2001 DODGE RAM 2500 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MY STEEL BRAKE LINE ON THE FRAME BROKE AT THE REAR COUPLING DUE TO RUST. THIS TRUCK WAS DRIVEN ON NJ ROADS AND NEVER PUT A BOAT IN WATER. *TR

Mileage: 226,000

DRIVING MY DODGE TRUCK TO WORK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR FOR NO REASON. PADS AND FLUID WAS OK WHEN CHECKED SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR. LIMPED HOME ON BACKUP BRAKE RESERVOIR. ALMOST NO BRAKES. TOOK IT TO A SHOP. THEY FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON THE FRAME BEHIND THE TANK (CAN'T SEE IT) WAS BADLY RUSTED AND PERFORATED AT SEVERAL SPOTS ON SEVERAL LINES. REPLACED BOTH LINES. CURRENT INSPECTION (2/23/2012) SHOWS BRAKE LINES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BADLY RUSTED BETWEEN THE ABS BRAKE COMPONENTS. THESE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

UNDER SOLID BRAKING AT 20 MPH THE MAIN HARD LINE FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR BRAKES BLEW AT THE 45* BEND NEXT TO THE FUEL TANK. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE BRAKES WERE PUMPED REPEATEDLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 95,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 55,400

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AT A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST. HE STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

Mileage: 114,000

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. OBVIOUSLY, SINCE I AM A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, I HAVE A TENDENCY TO START MY TRUCK AND GO, SO THIS ISSUE IS VERY WORRISOME TO ME. *TR

Mileage: 148,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, HE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE STEEL HYDRAULIC PIPELINE HAD FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT ALSO WANTED TO INCLUDE IN THE COMPLAINT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,089. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 79,000

ORDERED TRUCK NEW. HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HAD THE FRONT LEFT BRAKELINE FAIL COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. NEVER A DROP OF FLUID LEAKED BEFORE IT HAD AN IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING. VERY SERIOUS FAILURE THAT NORMALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN IN MODERN VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 82,133

2001 DODGE RAM 2500, DIESEL 4WD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. FAILURE CAUSED BY FAILURE OF DRIVER SIDE, OUTBOARD BRAKE LINE. LINE FAILED DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT THAT RESULTS IN THE LINE CHAFING AGAINST ITSELF UNTIL A HOLE APPEARS AND ALL BRAKE PRESSURE IS LOST. LINE CHAFES IF DURING HARD LEFT TURN. VISUAL INSPECTION OF RIGHT SIDE LINE SHOWS IT MAY ALSO BE SUBJECT TO THIS SORT OF FAILURE. ISSUE SEEMS TO BE KNOWN TO DODGE COMPANY. NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE IN US FROM DODGE DUE TO NATIONAL BACKORDER. *TR

Mileage: 132,100

2 DIFFERENT BRAKE LINES FAILED THE SAME DAY.. BOTH RUSTED THROUGH THE REST OF THE LINES NEAR THE BOOSTER AND THE ANTI LOCK ARE ALL RUSTED ALSO... TRUCK HAD NO MORE THAN A FEW WEEKS IN SNOW AND NEVER ON THE BEACH....I LIVE IN FLA... *TR

Mileage: 93,000

DASHBOARD CRACKING AND FALLING ON ELECTRICAL WIRE, SHORTING OUT THINGS, KEEPS BLOWING THE ABS FUSE. *AK

Mileage: 75,000

MY BRAKES AND STEERING HAVE FAILED FOUR TIMES ON MY DODGE RAM. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHRYSLER AND IN BOTH CASES THE REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO ASSIST ME. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAVE HAD MY BRAKES FAIL FOUR TIMES ON MY DODGE RAM 3/4 TON TRUCK. THEY SAID MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THAT I AM 2700 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY THAT IS ALL THAT CAN BE DONE. *JB

Mileage: 4,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER WAS DAMAGED. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE ABS SYSTEM, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #01V153000, REGARDING THE AIRBAGS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER. THERE IS NOW A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. WHILE TRAVELING 60-65MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND ALL FOUR TIRES LOCKED RESULTING IN TIRE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE IT IS NOW BEING INSPECTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

Mileage: 74,000

(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.

Mileage: 40,000

2001 DODGE RAM 2500. REMOVED LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER DUE TO A SQWEAK THAT COULD BE HEARD AT LOW SPEED. ONE BRAKE PAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE METAL BACKING. WHEN INSPECTING OTHER 3 BRAKES, AT LEAST ONE PAD IN EACH CALIPER SHOWS SIGNS OF BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. PADS HAVE A MINIMUM OF 1/2" OF MATERIAL LEFT. VEHICAL MILEAGE IS 41966. ALL PADS WERE REPLACED. THE OLD ONES ARE AVAILABLE.*AK

Mileage: 41,966

DRIVER STATED THAT BRAKES FAILED ON VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION RESULTING IN CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *LA

Mileage: 73,300

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

SAME COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED THREE TIMES. SECOND 10/31/2001 THIRD 4/2002. CALIPER CONTINUES TO FAIL AND RUIN ROTOR AND DISCS. *AK

THE ABS GOES OFF OVER MINOR BUMP SUCH AS THE WARNING BUMPS APPROACHING TOLL BOOTHS IN ILLINOIS. THIS IS A PROBLEM SLOWING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKES LOSE PRESSURE LIKE NEAR COMPLETE BRAKE FADE AND ONE MUST APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO STOP THE TRUCK. THIS COULD LEAD TO REAR END COLLISIONS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED TO BARRINGTON DODGE AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WOULD EXPECT CONCERN ABOUT CUSTOMER SAFETY AFTER THE FORD TIRE RECALLS AND DEATHS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5-6 TIMES FOR BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY GRAB/ RELEASE/ CATCH AND LOCK UP. DEALER KNOWS THERE IS A LEAK BUT CAN'T FIND IT. THEY HAVE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS FOR 2 DATES, AND HAVEN'T SHOWED UP.*AK WHEN APPLIED, BRAKES WILL SUDDENLY RELEASE, WHEN THE BRAKES DO GRAB, THEY LOCK CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID, CONSTANT LOSS OF FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. REPLACED CLOCKSPRING DUE TO POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5-6 TIMES FOR BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY GRAB/ RELEASE/ CATCH AND LOCK UP. DEALER KNOWS THERE IS A LEAK BUT CAN'T FIND IT. THEY HAVE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS FOR 2 DATES, AND HAVEN'T SHOWED UP.*AK WHEN APPLIED, BRAKES WILL SUDDENLY RELEASE, WHEN THE BRAKES DO GRAB, THEY LOCK CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID, CONSTANT LOSS OF FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. REPLACED CLOCKSPRING DUE TO POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5-6 TIMES FOR BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY GRAB/ RELEASE/ CATCH AND LOCK UP. DEALER KNOWS THERE IS A LEAK BUT CAN'T FIND IT. THEY HAVE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS FOR 2 DATES, AND HAVEN'T SHOWED UP.*AK WHEN APPLIED, BRAKES WILL SUDDENLY RELEASE, WHEN THE BRAKES DO GRAB, THEY LOCK CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID, CONSTANT LOSS OF FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. REPLACED CLOCKSPRING DUE TO POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL. *SLC

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TOO FAR DOWN AND IT IS POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING AN INTERFERENCE. *AK

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH FRONT WHEELS LOCKING UP WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE REMAINED IN DEALER'S SHOP, AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK