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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

128 reports
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53,000 miles · Nov 7, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

FAILS TO START, FUEL PUMP SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING TRUCK TO STALL MULTIPLE TIMES ON CITY STREETS TO AND FROM WORK AND ON THE HIGHWAY 2X DRIVING TO VISIT RELATIVES, TIPM NOT SENDING SIGNAL TO THE FUEL RELAY, HAD 4 MECHANICS INCLUDING 2 CHRYSLER SERVICE SHOPS TO FINALLY DIAGNOSE THE TIPM FAILURE, WILL HAVE FURTHER DOCUMENTA…

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FAILS TO START, FUEL PUMP SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING TRUCK TO STALL MULTIPLE TIMES ON CITY STREETS TO AND FROM WORK AND ON THE HIGHWAY 2X DRIVING TO VISIT RELATIVES, TIPM NOT SENDING SIGNAL TO THE FUEL RELAY, HAD 4 MECHANICS INCLUDING 2 CHRYSLER SERVICE SHOPS TO FINALLY DIAGNOSE THE TIPM FAILURE, WILL HAVE FURTHER DOCUMENTATION UPON REPLACEMENT OF TIPM FROM CHRYSLER DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10788988

84,400 miles · Nov 1, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

THE VEHICLE HAS A BAD TIPM, THE FUEL PUMP RELAY DOES NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT ALL NOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED AS I MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AND STALLED. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. NOW IT WILL NOT START AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #10787529

56,200 miles · Sep 26, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRUCK STALLED AND IGNITION SYSTEMS WENT DEAD. HAD SEVERAL ISSUES DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT WHERE BATTERY WAS DEAD, STARTING VEHICLE PROBLEMS AND STALLING REPEATEDLY. DEALER HAD TO RELPACE TIPM $1280.74. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS PART, CONTRARY TO ONLINE INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10777811

30,100 miles · Aug 20, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN PULLING OUT OF BUSINESS DRIVEWAY ONTO BUSY RD., TRUCK JUST DIED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. HAD TO GET TOW TO SHOP AND HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED. FUEL PUMPS DON'T JUST GO OUT AT 30,000 MILES ALL AT ONCE BUT, THIS ONE DID AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE TRUCKS. SITTING CROSSWAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD IS DEFINITE…

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WHEN PULLING OUT OF BUSINESS DRIVEWAY ONTO BUSY RD., TRUCK JUST DIED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. HAD TO GET TOW TO SHOP AND HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED. FUEL PUMPS DON'T JUST GO OUT AT 30,000 MILES ALL AT ONCE BUT, THIS ONE DID AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE TRUCKS. SITTING CROSSWAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD IS DEFINITELY UNSAFE! THANK THE GOOD LORD FOR THE GOOD SAMARITANS WHO HELPED ME PUSH IT OUT OF THE ROAD, I AM 68 YRS OLD AND NOT IN THE BEST OF HEALTH.

NHTSA ODI #10749939

65,000 miles · Jul 27, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

I HAVE A 2011 RAM 1500 BIG HORN 4X4 WITH THE 5.7 HEMI MOTOR. PRIOR TO DATE MENTIONED I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING IT. ON THE DATE SPECIFIED I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN MOTOR DIED AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THE MOTORISTS AROUND ME. I ALSO NEARLY AVOIDED AN OVERPASS AN…

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I HAVE A 2011 RAM 1500 BIG HORN 4X4 WITH THE 5.7 HEMI MOTOR. PRIOR TO DATE MENTIONED I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING IT. ON THE DATE SPECIFIED I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN MOTOR DIED AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THE MOTORISTS AROUND ME. I ALSO NEARLY AVOIDED AN OVERPASS AND ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK AND WAS TOLD WAS FUEL PUMP. I REFUSED SERVICE DUE TO EXCESSIVE COST TO REPLACE. I DID MY OWN TEST AND FOUND MY FUEL PUMP RELAY TO BE DEFECTIVE WITCH CANNOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE TIPM. CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPLACE

NHTSA ODI #10743705

58,000 miles · Jul 24, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC, UNABLE TO USE HAZARD LIGHTS. TOWED TO MECHANIC INFORMED THE TIPM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIES IN WITH AN EARLIER REPAIR INVOLVING THE FUEL PUMP THAT WAS CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI #10736235

119,000 miles · Mar 2, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

EVERY TIME I FILL THE TRUCK WITH GAS, ONCE THE TANK IS FULL THE NOZZLE SHUTS OFF AND A SECOND LATER GAS OVERFLOWS OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE ALL OVER ME THE TRUCK AND THE GROUND. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THIS IS A VERY MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER NOE CHRYSL…

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EVERY TIME I FILL THE TRUCK WITH GAS, ONCE THE TANK IS FULL THE NOZZLE SHUTS OFF AND A SECOND LATER GAS OVERFLOWS OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE ALL OVER ME THE TRUCK AND THE GROUND. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THIS IS A VERY MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER NOE CHRYSLER WILL REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691546

69,900 miles · Feb 18, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

JUST TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP ON 2/17/15 DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DEAD AS A RESULT OF THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING ALL NIGHT. AAA CERTIFIED SHOP JUST INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST 1600.00 TO REPLACE THE TIPM AND PROGRAM IT FOR MY KEY ETC. THERE IS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP RELAY INSIDE THE TIPM AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MODULE. THIS I…

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JUST TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP ON 2/17/15 DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DEAD AS A RESULT OF THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING ALL NIGHT. AAA CERTIFIED SHOP JUST INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST 1600.00 TO REPLACE THE TIPM AND PROGRAM IT FOR MY KEY ETC. THERE IS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP RELAY INSIDE THE TIPM AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MODULE. THIS ISSUE IS MOST LIKELY RELATED TO THE DURANGO/JEEP RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, AS WELL DESCRIBED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. IT IS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10684124

94,000 miles · Feb 5, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE MALFUNCTION. FUEL PUMP CONSTANTLY STAYS ON, EVEN WHEN NO KEY IN TRUCK, DRAINS THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681599

61,000 miles · Dec 26, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH PRIOR. DURING BOTH INSTANCES, I COASTED THROUGH THE TURN TO A STOP BUT HAD DIFFICULTLY STEERING AND BRAKING. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. I BELIEVE IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE A CRASH SITUATION. I H…

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WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH PRIOR. DURING BOTH INSTANCES, I COASTED THROUGH THE TURN TO A STOP BUT HAD DIFFICULTLY STEERING AND BRAKING. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. I BELIEVE IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE A CRASH SITUATION. I HAVE RESEARCHED FOR RECALLS AND BULLETINS BUT FOUND NONE. I HAVE, HOWEVER, FOUND MANY ONLINE INTERNET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668361

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.