2000 Dodge RAM 3500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 most often describe the truck wandering across the road at highway speed, and dashboards that crack and break apart. Wiring and alternator fires, diesel fuel or injection pump failures, and trucks that come out of park or gear without the driver shifting are also reported. Where mileage is listed, reports range from 105 to 160,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Truck wanders from side to side at speed

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • typically at 0.9 yrs old
   • filed 2000–2006

   Owners describe the truck wandering from side to side or drifting across the road, most often at highway speeds of about 50 mph or more. Some say the steering felt tight or had excess play, and that alignments, shocks or a replaced strut did not fully resolve the problem. According to complaints, some dealers could not find a fault, and some complaints link the problem to the truck being overweight. Mileage is not listed in these complaints, and the wandering is described at highway speed, sometimes at any speed or in windy conditions.

   What to check: On a test drive, check whether the truck tracks straight at highway speed and whether it wanders in crosswinds, and ask for the alignment, shock and strut repair records. Ask whether the steering box, track bar and front-end parts were inspected, since some complaints describe repeated repairs without a clear fix.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer is experiencing multiple steering problems such as vehicle steers hard. Vehicle wandering on road. Excessive play in steering box. Dealer found bent steering damper, replaced steering box, and track bar. Consumer states steering is too tight. Dealer adjusted box to reduce steering effort. However, the vehicle still wanders.”

   NHTSA complaint #565554, filed 2002-05

   “While driving consumer found it very difficult to control vehicle in extremly windy conditions, vehicle would wander from side to side making steering a real problem, vehicle was inspected and a alignment was performed which did not correct the problem as well as replacing front and rear shocks, set air bags, and installed sway bar it was also determined that the vehicle was overweight which was causing the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #560629, filed 2001-04
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Dashboard and instrument panel cracking

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 91,900 mi at 7.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2015

   Owners describe the dashboard or instrument cluster cracking, becoming brittle, and breaking into pieces that can fall into the cabin or the instrument area. Some say cracks interfered with the defroster, and others worry about sharp pieces in a crash. According to complaints, the dealer called the failure a common occurrence in some cases, and in other cases the manufacturer was not contacted or offered no help. Listed mileage ranges from 55,000 to 160,000 miles, and some cracks are described as appearing soon after purchase.

   What to check: Inspect the dashboard and instrument cluster for cracks, loose pieces and gaps, and check the defroster airflow. Ask the seller whether the dash or cluster was ever repaired or replaced, since some complaints describe cracking that was never repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The cracking has done nothing but get worse. The dash has begun having chucks of broken plastic fall off into the instrumentation and on the floor. It has disproportionately devalued the truck. The dash should be replaced by Dodge along with the bezel on the instrument cluster which has 2 cracks in it. The cracks in the dash are also were inhibiting the defroster from clearing the windshield when fogged up on the inside. This was proving very dangerous until I removed the pieces that were blocking the air flow.”

   NHTSA complaint #10703573, filed 2015-04, 77,571 miles

   “Dodge 3500 dash cracking into pieces, con cern of sharp edges if in an accident and pieces falling through the dash onto gas linkage or brake preventing them from working.”

   NHTSA complaint #10189578, filed 2007-05, 118,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Wiring and alternator fires in the cab or engine bay

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 53,052 mi at 8.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2008

   Owners describe fires or smoke traced to wiring, including seat wiring harnesses that burned or smoldered under the seat, a harness that fell onto the engine, and an alternator fire that melted the battery. Some say the safety fuse did not blow as expected, and some fires started while the truck was parked or off. According to complaints, the manufacturer denied liability in some cases and did not offer assistance. Listed mileage ranges from 105 to 106,000 miles, and fires are described both while the truck was parked and while driving.

