2000 Dodge RAM Problems
- Complaints
- 147filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 63,000miles, 18 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 6campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2000 Dodge RAM (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2000 Dodge Ram report a wide spread of problems rather than one dominant fault: steering wander and front-end shake, brake pedal and stopping issues, airbags that did not deploy in impacts, transmission failures and hard shifting, and hood latches that released while driving. Complaints arrive at fairly low miles for steering and electrical trouble, while airbag non-deployment reports tend to come on much higher-mileage trucks.
- Air bags
Airbags did not deploy in a crash
- 21 complaints (14%)
- median 133,500 mi at 5.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
- 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2005
Complaints describe frontal, side and rollover impacts in which neither the driver nor passenger airbag deployed, with occupants reporting injuries. The manufacturer's responses quoted in the complaints say the impact was not severe enough to trigger deployment. Several owners say they never received an explanation for the non-deployment. Mostly reported on higher-mileage trucks, with several above 70,000 miles and some far higher.
What to check: Ask whether recall 01V153000 (sound deadener inside the steering wheel) was performed, and check that the airbag warning lamp behaves normally at start-up.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Dt: the caller's vehicle was involved in a rollover accident while going 45 MPH. The vehicle hit a bump in the road. When the caller lost control of vehicle he overcorrected and rolled over. Upon impact, both driver's side and passenger's side air bags did not deploy. The caller was slightly injured. Dealer and manufacturer have not been contacted yet.”
NHTSA complaint #10136951, filed 2005-09, 73,000 miles“Dt: the consumer was involved in an accident and the air bag on driver's side did not deploy. She was going about 20 MPH and hit a telephone pole. The caller said the air bags were working. The caller was injured when she hit the steering wheel. Police were called and a report was taken. . Dealer and manufacturer have not been contacted yet. Vehicle was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10134918, filed 2005-08, 194,000 miles - Brakes
Brake pedal goes soft or to the floor
- 18 complaints (12%)
- median 72,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2004
Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor or feeling soft when braking, sometimes with the vehicle pulling to one side, and in some cases rear-ending another vehicle. One complaint reports a brake line rubbing against a rod and wearing a hole, and another describes pads that wore out early. Dealers' responses in the complaints range from acknowledging the problem to declining repairs. Reported from low mileage up to around 80,000 miles, in ordinary driving and highway braking.
Recall 01V038000Recall 04V185000
What to check: Ask whether recall 01V038000 (front brake hose/ABS sensor clearance) was completed, and check the pedal feel and brake line routing for rubbing or leaks.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Consumer stated while attempting to apply the brakes they grabbed and then released. As a result, the consumer's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. No injuries reported.”
NHTSA complaint #10091760, filed 2004-10, 72,000 miles“Brake line on rear drivers side of the vehicle rubs against a rod in vehicle, causing a hole, 3/16th of an inch deep, to form in brake line. Dealer tied brake line to vehicle so that line would not rub against rod. Please provide any additional information/attachments.”
NHTSA complaint #891005, filed 2001-06 - Steering
Steering wander, play and front-end shake
- 25 complaints (17%)
- median 52,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2004
Complaints describe the truck wandering or darting left and right, needing constant correction of the steering wheel, and a front-end shimmy or shake at highway speeds. Several owners say the steering box or tie rod ends were worn, and some report the wheel locking during a turn. According to the complaints, dealers either could not reproduce the problem or made an adjustment that did not resolve it. Often reported at low mileage, many under 40,000 miles, and typically at highway speeds above 50 mph.
What to check: Drive it at highway speed and check for wander, play in the steering wheel and vibration through the front end. Have the steering box, tie rod ends, track bar and front hubs inspected before buying.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While having the front passenger side tire check by the dealership because it was balled. The dealership noticed that the wheel bearing lubrication had depleted. This resulted in the hub developing rust and the axle seizing.”
NHTSA complaint #10066665, filed 2004-04, 58,000 miles“Dodge RAM 3500 has poor directional control when traveling at speeds greater than 50 MPH. Consumer cannot find a dealership that can examine and correct the defect. Consumer feels this vehicle is dangerous to be operated on road because consumer has to have both hands on steering wheel at all times. Consumer states dealer has made an adjustment that did not help.”
NHTSA complaint #887496, filed 2001-05 - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission failure and harsh shifting
- 8 complaints (5%)
- median 57,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
- filed 2000–2004
Owners report transmissions that slipped, jerked on cold starts, or quit entirely while driving, leaving the vehicle unable to move. Some complaints describe planetary gear damage, a failed torque converter or overdrive module, and repair estimates in the thousands of dollars. In one case transmission fluid came out of the dipstick tube onto the hot converter. Reported from around 30,000 miles upward, with failures commonly described near 60,000 to 80,000 miles.
What to check: Check the transmission fluid for color and smell, drive from cold and note any shudder, slip or hard engagement, and ask whether the transmission has ever been rebuilt.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Overdrive module and torque convertor both failed at 59000 miles. Had vehicle back to dealer around 34000 for a vibration in the transmission and they stated nothing was wrong, that was the beginning of the torque convertor problem. Dodge won't stand behind their products and an automatic transmission should last 150,000 miles or more without a rebuild.”
NHTSA complaint #10071208, filed 2004-01, 34,000 miles“Consumer stated that transmission failed at 80,000 miles. While driving to work power shut down, and the vehicle stopped. Consumer had vehicle towed to a Dodge dealer, and was told that the transmission failed. The dealer/mechanic told consumer that in order to repair vehicle it would cost her from $3000.00 to $5000.00.”
NHTSA complaint #10053405, filed 2004-02, 80,000 miles
Buying note. This model year draws complaints across steering, brakes, airbags and transmission rather than a single fault, so a careful pre-purchase inspection of those systems and confirmation that the listed recalls were completed matter more than mileage alone. Records showing steering and brake work done, plus a transmission service history, are useful to ask about.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.
