Comments: 1-15, 16-17
Torque converter went out apx 30,000 milies. Prelude to transmission nightmares.
Transmission went out 36,200 miles replaced with new one at dealer after screaming my head off and drilling everybody in Detroit who would listen.
Transmission went out 51,000 replaced with ANOTHER new one after going bezerk again.
Have yet to figure out why it gets only 12 mpg down hill in a gail force wind on the open highway.
Gas guzzeling piece of all American junk. I know SEVERAL people who have various kinds of Dodge vehicles all have transmission problems. Trucks far and away seem to be the worst. If yours still works right sell it FAST or you to will see espically if it was built since 2000. Dodges look good, but that's it. It makes me sick that I have to get another Japaneese truck to have one that is well built and reliable.
I tip my hat to you for sticking to your guns. It's shameful that these dealers won't admit defects in their own automobiles, while trying to make their customers pick up the bill for their error. It's not a business practice I can understand, since bad dealership experiences usually result in going with another brand. Where's the logic in trying to stick $2000 transmissions on to customers (driving them away), when a returning customer will bring them 10's/100's of thousands of dollars over the course of their lives?
I must say, that is as true as it gets. I went through my first transmission at approx. 33000. The dealer just replaced it instead of repairing it so it was pretty bad. At the same time they also replaced the whole rear end of the truck. The transmission blew again at approx 42000. Guess what? It was replaced. Now on my third (3) transmission at 56000. Also I went through a fuel pump, temperature sensor, multifunction switch, steering box, pitman arm, power steering pump, and the list continues. This truck was a jinx since day one. Will I ever buy another one? Answer, No way in hell! As soon as it comes out of the shop its up for sale. My advice to anybody thinking to buy a dodge ram, Don't!! If you still decide on purchasing one be sure to get the longest extended bumper to bumper warranty possible. My warranty already paid for itself 8 fold.
Jeremy.
You couldn't speak anymore truthful than that I have had nothing, but trouble with my 2001. Lets see, my wheel bearing, pinion bearing, transmission, and heater core have gone out. The lifters tap, drive shaft carrier bearing is making noise, fuel gage reads empty sometimes when it has a full tank and the heat shield fell off. I get a whole 10 miles per gallon on the highway and this is with the 5.2 and manual trans. The truck only has 61000 miles on it. So you're not the only one that will never buy a Dodge product again.
I hope you are not right because I just bought a dodge with 71,000 miles on it. One thing I have noticed is a whine coming from the rear. And also the poor gas mileage. I can only cross my fingers now.
Chuck.
I would check to see if the trucks were manufactured outside the U.S. I am saying this from a mechanic's perspective, and secondly I own a 2001 Ram that only has had a battery go bad on it. It has 70000 miles on it now and continually surprises me with the gas mileage it gets on the interstate as well as around town. I keep my engine serviced very well and clean my injectors regularly with an additive at my local auto parts store. Please don't give up on Dodge because of one bad one. If a company makes 350000 trucks a year, at least 35000 will have some problems just from human error from the factory. By the way, I just sold a 1998 Dakota with over 100000 miles on it and spent less than $300 total on the repair costs in its life. That is why I am in the truck I drive now.
When I purchased my 01' 1500 Ram 4x4 new, I did so in order to try and avoid constant repair bills usually associated with used vehicles. BIG MISTAKE!!! It would be a shorter list to describe the components of the vehicle that hasn't been replaced. You name it, it breaks. The vehicle is maintained to the letter and rarely driven, (30k miles. in 4 years) Transmission, ball joints, shift rod assembly (twice in 30k miles.) Windshield leaks, you name it. I'm going back to Ford. Greg Crohn. Blgtn Indiana
I bought my 01 5.2 Ram brand spanking new.
Started at 12 miles and now have 71,000 miles and have serviced the vehicle myself.
Short of regular service I have never had 1 major repair or problem with my Dodge.
Still the same beautiful, great sounding truck it was when I bought it.
I'm happy and really looking forward to a Hemi Ram soon.
I have a 2004 Quad Cab Dodge RAM Hemi and I will never buy another. The transmission shifts constantly going up or down hills, it clunks going downhill at slow speeds. Every action you take has a hesitation preceding it -- if you want to pass in a hurry -- forget it! Going uphill if you lose your momentum (as in somebody pulls in front of you going slow) it'll take 5 minutes to get back to speed -- with the HEMI. If you are 5'5" or under forget ever being comfortable in this truck -- your knees will not properly reach the end of the seat, and your feet will not rest comfortably on the pedals or floor. Only the cruise control saves me, but you can't use that if you drive on hills/mountains as it gives the transmission fits. The drivers seat with the Premium cloth is starting to shred in the back at 11,000 miles. I've only owned Japanese cars before and got 180,000 and 250,000 with minimal problems -- you can guess I'm going back to Japanese after reading the problems others have had with the RAM transmission and mine already sounding/acting bad. I just hope this thing holds up till I can find a way to get rid of it without losing to much.
Why would anyone in their right mind want to use cruise control and overdrive when driving through the mountains, constantly going up and down hills? All vehicles would drop in and out of overdrive in that type of situation, not just a Dodge Ram. That is NOT what cruise or overdrive are meant for. They are only meant to be used when you are driving on a flat, interstate type road where you will be going 70+mph for mile after mile. If you use overdrive continuously on hilly or around town type roads, you are very likely to have problems with the tranny at some point.
