This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Leaving a gas station, I applied the brake to move into to drive, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I was fortunate enough to be next to the garage/mechanic I use and drove it into his lot. They are fixing it today. I was very lucky I had to stop for gas at that time and this failure didn't happen at an intersection. I have had many vehicles over my thirty years of driving and have never had a brake line "rust" and fail like this.
The brake line has failed. There is a pin hole leak. The metal brake line is between the gas tank and the frame of the vehicle. It has rusted out so much that it caused the line to fail. The line is hidden in the frame, which doesn't provide the adequate amount of space for the road wash to actually clean the line. It site on the frame and rusts away. This is a big safety issue if I was driving at speeds of greater than 25mph or started braking when I normally do. It happened in my drive way so no accident, but this can't be the right way to bring that line back to the rear of the vehicle. This line controls all the rear brakes.
On my 2001 Dodge 1500, there is a ton of rust on the underside parts. The frame and body aren't bad, but the things that attach are failing. The brake lines went, and the emergency brake all went at the same time, almost resulting in a wreck. The straps that hold the gas tank in place rusted out. The sheet metal attachment for the front axle is the latest. I's almost rusted out, and would have caused the front axle to detach if not replaced. ($$$$) yes, the truck is 10 years old and I live in nw pa where we use salt. Critical parts need to be protected from rust or made from stainless. This truck could have killed someone, probably me!
The brake line on my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 blew out above the gas tank. I've discovered this seems to be a very common problem among owners with similar makes. Definitely a safety issue. I'm at just about 160,000 miles.
On Friday September 17, 2010 I was driving down highway 231 in lafayette Indiana, when suddenly I realized I could no longer use the brakes on my truck. I tried to slow my vehicle by braking but my brakes were not working so I just let up on the gas. At this point my brake light came on as did my ABS light on the control panel. I was still about 40 miles away from my home and still had about 30 minutes of driving to do before I reached my destination. I drove about 20 miles an hour with my emergency lights on and was prepared to us my emergency brake if I needed to. Thankfully there was construction going on at the time on parts of highway 231 at the time, so parts of highway 231 were slow going anyway. However, the loss of my brake system should never have happened. I made it successfully home without injuring myself or anyone else on Friday September 17, 2010. However, my truck is only 9 years only and this incident should never have taken place. When I returned home all of my brake fluid was poring out and was completely out of the master tank under my hood. Furthermore, looking at the brake lines, the hard lines that lead to this problem revealed that severe rust had lead to the total breakdown and actually caused the hard lines of my brakes to brake in half, while I was driving. This should never happen in a nine year only vehicle, that is very well maintained. I have since replace my brake system with all new parts and bleed the brake system. I have also told people with whom I now have other Dodge's about my incident, to at least check their brake system for possible rust so they do not have to go through what I have gone through. I have kept the old part, at least for a while, in case I need to prove that this really did happen and these were really bad parts that Chrysler installed on these trucks. Most of all I would like to know why there were no recalls on this after there were so many problems with this same incident.
On 8/19/2009, I was traveling East on rt 360 in chesterfield co, va in my 2001 Dodge 1500 pickup truck. As I approached the light at turner rd, I apply the brakes but the truck was not stopping as normal. I struck the Nissan in front of me in the rear. Damage done to both vehicles but thankfully there were no injuries. It was later determined that the steel brake line that runs along the inside of the frame rail had burst causing the rear brakes to fail. The insurance company responded to the repair shop and inspected the old brake line. It appears from several Dodge forums that this is a common problem with some model years but Dodge refuses to address the issue. I believe this to be a very serious issue as the next victim may not be as lucky as I.
According to two mechanics, one being a dealer, my truck has brakes that were made for a passenger car, not a truck. The result is having to replace them about once a year or more, often having to replace the rotors, with several incidents of total brake failure. I have put about 4000 worth of brakes into this truck over the past few years. It seems to me that there should be a recall and Dodge should be forced to replace these brakes with heavy duty equipment.
Having noticed a loss in brake fluid, it became a rust out brake line. This truck, has 107K miles. And this brake line is in the rear portion of the gas tank area, that connects to the rear system. This seems to be a problem with these Dodge trucks. As have found others with the same issues.
I have a 2001 Dodge Ram pu which apparently was poorly designed with car brakes---per my mechanic and the dealer. It's my opinion that Dodge should reimburse me for the several brake jobs I've had to do since purchasing the truck and create a recall to have these undersize/unsafe brakes replaced. Thanks.
1. after exiting interstate, driver was backing out of a parking spot and applied brakes. Driver noticed reduction in braking ability and "mushy" brake pedal. Driver pulled back into parking spot to inspect vehicle. 2. brake line for driver side rear brake ruptured resulting in total loss of braking ability. Brake line ruptured due to corrosion. 3. replacement of brake line was required. Part is available.
2001 Dodge quad cab pickup has failing wiring in steering column which makes truck die while driving. Which in turn there is no power brakes or steering and no electrical functions that makes the truck run. Dead on the road literally. Who knows at what speeds this problem may occur. Luckily, it happened to me while going slow and I was able to stop the truck. No known human deaths yet that I have heard of from this. If the problem is not fixed with wiring harness there will be deaths, I'm pretty sure due to this problem. I would like to do my best to keep my family and other families safe. This needs to be dealt with before someone does die unnecessarily in an accident that can be avoided by replacing the problem part of the pickup. The bearing clutch, rear carrier bearing, axle seals, rotors, power steering pump, pinion carrier bearings were all replaced. Also, the right turn signal and headlights failed. The center seat console bolting system fell out of the truck, the plastic dashboard panel and housing around the instrument panel was cracked in four places. The gasket on the water pump was leaking. The gasket, water and timing chain were replaced. The clutch failed, due to the wrong year transmission being installed in the vehicle. A 2000 transmission was installed in the vehicle, instead of a 2001. Updated 10/15/14
The brake steel line which runs down the frame on the drivers side rotted out lucky my wife had just pulled out the driveway and was not at a high rate of speed if this happened on the highway someone could have been killed.
: the contact stated the vehicle's brakes have never worked properly since they bought it. The vehicle has had new brakes, calipers, rotors and the ABS system was tested every time the brakes were repaired. The brakes only last for 2 to 4 months before the brakes develop problems. During these failures the steering was shaky.
: the contact stated while driving 65 mph the right rear tire detached from the vehicle. Afterwards the vehicle fell to the ground and was pulled to the side of the road. After the tire was located the vehicle was towed to a local independent repair shop for inspection. The mechanic replaced the brake shoes and drums, wheel nuts and studs, combination spring kit and self adjuster kit. The manufacturer was alerted.
The front disc brakes have a five inch U shape metal clip on caliper. The clip backed out and cuts the wheel. Consumer has to take a screwdriver and push it back in when he hears it clicking. Consumer previously owned a 2000 Dodge Ram and it had the same problem. Consumer has not taken this vehicle to the dealership. But on the previous vehicle they replaced the clip and wheel.
The rear brakes on the vehicle do not function properly causing it to roll to a stop and almost hitting another vehicle. Manufacturer has been notified by consumer.
Front brakes fail at 20,000 miles +/-. vehicle has 53,000 miles and is ready for fourth set of front brakes. Dealer claims that this is normal wear and that 20,000 miles is normal service life for brakes.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- South Bend, IN, USA