2001 DODGE RAM Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

BOUGHT A 2 YR OLD DURANGO WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT AT CARMAX. AT 116,000 MILES IT STARTED KNOCKING. I TOOK IT TO ALLEN SAMUELS DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THE ENGINE FAILED. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AT OUR COST FOR 6K, BECAUSE WE STILL OWED 7K ON THE VEHICLE. WE BOUGHT NEW TIRES AS WE DECIDED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO RECOVER SOME OF THE COST. 3 MONTHS LATER, THE NEW ENGINE FAILED, THE VEHICLE DIED AS I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND TURNING UNDER AN OVERPASS. I WASN'T AWARE THE VEHICLE HAD DIED, UNTIL I REALIZED THE POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT WHEN I TRIED TO TURN. THE DEALER IS GOING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE THIS TIME, BUT WE HAVE DECIDED WE NEED TO CUT OUR LOSSES AND GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP A CAR LIKE THIS. WE HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND THIS IS THE VEHICLE THAT WE TRAVEL IN AS A FAMILY DAILY. IT IS TOTALLY UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND PULLING A TRAILER THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED , AND THE NO FURTHER FAILURES OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,099. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AK

A LOUD BANGING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE NUMBER THREE INJECTOR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE DRIVER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD CRACKED. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING. CONSUMER STATED ENGINE SLIPPED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEADS AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

DEALER COULDN\\'T DIAGNOSE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. KEPT REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER UNTIL TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE @ 30,000 KM. 10 MONTH FIGHT FOR ENGINE. 6 WEEKS TO REPLACE IN SHOP. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST SINCE NEW. TRUCK HAS 77,000 KM NOW. IT IS TOTALLY INCAPABLE OF TOWING RV, WHAT TRUCK WAS BOUGHT FOR. MAX FUEL MILEAGE EMPTY IS 10 MPG, 4 LOADED. EXCESSIVE SMOKE. ALL SYMPTOMS VERIFIED BY OUTSIDE SOURCES, AND DODGE STATES THE PROBLEM IS WITH ME. AM A FORMER DIESEL MECH, AND TRUCKER. DODGE REFUSES OUTSIDE DIAGNOSIS INCLUDING CUMMINS. THIS TRUCK HAS OVER 18 MONTHS OF DOWNTIME. JUST GOT TRUCK FROM DEALER TODAY AGAIN, WAS TOLD 2 WEEKS AGO THAT THIS ENGINE IS TOASTED, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH ENGINE. THEY DIDN\\'T EVEN HAVE THE COURTESY TO RETURN PHONE CALLS OR EVEN TO CALL FOR ME TO PICK UP THE TRUCK. DODGE WILL NOT EVEN ACCEPT FUEL LOGS. HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $20,000 OUT OF POCKET TO KEEP THIS BUCKET GOING, FOR THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARRANTY AND OUTSIDE DIAGNOSIS. AM SETTING UP LAWSUIT NOW, AS I CANNOT USE THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS EVEN FAILED GOV\\'T EMMISION TEST. WHO CARES? THANKS

Mileage: 48,000

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, ENGINE FAILED, AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR 20 DAYS. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIRS. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS 2 YEARS OLD WHEN PURCHASED. THE FRONT BRAKE WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHILE BRAKING. THE TIMING CHAIN MADE NOISE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS BALD. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. *AK *NLM

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

BUILD UP OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND BURN-OUT OF ROD BEARINGS WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE. SCHEDULE SET FORT IN OWNERS MANUAL AND HAVE VERIFIABLE PROOF OF COMPLETED MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, SYSTEM IS FULL OF SLUDGE CAUSING THE BEARINGS TO BURN OUT. *NLM

THE ENGINE RATTLED.*DT *JB

THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PH SCC

Mileage: 29,000

NO PARTS AVAILABLE:::::::::THE CONSUMER RECEIVE A RECALL FOR POWER GENERATOR CABLE CRYSTAL CHRYSLER CENTER 36444 AUTO PARK DRIVE CATHEDRAL CITY CA . SERVICE MANAGER ROBERT 760 324 4557. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN 7MONTHS SHE RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE IN 01-JUN-02. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROIBLEM. TS

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE MOTOR KNOCK AND VALVE RATTLE NOISE WHICH OCCURS WHENEVER THE MOTOR WAS UNDER ANY LOAD, THE DEALER MADE ONE COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT THAT HELPED A LITTLE AND MADE SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE TYPES OF GASOLINE TO USE, CONSUMER STATES WHEN GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL AGAIN UNDER ANY LOAD THE MOTOR RATTLE NOISE HAS RECURRED TO A NOTICEABLE DEGREE.*JB *NM

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER CONTACTED.*AKDEALER REPALCED AIS MOTOR, RESET FUEL MEMORY IN PCM AND REPLACED MAP SENSORS. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PRNDL IS LOOSE. DEALER ADJUSTED PRNDLE. *TT

VEHICLE WILL PRODUCE TOO MUCH STATIC ELECTRICITY SO MUCH THAT CONSUMER WILL END UP WITH DISC COLOR ON HIS FINGERS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES CLUTCH SEIZED AND VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND FLYWHEEL AND FOUND CLUTCH DISC BURNED OUT. CUSTOMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING. CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE WILL BUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IN 1ST GEAR. VEHICLE SHUDDERS WHEN DRIVING AND CUSTOMER HAS COMPLETELY LOST CLUTCH.*TT *NM

ENGINE TRIES TO STALL WHEN GOING AROUND CURVE. VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IT PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND CHRYSLER DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A PROBLEM.*AK

THE VEHICLE HAS CONSTANT ROUGH IDLE AND SPORADIC ENGINE MISS, QUIVERING, HESITATION AND SLUGGISHNESS, DEALER HAS CHANGER OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR FILTER BUT PROBLEM PERSIST. *YH

THE VEHICLE HAS CONSTANT ROUGH IDLE AND SPORADIC ENGINE MISS, QUIVERING, HESITATION AND SLUGGISHNESS, DEALER HAS CHANGER OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR FILTER BUT PROBLEM PERSIST. *YH

AFTER EVERY OIL CHANGE CRANKCASE WILL LEAK EXHAUST SMOKE INTO CABIN OF VEHICLE. WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE VEHICLE.*AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATION/SHAKING AT IDLE, SUBSTANTIAL VIBRATION AT 1400 RPM, VIBRATION THRU STEERING WHEEL, FLOORBOARDS AND SEAT, THERE IS ALSO A GRINDING SENSATION AT 65 MPH AND A BOOMING SOUND AT 70 MPH, THIS IMBALANCE IS CAUSING WEAR OF OTHER COMPONENTS. NLM

THE EVAPORATOR CANISTER FAILED. NLM

REPORTED ON 02/12/01 ODI# 740772 WOULD LIKE SOME FEEDBACK ON ISSUE THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

STEERING GEAR BOX DEFECTIVE/UNSAFE..SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DEFECTIVE UNSAFE...EVAPORATIVE CANISTER DEFECTIVE PER FEDERAL EMMISSIONS LAWS. *AK

STEERING GEAR BOX DEFECTIVE/UNSAFE..SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DEFECTIVE UNSAFE...EVAPORATIVE CANISTER DEFECTIVE PER FEDERAL EMMISSIONS LAWS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED SIDE MIRRORS SHAKE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER HAS REPLACED MIRRORS THREEE TIMES AND DEALER REFUSE TO FIX OR INVESTIGATE ANY FURTHER, THERE IS A FRONT END NOISE IN SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS, SPRINGS,SJOCKS AND SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED AND THE NOISE STOPPED FOR TWO WEEKS AND REOCCURED, ENGINE IDLING ROUGH, POOR GAS MILEAGE, FOUND THAT SPARK PLUG MISFIRED, ENGINE STALLS WHEN IN GEAR CONSUMER ALSO STATES SEAL AROUND WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED..*JB

GASKETS FROM OIL FILTER CLOGGED CARBURETOR, CAUSING THROTTLE TO STICK WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE . DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, AND PLACED IN DRIVE IT WILL CUT OFF. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. DEALR HAS BEEN CONTACTED,AND CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

EXCESSIVE CRANKCASE OIL VAPORS ENTERING PASSANGER COMPARTMENT CAUSED BY THE IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE OPEN VENT SYSTEM.THE HEAVY SMELL AND VAPORS WILL BURN YOUR EYES AND CAUSE A PERSON TO BECOME SICK I FEEL THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR WHILE STOPPED AT SIGNALS ETC. THE VAPORS AND SMELL WILL DISSIPATE SOME AFTER TWO TO THREE THOUSAND MILES AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE BUT RETURNES AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY DEALERS THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NO RSOLVE AT THIS TIME.

THE MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE WHILE UNDER LOAD, THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE COMPUTER CODES AND IT OPERATED MORE EFFICIENTLY, THE PROBLEM REOCCURED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NO FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS COULD BE MADE BECAUSE THE ENGINEERS HAD NOT ISSUED ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENT CODES, THE CONSUMER TRIED DIFFERENT TYPES OF GASOLINE THAT ONLY CHANGED THE MILES PER GALLON. *SLC

SEVERAL DODGE RAM OWNER W/ AUTOMATIC TRANS AND DIESEL ENGINES HAVE ALSO REPORTED TRANS PROBLEMS, THIS ONE INPARTICULAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE AT ALL . *AK