2001 Dodge RAM 1500 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 53about this part
- Share
- 5%of 1,112 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,900miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 53 complaints about the steering of the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500, 5% of the 1,112 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,900 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have the same issue as thousands of others with the dash falling apart, this incident happened when the bezel just fell off of the dash onto the steering wheel while traveling down a busy highway. I had to try and steer with one hand while using the other to dislodge the bezel and hold it away from the steering wheel until I could safely pull over to the shoulder of the road. Since then my glove box has fallen off along with the drink holder. …”
NHTSA complaint #10583310, filed 2014-04, 145,000 miles“When driving down the road at over 45 to 50 MPH, if I hit a bump or dip in the road, the front end/steering wheel shakes violently. I have to slow down and sometimes almost stop to get it to quit. My wife was driving behind me one day when it happened and she reported the tire/wheel looked like it was going o lay on its side. She was concerned the tie rod would break and cause an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10368416, filed 2010-11, 50,000 miles“Fully turning the steering wheel right or left causes the tire(s) to rub on the shock hangar. This shreds rubber off the inside sidewalls of the tires. I ruined 2 tires and was lucky one or both did not blow out and cause an accident while I was driving. I have not had it fixed yet. I'm trying to find out if this has been reported before, so I can contact Dodge.”
NHTSA complaint #10103048, filed 2004-12, 33,000 miles“I own a 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 quad cab 4x4. When you hit a bump or pot hole at 50mph or faster the whole truck shakes violently so bad that you barely have control of the vehicle. It does not stop until you can slow the truck down..which is almost impossible. It happened to me 3 or 4 times on a major highway had to slam on the brakes to slow it down causing people around me to almost get in to accidents trying not to slam into me because in had no control of the truck. …”
NHTSA complaint #10351608, filed 2010-08, 80,000 miles“2001 Dodge ram with less than 40,000 miles and the bearings and steering knuckle went out and the wheel came off. Did not wreck but only because my husband was driving and he is a professional driver. Had I been driving we could have had a serious wreck and injured or even killed all 6 of us in the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10033341, filed 2003-08, 38,000 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 47 | 7% |
| 2011 | 45 | 7% |
| 2010 | 41 | 8% |
| 2009 | 28 | 4% |
| 2008 | 103 | 19% |
| 2007 | 60 | 12% |
| 2006 | 84 | 11% |
| 2005 | 59 | 5% |
| 2004 | 86 | 8% |
| 2003 | 44 | 4% |
| 2002 | 44 | 5% |
| 2001 | 53 | 5% |
| 2000 | 17 | 3% |
| 1999 | 32 | 5% |
| 1998 | 28 | 5% |
| 1997 | 23 | 6% |
| 1996 | 23 | 8% |
| 1995 | 16 | 8% |
| 1994 | 17 | 15% |
| 1991 | 1 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500
548 complaintsOther or unknown
113 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
95 complaintsAir bags
84 complaintsElectrical system
81 complaintsSuspension
69 complaintsBrakes
59 complaintsEngine cooling
51 complaintsTires
33 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
26 complaintsEquipment
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology