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2011 Dodge RAM 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

491 reports with mileage · 197 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 175 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports7 fire reports17 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

214 reports
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100,100 miles · Apr 6, 2016
Electrical System

HAVING TIPM ISSUES WITH MY DODGE RAM 1500 IT HAS MY VEHICLE NOT WANTING TO TURN OVER WHEN TRYING TO START IT. AFTER A FEW TRIES IT EVENTUALLY TURNS OVER, BUT TODAY WHEN COMING BACK HOME MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CAUSING TO COAST DOWN THE STREET LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY OR ON A BUSY STREET.

NHTSA ODI #10853770

97,000 miles · Mar 8, 2016
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2011 RAM 1500 STOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY STREET AND STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD AND IT WAS HARD TO START UP. SO I TOOK IT TO GET FIXED THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP SO WE REPLACED IT,THEN I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND IT WOULD STAY STUCK TRYING TO TURN ON KILLED MY BATTERY BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE CHANGED THE FUEL PU…

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"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2011 RAM 1500 STOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY STREET AND STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD AND IT WAS HARD TO START UP. SO I TOOK IT TO GET FIXED THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP SO WE REPLACED IT,THEN I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND IT WOULD STAY STUCK TRYING TO TURN ON KILLED MY BATTERY BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN NOW THE FUEL PUMP WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL I PULL THE FUSE NOW THE SAY IT'S THE TIPM I CALLED THE DEALER AND SAID NO RECALL BUT I'M HAVING ALL THE PROBLEMS AS THE CARS THAT DO! I PUT ALL THAT I HAD TO GET A RELIABLE TRUCK FOR MY KIDS AND I AND THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI #10845638

40,000 miles · Feb 25, 2016
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING TO APPROXIMATELY 100 MPH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED OFF; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING TO APPROXIMATELY 100 MPH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED OFF; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE REVVED EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A ROLLING STOP WHEN IT WAS PLACED IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO SELL THE CONTACT A NEW VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10838497

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT DRAINED THE BATTERY VOLTAGE RANDOMLY AND THE VEHICLE STALED. THE BATTERY AND TWO FUSES WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT, BUT THE FAILURE RANDOMLY PROGRESSED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/COMPUTER NEEDED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT DRAINED THE BATTERY VOLTAGE RANDOMLY AND THE VEHICLE STALED. THE BATTERY AND TWO FUSES WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT, BUT THE FAILURE RANDOMLY PROGRESSED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND RANDOMLY STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION SO THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10838460

65,790 miles · Feb 11, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

EVERYTHING RAN FINE IN THE MORNING, TRUCK SAT FOR A FEW HOURS THEN WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID MOTOR WON'T WORK, POWER LOCKS ARE OUT, HIGH BEAMS WON'T SHUT OFF AT ALL, AND POWER LOCKS ARE OUT AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10825722

81,500 miles · Jan 28, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

TIPM (FUEL PUMP RELAY) DOES NOT LET THE TRUCK START. ITS NOT ALL THE TIME MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE BEEN STUCK OUT WITH THE TRUCK NOT STARTING. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. 1500 TO GET IT REPAIRED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LED COURTESY MIRROR LIGHTS DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. EVIDENCE OF MOI…

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TIPM (FUEL PUMP RELAY) DOES NOT LET THE TRUCK START. ITS NOT ALL THE TIME MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE BEEN STUCK OUT WITH THE TRUCK NOT STARTING. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. 1500 TO GET IT REPAIRED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LED COURTESY MIRROR LIGHTS DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. EVIDENCE OF MOISTURE ON LENSES.

NHTSA ODI #10822908

33,000 miles · Jan 25, 2016
Electrical System

DODGE TIPM RECALL MY VEHICLE FAILS TO START WHEN THE VEHICLE ARE COLD AFTER A FEW TRYS IT FINALLY CRANKS ITS CAUSES ENGINE STALLS AND THE DRAINING OF MY BATTERY BY FAILING TO CRANK IT STALLED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT ITS DANGEROUS ITS HAPPENING MORE AND…

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DODGE TIPM RECALL MY VEHICLE FAILS TO START WHEN THE VEHICLE ARE COLD AFTER A FEW TRYS IT FINALLY CRANKS ITS CAUSES ENGINE STALLS AND THE DRAINING OF MY BATTERY BY FAILING TO CRANK IT STALLED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT ITS DANGEROUS ITS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY LIKE EVERY DAY SINCE 1/20/2016.

NHTSA ODI #10822158

33,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. WHILE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO VOLUME FLUCTUATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) FAILED. THE TIPM WAS REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. WHILE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO VOLUME FLUCTUATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) FAILED. THE TIPM WAS REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821706

132,300 miles · Jan 8, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I REPLACED A FUEL PUMP, THEN A BATTERY, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 RAM 1500. COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A DEFECTIVE TIPM MODULE THAT IS NOW ON RECALL FOR SEVERAL OTHER MODELS OF DODGE VEHICLES. MY TIPM IS THE SAME ONES ON RECALL EXCEPT NOT ON THE RAM 1500. IT HAS COST ME $1,300.00. NOT THEY WANT $1,200.00 M…

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I REPLACED A FUEL PUMP, THEN A BATTERY, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 RAM 1500. COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A DEFECTIVE TIPM MODULE THAT IS NOW ON RECALL FOR SEVERAL OTHER MODELS OF DODGE VEHICLES. MY TIPM IS THE SAME ONES ON RECALL EXCEPT NOT ON THE RAM 1500. IT HAS COST ME $1,300.00. NOT THEY WANT $1,200.00 MORE. ADD ME TO ANY COMPLAINT AND RECALL REPAIRS YOU MAY HAVE.

NHTSA ODI #10819077

45,100 miles · Jan 7, 2016
Electrical System

TRUCK FAILS TO START AND/OR THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUES PUMPING AFTER TRUCK IS SHUT OFF, DRAINING THE BATTERY. THERE IS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP RELAY IN THE TIPM.

NHTSA ODI #10818680

Official recalls

4

18V160000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Mar 8, 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks currently, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Exposure to environmental conditions such as water mixed with road salt may cause the front fuel tank strap frame "T-Slot" bracket to corrode, possibly causing the fuel tank to drop and make contact with the ground.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel tank were to drop and contact the ground, a fuel leak may result. Additionally, in the event of a crash, the fuel tank may not remain secured to the vehicle, possibly causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence in an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will bolt a bracket reinforcement to the frame, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U04.

17V821000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Dec 20, 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.

13V038000 · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

Feb 6, 2013

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008. The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.

Remedy: On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.

10V656000 · Suspension:rear:axle:spindle

Dec 24, 2010

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RAM 1500 TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH DECEMBER 2010. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCE A NOISE (GROWL, GRIND) COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE BEARING WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY SEIZE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FAILURE OF THE BEARING COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL INSTALL AN OIL PORT INSERT INTO THE REAR AXLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 4, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.