2000 DODGE RAM 2500 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

WHEN I ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL TO A DIFFERENT POSITION AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL FAILURE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES RENDERING THE TRUCK ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AT THAT SPEED. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS REPLICATED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE STATIONARY. APPARENTLY ANY MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHUT OFF COMPLETE POWER TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

UNEXPECTED ENGINE STALL ON HIGHWAY WHILE PULLING TRAILER. LEAD TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. NARROWLY AVOIDED MAJOR ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY. FOUND OUT LATER THERE IS A SERIOUSLY HIGH FAILURE RATE OF DIESEL INJECTION PUMPS DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *NM

Mileage: 75,000

TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 DODGE 2500 CLUB CAB THE ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ONCE THE CONSUMER WAS BALE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO EXPECT IT TO FAIL AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SLUGGISH SHIFTING. *JB *NM

Mileage: 33,329

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 AUTO WITH A CUMMINS DIESEL. FOR THE PRODUCTION YEARS 1998 TO 2001, SOME OF THESE ENGINES WHERE PRODUCED WITH AN INFERIOR ENGINE BLOCK (IDENTIFIED WITH A BLOCK CASTING NUMBER OF "53"). MORE SPECIFICALLY THESE BLOCKS HAVE THINNER WATER JACKET WALLS THAN OTHER BLOCKS SO WITH COOLANT CAVITATION, CORROSION, COOLANT PRESSURE IN THE BLOCK, AND TORQUE, THEY MAY CRACK, SPILLING YOUR COOLANT. WHEN THE CRACK OCCURS, AND THERE ARE VERY MANY DOCUMENTED CASES, IT IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE, THE SAME SIDE AS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY FIRES, ETC. BUT I KNOW THAT ENGINE COOLANT DOES CONTAIN FLAMMABLE INGREDIENTS AND THE EXHAUST CAN GET VERY HOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING. ALSO, THIS ENGINE WITH A 53 BLOCK HAS BEEN USED IN OTHER APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING: MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS, MOBILE HOMES, PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES AND MASS TRANSPORTATION BUSES. I SEARCHED THE NHTSA SITE FOR INFO REGARDING THE CUMMINS 53 BLOCK, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDED WOULD BE OF GREAT USE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK IN MY TRUCK HAS NOT CRACKED, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN PREVENTING A PROBLEM THAN EXPERIENCING IT. VERY MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.*JB

2000 DODGE RAM 2500 HAS A CUMMINS 5.9 LITER DIESEL ENGINE. THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS CRACK IN THE WATER JACKET AND IS LEAKING COOLANT. CUMMINS ENGINE MANUFACTURE HAS ADMITTED TO THIS AS BEING A PROBLEM AND HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 114,000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

CONSUMER NOTICE ENGINE LEAKING OIL FROM UNDER ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TECHNICIAN NOTICE VACUUM PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, CLAIM 37-3254-339. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE CAB WAS BURNED, CLAIM 36-A186-713. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE CAB WAS BURNED, CLAIM 36-A186-713. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, CLAIM 37-3254-339. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FIRE, CLAIM 37-3254-339. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FIRE, CLAIM 37-3254-339. *SLC

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ENTIRE CAB WAS BURNED, CLAIM 36-A186-713. *SLC

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ENTIRE CAB WAS BURNED, CLAIM 36-A186-713. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING TRUCK PULLS BADLY TO RIGHT. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER IT WOULD STRAIGHTEN UP. CONSUMER STATES THERE SUPPOSE TO BE A RECALL ON VEHICLE.*AK THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL OFF DUE TO WELD FAILURE. THE VEHICLES SURGES FORWARD RANDOMLY. THERE WAS SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE CAB WHEN WINDOWS ARE UP. THE STEERING BOX HAD FAILED AND REPLACED. TIE RODS AND MOTOR COMPARTMENT SEAL FAILED. THE CUSTOMER HAD RETURNED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. *YH