NHTSA recorded 147 consumer complaints for the 2000 Dodge RAM. 18 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 63,000 miles. Of all complaints, 31 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 34 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 2 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes24 16%
- Air bags23 16%
- Steering22 15%
- Suspension20 14%
- Engine cooling15 10%
- Electrical system13 8.8%
- Equipment8 5.4%
- Fuel system7 4.8%
- Body and structure7 4.8%
Also reported: Other or unknown (6), Seat belts (5), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (5), Latches, locks and linkages (4), Seats (4), Tires (4), Vehicle speed control (4), Wheels (2).
Example complaints
Brakes: “I had my brakes overhauled and had to have the rotors exchanged because of a defect the manufacturer knew about but failed to notify consumers. The brake rotors are machined to such close tolorances, that they would have to be changed at the first repairs. I have talked to service people whom have had them changed at less than 30 k miles. I feel an recall should be made by the manufacturer or the extra money refunded by the manufacturer.”
NHTSA complaint #763484, filed 2002-06Air bags: “We received a letter stating that we were not going fast enough for air bags to deploy. Our speed was 65 miles per hour . According to the skid marks and based on the report from the mississippi highway patrol and the mississippi sheriff.”
NHTSA complaint #755595, filed 2001-12Steering: “I have had numerous problems with this vehicle but I am only concerned about the steering safety concern. I have been trying to have it fixed through a chrysler dealer but they have run out of ideas. It seems that in the slightest wind or passing truck the vehicle gets thrown in to anothe lane or shoulder. I am informing you because there may be other owners who have the same problem and could be in great danger.. Thanks.”
NHTSA complaint #756436, filed 2002-01Transmission and drivetrain: “My three year old put my truck in gear if I was not there to stop it he could have been seriously hurt . Something needs to be done to fix this problem ,I am not the only mother that drives a truck that has children, I know that it is mandatory for light trucks ,but why not these? Someone is going to be hurt seriously from this.”
NHTSA complaint #728555, filed 2000-08Mileage when problems were reported
33% of the 18 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 73,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2000 Dodge RAM. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAM · sedan | not rated | 3 / 4 | — | — | — |
| RAM · coupe | not rated | 4 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Recalls and investigations
- 04V185000Apr 12, 2004Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control…Covers: Dodge RAM 1998–2003
On certain van and wagon vehicles equipped with 4-wheel antilock brake systems (abs), aftermarket batteries may leak electrolyte onto the abs control module connector, which can compromise sealing integrity of the connector.
- 01V253000Aug 2, 2001Electrical system › WiringCovers: Dodge RAM 2000–2001
Vehicle description: vans and wagons not equipped with power front seats. In the presence of road salt, water, and possibly other debris, the power seat connector located beneath the driver's seat could develop a high resistive short circuit that cycles the…
- 01V153000May 8, 2001Air bagsCovers: Dodge RAM 1997–2001, Dakota 1997–2000, Durango 1997–2000 +3 more
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th vin position) from may 16, 2000…
- 01V038000Feb 12, 2001Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCovers: Dodge RAM 2000
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with an anti-lock braking system (abs). Some vehicles may have inadequate clearance between the front tire/wheel and the brake hose/abs sensor wire assembly. During full lock turns, it is possible for the tire or…
- 00V107000Apr 11, 2000Trailer hitchesCovers: Dodge RAM 1998–2000
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with optional trailer hitch. The trailer hitch side brackets were manufactured using material with insufficient strength.
- 00V007000Jan 11, 2000Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower armCovers: Dodge RAM 2000
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The welds at the right side lower control arm bracket to axle tube attachment may have inadequate fatigue life due to poor weld quality. This can lead to separation of the control arm bracket from the axle tube.
Recall details for the 2000 Dodge RAM → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 2 on record; the latest 2 are shown.
- 10019273Jan 1, 2006Transmission and drivetrain. Catalytic converter warranty coverage customer reminder letter.
- 10018976Dec 21, 2005Engine cooling. Rattling sound from the underside of the vehicle. Catalytic converter extended warranty to replace the catalytic converter.
Other model years of the Dodge RAM
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 27 | 10,025 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2009 | 9 | 43,992 | 5 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 25 | 25,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2007 | 17 | 59,436 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2006 | 25 | 36,470 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 40 | 22,500 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 58 | 37,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2003 | 53 | 38,750 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 116 | 37,827 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 318 | 45,000 | 9 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 147 | 63,000 | 6 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 366 | 78,000 | 9 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 483 | 74,000 | 13 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 398 | 80,000 | 7 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 625 | 81,500 | 10 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1995 | 611 | 102,398 | 12 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 469 | 125,254 | 18 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1993 | 54 | 111,275 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 58 | 87,000 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 51 | — | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 23 | 17,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 28 | — | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 22 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 18 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1986 | 18 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1985 | 10 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Dodge RAM model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Dodge RAM?
Owners of the 2000 Dodge Ram report a wide spread of problems rather than one dominant fault: steering wander and front-end shake, brake pedal and stopping issues, airbags that did not deploy in impacts, transmission failures and hard shifting, and hood latches that released while driving. The issues reported most often: Airbags did not deploy in a crash; Brake pedal goes soft or to the floor; Steering wander, play and front-end shake.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2000 Dodge RAM have?
NHTSA recorded 147 consumer complaints for the 2000 Dodge RAM as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2000 Dodge RAM is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 24 complaints (16% of the total), followed by air bags with 23.
Has the 2000 Dodge RAM been recalled?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2000 Dodge RAM reported?
Among the 18 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 63,000 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 73,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.