   What to check: Check the seat wiring harness and fuses for heat damage, melted insulation or burn marks, and look at the battery and alternator area under the hood. Ask for records of any electrical, seat or alternator repair or claim, since some complaints describe the seat harness as improperly installed at the plant.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2000 Dodge RAM 3500 quad cab/electric seat wiring harness fire. Safety fuse failed, thus resulting in smoldering fire between seat foam and along carpet below the seat. Harness was installed over metal frame, and compromised when anyone would set on the set. Over time the protective coating wore off and the wiring grounded out on seat frame. We got up one morning only to find the truck filled with smoke, and were unable to locate the reason. I continued to use the truck occasionally, even though I had no dash lights, radio, dome lights, etc... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10215831, filed 2008-01, 105 miles

   “Consumer states this is the second major problem they have experienced with the engine, in march the engine was rebuilt, the oil was changed 1-2 weeks prior to the fire, the fire appeared to have started from the alternator, the fire caused the battery to melt and acid got all over, the fire was contained to the engine compartment, claim 16-n124-673.”

   NHTSA complaint #6900888, filed 2002-01
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Diesel fuel or injection pump failures

   Mentioned in 4 of 49 sampled complaints

   Owners describe diesel trucks losing power or failing to start because of a lift pump, an injection pump or an electric fuel delivery pump. Some report fuel leaking from the diesel engine, with the injection pump replaced and a long wait for parts. Some say the pump was not covered by the vehicle warranty while the engine was. Listed mileage is about 44,000 to 85,000 miles, and some failures are described after the truck was shut off, with the pump described as a concern when towing.

   What to check: Ask whether the lift pump, injection pump and fuel delivery pump have been replaced or tested, and ask for records of any fuel leak repair. On a test drive, check that the truck starts after being shut off and holds power under load.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I drove my 2000 Dodge 3500 cummins diesel with 85000 miles to work and turned it off, when I came back it would not start. Chrysler refused to help. I then had the vp44 injector pump replace at a cost of $1550.00 to me . Expressway Dodge told me that the engine was still under warranty by cummins but the pump was not covered by chrysler.”

   NHTSA complaint #10134219, filed 2005-08, 85,000 miles

   “My complaint concerns my vehicle and several thousand others that belong to members of the turbo diesel register. The reason Im writing is in hopes that we can get a safety issue addressed, and corrected once and for all. There has been a repeated trend over several years now concerning the lift pump (fuel transfer pump) utilized in the 2500/3500 cummins diesel application. I am a member of the failed lift pump club and have experienced this lift pump failure on my 2000 3500 Dodge ctd. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10023367, filed 2003-06, 44,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Truck comes out of park or gear unexpectedly

   Mentioned in 4 of 49 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the truck coming out of park, or out of gear on a grade with a load, without the driver shifting. Some report injuries after the truck moved while parked, and a parking brake was reported to be overridden. Another says the shifter could be moved out of park without pressing the brake pedal, and according to complaints the dealer could not identify the reason in some cases. Mileage is not listed in these complaints, and the incidents are described while parked, while shifting, or while driving uphill with a load.

   What to check: On a test drive in a safe area, check that the shifter stays in park and that the brake pedal must be pressed to leave park. Ask whether the shift interlock and park mechanism have been inspected or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On april 2, 2012 I went to a ranch that I work at, put my truck in park, put the brake on, and opened the gate. I drove through and did the same procedure to go to close the gate. My truck popped out of park,ran through it's parking brake, the door knocked me down and the front tire of my Dodge 3500 ran over both of my legs and my arm. It broke my legs but did not brake my arm. I am still recovering. At first I thought it was my fault until I learned that this happens a lot and people even die as a result of this injury. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10467939, filed 2012-07

   “2001 Dodge 3500; while driving uphill with a load vehicle popped out of gear unexpectedly which could cause loss of vehicle control and a crash. Dealer could not determine the cause of the problem. Please provide further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #862712, filed 2000-05

Buying note. Buyers considering a 2000 Ram 3500 may want to test-drive at highway speed for wandering, check the dashboard and seat wiring for cracks or heat damage, and, for a diesel, ask whether the fuel pumps have been checked. A pre-purchase inspection that covers steering and alignment, the dashboard, wiring and the shifter addresses the main areas in the complaints above.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.