I have a 2001 dodge ram 1500 5 speed it has poor power I have had it two months and the driveshift was ready to fall out never go to ramey dodge to buy this one it is silver and king cab.
2001 Dodge Truck? Let's see. As an owner who was born and raised on MOPARS and some odds over the years, you need to know the tricks behind all of the problems. Poor gas mileage? When are you going to learn that just because it says CHAMPION or MOPAR on it, that it's good for your truck. Change the plugs to MOTORCRAFT and pick up a few extra miles to the gallon. My 96 LHS went from 264 MPG to 328mpg on the highway. IT takes me 2 weeks to drain 3/4 of a tank in the city going back and forth to work and some odd stops along the way throughout the week.
My 74 D250 3/4t Club Cab has over 218,000 miles on her and I bought her used in 78 with 84,000 on the dial. The engine was massaged in 1981 and the trans was tweaked with a B&M trans kit in 81. But she is also somewhat of a Frankenstein. By the VIN- her front suspension is 1973 1t ambulance and the rear is 1975 1t rated. The only trans trouble came in 1984 when the flex plate bolts sheared off. The Solution:re-drill, tap replace the 5/16 with 7/16.
Starters- The 318/360's of old used a 9.5 draw amp starter. And they usually gave out after excessive use. Excessive being stop and go driving all day, 7 days a week. You took it back to the dealer only to have the same thing happen again in a year. The solution? The 'B' block starter for the Chrysler 361-400. It draws only 7.2, cranks the engine faster and last a h... of a lot longer. Cost the same. And it bolts right in. It's been in my truck since 1979. All my other SB Mopars get the same treatment.
Trans fluid. Did you have the fluid changed or added to? Was it the newer fluid required for the NEW chrysler trans sold by Chrysler, or did you go to an auto supply store and buy off the shelf what you THOUGHT was the right stuff or did the kid at the oil change shop put in what he thought was right. Just because it says it will work for MOPARS doesn't mean a thing. I used a well known manufacturers fluid when I did a change a year ago. The manufacturer of this extended life fluid just sent me the check for the price of the trans repair AFTER I sent him the repair invoice, a bottle of the used fluid and box with a few of the parts in it.
Some of your Dodge truck/car problems are manufacturer related while others are dealer related. And then there are the owner problems.
My grandfathers, my father and I have all driven Dodge, Chevrolet and Ford trucks. The concensus: Chevy's/GMC's are tight in the front end, weak in the rear. Fords are car soft in the front and tight in the rear. The Dodge had the tightness of both vehicles.
I still drive my D250 when I need the capacity. I drive my LHS for highway comfort. But in 1987, I purchased my older son a new 1987 Toyota 1/2t truck for graduation. I bought it from him last year as a driver for work and light duty. The body is rough, and it has only been back to the dealer once to replace a bad hydraulic cylinder on the clutch. It has Motorcraft plugs and still runs like a champ today.
I use some of the tricks of the past on the cars and trucks of today and can say that when it comes time for me to purchase a new or used truck-it'll be another Dodge.
Want to know what else you can do for your MOPAR? BE it car or truck? charlie@netexpress.net.
I have an 04 hemi ram that looks pimp, but its the biggest piece of crap I've ever owned. At 8,000 miles had a seal replaced in the rear end, steering wheel replaced because the color was coming off, front rotors replaced and pads. One month later had the whole rear end replaced. Now for the new stuff six months later, makes a funny noise when you turn left, color is coming off the steering wheel again, both door speakers stopped working, it sometimes just dies, and the clear coat is now coming off the whole truck except the pass side door and bed side. Sunflower dodge in olathe kansas said it was caused by hard water, then said it was acid rain. There for it is not covered under the so called warranty. O-well its only $30,000 right?
I have a 2001 dodge 1500, in the last year all of my plastic in the cab of the truck has crack or fell apart I mean all plactic the cup holder, the glove box, the center arm box, my dash all the way across in one part of the dash I can put my hand through the dash. the back door handle, the black plastic rim around the speed & mph glass. I have took care of the interior of my truck.
Why?
OK, I have owned my 2001 dodge ram since 2002,bought it at 40,000 miles, since then, well I could write a book on the things...Tranny...Alignment...brakes...The dash is the worst, I purchased another one from a junker that was covered till the day I bought it, looked brand new, after six months back to peanut brittle, actually I think peanut brittle is stronger and would last longer... dash lights...door covers...shifter...cruise control... rear end...
Radio...tinting...air, i have replaced everything possible with the air and guess what, its going back to the shop today for it again... heating coil...seatbelts...Back to the dash, if I were to get in an accident, and the air bags deploy, I'm scared that my family would survive that accident, but die from dash fragments, let's all join a class action against dodge, is there one? I would love to get have of what I paid for this truck...
Just got my pickup 3months ago.now my pickup is the the shop for the 4th week in a roll. first went in for tail end is busted leaking oil. now they say driveline is cracked. again tail-end busted.plus bushings are out in the front end. got it back today heating up again. sounds like draging a chain sound from the trans HELP.