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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

Engine complaints

151 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

If I am driving and a lifter gives out and the vehicle shuts down then ANYTHING can happen at any speed. SO wtf are ya'll talking about this is not a safety concern? So if u want to get into how many people are in harms way if this fails we are talking about Thousands to Millions. AS THESE CARS GET OLDER WE WILL ONLY SEE THIS HA…

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If I am driving and a lifter gives out and the vehicle shuts down then ANYTHING can happen at any speed. SO wtf are ya'll talking about this is not a safety concern? So if u want to get into how many people are in harms way if this fails we are talking about Thousands to Millions. AS THESE CARS GET OLDER WE WILL ONLY SEE THIS HAPPEN MORE OFTEN. Build a terrible product u need to get called out for the terrible design because u wee trying to screw people out of repair money by the terrible design. These companies should be sued out of existence. They dont care about the longevity of their product and should not be allowed to sell to AMERICANS.

NHTSA ODI #11421304

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2021
Engine

Engine is giving a code that a lifter is bad. With only 170000 miles this should never be a problem unless there is a defect with the parts used to make the engine.

NHTSA ODI #11421303

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2021
Engine

The lifters are knocking and there's a tick in the engine. I've done some research and there's a whole forum regarding complaints for the Hemi's 5.7L engines in this specific year of my vehicle and other FCA vehicles, stating the notorious "Hemi tick" and the lifters going bad. Yes my vehicle is available for inspection because …

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The lifters are knocking and there's a tick in the engine. I've done some research and there's a whole forum regarding complaints for the Hemi's 5.7L engines in this specific year of my vehicle and other FCA vehicles, stating the notorious "Hemi tick" and the lifters going bad. Yes my vehicle is available for inspection because I can't afford the amount shops are trying to charge. If multiple vehicle's, made by FCA with the Hemi engine for models 2011, are having the same issue I would think it had to do with a manufacturing defect. The vehicle has caused a major vibration and jerking when I try to drive which could in turn cause me to wreck! My vehicle has been inspected at a shop. My check engine light is on and came on after hearing the tick in the engine for awhile previous to the light coming on. The lifters knocking started about a month ago.

NHTSA ODI #11420284

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

Fuel Pump Relay inside the TPIM failed as did in the same unit that has been previously recalled in other vehicles.Chrysler Recall P54. Without warning the relay failed while hiking in the desert. I returned to a dead battery and a 17 mile hike back out to cell signal to get help. If this failure happened while driving down the …

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Fuel Pump Relay inside the TPIM failed as did in the same unit that has been previously recalled in other vehicles.Chrysler Recall P54. Without warning the relay failed while hiking in the desert. I returned to a dead battery and a 17 mile hike back out to cell signal to get help. If this failure happened while driving down the road the results could have been a very deadly crash. Why is this part under recall on other vehicles and not this one? It is the same part!

NHTSA ODI #11418757

180,000 miles · Mar 28, 2021
Engine

TRUCK WAS DRIVING NORMALLY UNTIL GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY. AS TRUCK WAS DRIVING ON THE ON RAMP TO HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC IT HIT 60MPH AND STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND ENGINE BOGGED DOWN, SLOWING THE TRUCK DOWN TO UNDER 60 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FLASHING. SLOWED DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT…

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TRUCK WAS DRIVING NORMALLY UNTIL GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY. AS TRUCK WAS DRIVING ON THE ON RAMP TO HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC IT HIT 60MPH AND STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND ENGINE BOGGED DOWN, SLOWING THE TRUCK DOWN TO UNDER 60 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FLASHING. SLOWED DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AND TRUCK DROVE FIND. AFTER PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD ENGINE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. NO ISSUES. ATTEMPTED TO MERGE BACK INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC BUT AGAIN TRUCK SHOOK AND BOGGED DOWN ONCE REACHING 55MPH. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP AND PLUGS AND COIL PACK WERE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS NOT PLUGGED AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WAS ANOTHER RAM WITH A BAD LIFTER THAT CAUSE THE CAM SHAFT TO WEAR OUT. ENGINE WAS REPLACED. AFTER ENGINE WAS REPLACED THIS LED TO ISSUES WITH THE SEAL BETWEEN THE OIL PAN SEAL AND THE ENGINE. THE SEAL FAILED AND WAS LEAKING OIL. TOOK RIGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY NOW HAVE HAD TO PUT TWO OIL SEALS ON. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS THIS IS THE 4TH RAM I'VE HEARD OF LISTED IN THE LAST MONTH WITH THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE SIMILAR ISSUES NOTED RECENTLY ON THIS WEBSITE.

