebuilt including the torque converter. Since the mileage was over 36,000 the dealership made it clear that the warranty was over and that fixing the truck would be my problem. I ran the vehicle until the transmission completely failed, which was at 54,000 miles. I had to put in a replacement transmission. I wrote to the president of Dodge (dr zitske) telling him of my dissatisfaction with the failure of the transmission and that Dodge would not stand behind their product. I didn't even receive the courtesy of a reply. Nothing. I am now the proud owner of a real truck (Toyota tundra). …
2001 Ram 1500 extd. Cab 4wd sport. I don't use it off-road and only use 4x4 in the snow. 32000 miles needed new tires. Shop wouldn't align wheels because they said I needed new ball joints. Brought truck to dealer, they said it was within specs. 35700 miles, same dealer replaces upper and lower universal joints on warranty. I went back to tire dealer for alignment, they said the ball joints were still bad and needed to be replaced. 36010 miles, dealer replaces upper and lower, left and right ball joints on warranty. 65600 miles, check engine light came on, same dealer replaces purge solenoid, stabilizer links and shift rod link to quiet rattling noise.
2001 Dodge Ram engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 15 / 14 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Van.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Dodge Ram a good car?
Based on 459 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Ram rates avoid: 4.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ram at the same age. It is one of the Ram years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Dodge Ram?
The body & structure — 91 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the steering (63) and transmission & drivetrain (61).
How many recalls does the 2001 Dodge Ram have?
There are 9 recalls for the 2001 Dodge Ram, the most recent from April 12, 2004 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2009 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996, 1998, 2001, 1997 and 1999. See the full Dodge Ram years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Dodge Ram problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 49% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.