IllustrationHEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. EVEN ON BRIGHT LIGHTS, THEY ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS, THEY, TOO HAVE SEEN A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT FROM THE REDISIGNED HEADLIGHTS. CANNOT HARDLY SEE 20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS TRUCK AT NIGHT.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
860–25K
6725–50K
8750–75K
7975–100K
139100–150K
33150K+
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
What owners actually said
688 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING WARMED UP, AN ABNORMAL NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
TIPM (TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE)
AT FIRST MY TRUCK STARTED TAKING LONGER AND LONGER TO ACTUALLY START. IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT ONLY RUN AT 200 RPM AND DIE OUT. THIS PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC AND SEEMED TO BE WORSE AFTER THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN STARTED FOR 12 HOURS. EVENTUALLY THE PROBLEM WENT FROM OCCASIONAL TO WEEKLY AND DAILY. THERE WAS NO DASH LIGHTS INDICATION…
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AT FIRST MY TRUCK STARTED TAKING LONGER AND LONGER TO ACTUALLY START. IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT ONLY RUN AT 200 RPM AND DIE OUT. THIS PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC AND SEEMED TO BE WORSE AFTER THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN STARTED FOR 12 HOURS. EVENTUALLY THE PROBLEM WENT FROM OCCASIONAL TO WEEKLY AND DAILY. THERE WAS NO DASH LIGHTS INDICATION AN ISSUE. MY TRUCK STALLED TWICE ON ME WHILE DRIVING TO WORK . EACH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED I WOULD SIT IN THE STREET, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME AND THAT I WAS NOT IN A TURN. WHEN THE VEHICLE DIED I WOULD LOSE ALL POWER STEERING. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO A MECHANIC. HE CHECKED IT AND SAW NO MAJOR ISSUES, STATING THAT ALL OF THE READINGS WERE NORMAL WHEN CHECKED. WE DECIDED TO CHANGE MY SPARK PLUGS AND FLUSH THE FUEL SYSTEM IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. DROVE GREAT AFTER THE WORK. THE NEXT MORNING IT DID NOT START, BACK TO MECHANIC AGAIN, WAS TOLD TO LEAVE THE KEY TURNED TO ON POSITION TO HELP THE FUEL PUMP PRIME/ ALL READINGS WERE NORMAL. ISSUE PERSISTED. LEFT TRUCK AT MECHANIC THIRD TIME WHILE OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEK SO HE COULD TAKE READINGS AFTER THE TRUCK SAT, SINCE THAT WAS WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENED. AGAIN THE MECHANIC WAS NOT CONFIDENT OF WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE SINCE THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE, IT WAS TAKING ME OVER 45 MINUTES TO START TRUCK EACH DAY, IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. THEN IM STARTED NOTICING MY BATTERY WAS DEAD ON MANY MORNINGS. I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO HOW LONG I WAS CRANKING TO START, UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN I HAPPENED TO WALK BY MY TRUCK AND HEAR A HUMMING SOUND. I WENT UNDERNEATH AND COULD TELL IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I UNPLUGGED THE FUSE FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND THE HUMMING STOPPED. FOR NOW I JUST UNPLUG THE FUSE EVERY TIME I STOP TO KEEP THE PUMP FROM DRAWING DOWN MY BATTERY. CONTACTED LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND WAS QUOTED $1200.OO TO REPLACE TIPM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT WITNESSED THE VEHICLE'S HEADLINER BECOMING DAMP WITH WATER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS WATER ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE HEAD REST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO THEI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT WITNESSED THE VEHICLE'S HEADLINER BECOMING DAMP WITH WATER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS WATER ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE HEAD REST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION THAT THEY WERE WARE OF A THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE THAT ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
FOR TWO WEEKS THE TRUCK TAKE 4 TO 7 TRIES TO START THE ENGINE. IT HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. NOW THE FUEL PUMP IS STUCK ON WHILE THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK KILLING THE BATTERY. HAD TO REMOVE THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO TURN OFF THE FUEL PUMP WHILE THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK.
IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX MY TRUCK WOULD TRY TO START, BUT DO NOTHING BUT CRANK. I THOUGHT MY FUEL PUMP WAS OUT SO I REPLACED IT. THE TRUCK WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING. I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES I WOULD HEAR THE FUEL PUMP COME ON AND SOMETIMES NOT SO $260 DOLLARS LATER I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER D…
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IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX MY TRUCK WOULD TRY TO START, BUT DO NOTHING BUT CRANK. I THOUGHT MY FUEL PUMP WAS OUT SO I REPLACED IT. THE TRUCK WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING. I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES I WOULD HEAR THE FUEL PUMP COME ON AND SOMETIMES NOT SO $260 DOLLARS LATER I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER DOING SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND ACTUAL TESTS I FOUND OUT THAT A RELAY ON THE TIPM IS MALFUNCTIONING. IT IS AA $5 DOLLAR RELAY ON A $1200 DOLLAR PART THAT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRENTY AND CANNOT BE EASILY REPLACED. DODGE IS CURRENTLY UNDER SUIT FOR THE FAULTY TIPM'S.
IN A NUTSHELL,, MY TRUCK HAD ABOUT,,,14K MIKES ON IT. PURCHASED NEW. IT TOOK OFF IN EXESS OF 100MPH. COULDN'T STOP IT!!!!!!! ALMOST KILLED MY SON AND I!! HAVE BEEN FIGHTING, EVER SINCE TO GET CHRYSLER TO REPLACE THE MOTOR,, AS IT SOUNDS EVERY BEARING IN THE MOTOR,, WHEN I FINALLY PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEAUTRAL TO STOP THE TRUCK. T…
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IN A NUTSHELL,, MY TRUCK HAD ABOUT,,,14K MIKES ON IT. PURCHASED NEW. IT TOOK OFF IN EXESS OF 100MPH. COULDN'T STOP IT!!!!!!! ALMOST KILLED MY SON AND I!! HAVE BEEN FIGHTING, EVER SINCE TO GET CHRYSLER TO REPLACE THE MOTOR,, AS IT SOUNDS EVERY BEARING IN THE MOTOR,, WHEN I FINALLY PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEAUTRAL TO STOP THE TRUCK. TO DATE, THE TRUCK HAS A REARMAIN LEAK, BECAUSE OF INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE MOTOR. CHRYSLER, TRIED TO TAKE THE CHEAPER WAY OUT AND ONLY REPLACE A PART AT A TIME. IN DOING SO THIS,COST THEM WAY MORE $. MOTOR NO LONGER HAS A BEARING NOISE. BUT IT DOES HAVE A REARMAIN LEAK. THAT THEY HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR 3XS SO FAR!! NOW,,,,, I'M STILL WAITING TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPLACE THE MOTOR, OR TRY AGAIN??? LAST I KNEW THE GOSLDEN RULE WAS 3 XS AND URE OUT!!!! MY PATIENCE, IS GONE. THE TRUCK, HAS SPENT MOST OF ITS LIFE IN A DEALERS GARAGE. AND MOST OF ITS 40K MILES ARE FROM THE DEALERS TECH. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE EVERYTHING I SAY. ALL FROM THE DAY IT TOOK OFF ON ME. THE REAL PROBLEM IS..... WHY DID IT TAKE OFF? AND THE ANSWER TO THAT. I FIGURED OUT. WHO WANTS THAT INFO? CAUSE I HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT. IT TOOK 3 YRS. TO FIGURE OUT. IS ALL I WANT IS A NEW VEHICLE, AS I NEVER GOT TO ENJOY THAT. JUST COST ME ALOT OF TIME, AND $.
WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE RAM TRUCK IT WOULD SUDDENLY DIE, I WOULD NEED TO TURN THE IGNITION ALL THE WAY OFF AND IT WOULD RESTART WITH NO PROBLEM. I WORKED FOR THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY FOUND NO STORED CODES IN THE ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME NOTHING WAS FOUND. IT S…
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WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE RAM TRUCK IT WOULD SUDDENLY DIE, I WOULD NEED TO TURN THE IGNITION ALL THE WAY OFF AND IT WOULD RESTART WITH NO PROBLEM. I WORKED FOR THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY FOUND NO STORED CODES IN THE ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME NOTHING WAS FOUND. IT STOPPED AND HAS NOT RE-OCCURRED IN ALMOST 20,000 MILES. IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO A HIGH ENGINE REV FOR NO APPARENT REASON (LIKE I WAS PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL BUT I WAS NOT). EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELLERATE AND I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT NORMALLY. IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER RESTART. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN JEFFERSON WISCONSIN WHO CHECKED FOR CODES AND FOUND NOTHING STORED IN THE COMPUTER.
TIPM MODULE FAILED. ALMOST GOT KILLED BECAUSE OF IT. CAR STALLED ON ROADWAY CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED ME!!! I HEARD THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALREADY FILED BUT DO NOT KNOW IF MY CAR IS COVERED. IT HAS THE SAME TIPM MODULE IN IT.
Official recalls
418V160000 · 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
1EA19001 · 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.