NHTSA ODI #11405194

79,000 miles · Mar 24, 2021
EnginePower Train

ENGINE CODE READING MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 3 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 80K MILES. VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE AND IS HARDER TO CONTROL, AND LOSES ACCELERATION, IS RANDOM, ALMOST CAUSING A MULTI-CAR PILEUP. ISSUE IS THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS. IT IS DESCIBED IN THIS COMMUNICATION HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI…

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ENGINE CODE READING MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 3 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 80K MILES. VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE AND IS HARDER TO CONTROL, AND LOSES ACCELERATION, IS RANDOM, ALMOST CAUSING A MULTI-CAR PILEUP. ISSUE IS THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS. IT IS DESCIBED IN THIS COMMUNICATION HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2021/MC-10187058-9999.PDF THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ANYTHING WITH A 5.7, 6.0 OR 6.4 HEMI MOTOR. SPARK PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES WERE REPLACED 3/21/21, DRIVEN AGAIN ON 3/22/21, SAME ISSUE, ALMOST CAUSING ANOTHER CRASH DUE TO LOSS OF POWER ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MERGING, AND THEN SHAKING ALMOST SENDING THE VEHICLE INTO BRIDGE.

NHTSA ODI #11404765

118,000 miles · Feb 22, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

ENGINE WOULD NOT START. ONCE STARTED WHILE DRIVING MOTOR WOULD SURGE LIKE NOT GETTING GAS AND ALMOST STALL. MECHANICS REPLACED FUEL PUMP BUT WHILE DRIVING AND PARKING FOR DINNER ENGINE ONCE AGAIN WOULDNT START. MECHANICS STILL HAVENT RESOLVED ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11397266

75,000 miles · Dec 29, 2020
Engine

TRUCK HAS A HARD TIME STARTING FIRST TIME OF THE DAY AFTER THAT IT IS OK

NHTSA ODI #11385475

86,000 miles · Nov 30, 2020
Engine

I WAS OPERATING MY VEHICLE WHEN IT PRESENTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I UTILIZED A CODE READER TO DETERMINE IT WAS A CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE CODE. THE CODE DISAPPEARED AFTER ROUGHLY 30 SECONDS. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE TRUCK STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF…

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I WAS OPERATING MY VEHICLE WHEN IT PRESENTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I UTILIZED A CODE READER TO DETERMINE IT WAS A CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE CODE. THE CODE DISAPPEARED AFTER ROUGHLY 30 SECONDS. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE TRUCK STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FROM THE MIDDLE LANE, ALMOST CAUSING MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS AS MY SPEED RAPIDLY DECREASED. THE SHAKING CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER TWO MINUTES AFTER WHICH IT STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME BY TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND KEEPING THE ENGINE SPEED UNDER 3000 RPM. THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILING CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS CAUSING A MISFIRE AND THE LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF THE MISFIRE OCCURRING AGAIN AND ME LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11377226

160,000 miles · Nov 8, 2020
Engine

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE CODE WAS A P305 WHICH IS AN ENGINE MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 5. WE HAD THE TRUCK LOOKED AT AND THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED THEN THE COIL PACKS NONE OF WHICH FIXED THE TRUCK. FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE LIFTERS IN THE MOTOR FAILED WHICH DAMAGED THE CAM SHAFT. WE HAD TO REPLACE …

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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE CODE WAS A P305 WHICH IS AN ENGINE MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 5. WE HAD THE TRUCK LOOKED AT AND THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED THEN THE COIL PACKS NONE OF WHICH FIXED THE TRUCK. FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE LIFTERS IN THE MOTOR FAILED WHICH DAMAGED THE CAM SHAFT. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN THE TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT THE PART WAS FAULTY AND DODGE CONTINUED TO USE THEM IN THE ENGINES.

NHTSA ODI #11373702

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.