← New search

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 →

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
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2020
Engine

BOUGHT A USED 2011 RAM 1500 AND FOUND OUT SOME OF THE MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE WHEN STARTED UP NOTICED A TICK SOUND HAD CHECKED AND FOUND OUT THE HEMI IS NATORIOUS FOR THIS AND NO RECALL. BUT EXHAUST LEAKING OUT IS DANGEROUS AND FROM WHAT IV'E SEEN AND HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HEMI

NHTSA ODI #11321983

70,800 miles · Feb 28, 2020
Engine

VEHICLE SHAKES AND WILL LOSE ITS PULLING POWER TO WHERE ONE CAN ONLY GO AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR. THIS HAPPENED ON A BYPASS WHILE GOING 50ISH MPH. THE SUDDEN SLOWING ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. ENGINE CODE PULLS UP AS MISFIRE. AFTER BOTH SPARK PLUGS AND ON-COIL PLUG WAS REPLACED VEHICLE DONE THE SAME THING. UPON INVESTIGATING CON…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE SHAKES AND WILL LOSE ITS PULLING POWER TO WHERE ONE CAN ONLY GO AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR. THIS HAPPENED ON A BYPASS WHILE GOING 50ISH MPH. THE SUDDEN SLOWING ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. ENGINE CODE PULLS UP AS MISFIRE. AFTER BOTH SPARK PLUGS AND ON-COIL PLUG WAS REPLACED VEHICLE DONE THE SAME THING. UPON INVESTIGATING CONDITIONS AND KNOCKING NOISE I DISCOVERED MANY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS DUE TO LIFTER SEIZING AND DIGGING INTO CAM SHAFT. THIS CAUSES THE CYLINDER TO NOT OPEN RIGHT MAKING FUEL AIR MIXTURE TO BE OFF. MANY FORUMS AND VIDEOS ONLINE BLAME BAD LIFTERS FROM FACTORY. HOWEVER I AM PERSONALLY UNCERTAIN OF THIS SO ISSUE IS UNKNOWN. REACHING OUT TO DODGE I GET A MESSAGE OF SORRY YOUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 70853 MILES ON IT BUT IS PAST FIVE YEARS OLD. OTHERS REPORTED ISSUE FROM 50-120K MILES IN THEIR CASES. I TRULLY DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE SINCE IT SEEMS FAIRLY COMMON AND PEOPLE ARE OUT 1000S OF DOLLARS BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA ODI #11312171

100,000 miles · Feb 26, 2020
Engine

HAS NUMBER 6 MISFIRE AND WAS DETERMINED AFTER ITEMS REPLACED IT IS A SEIZED LIFTER CAUSING THE ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11311630

138,043 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Engine

CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS MALFUNCTION DRIVING HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE, WHEN CHECKED OUT SAYS NUMBER 5 MISFIRE, REPLACE COIL PACK AND PLUGS, SAME THING

NHTSA ODI #11311344

128,000 miles · Feb 4, 2020
Engine

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAM SHAFT LIFTERS FAIL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAM SHAFT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DODGE DEALER, HE ADVISED ME THAT HE DOES THESE REPAIRS ON A DAILY BASIS. IT IS A VERY COMMON …

Read full complaint

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAM SHAFT LIFTERS FAIL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAM SHAFT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DODGE DEALER, HE ADVISED ME THAT HE DOES THESE REPAIRS ON A DAILY BASIS. IT IS A VERY COMMON AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11306958

91,620 miles · Jan 11, 2020
Engine

ROLLER BEARING ON LIFTER HAD FAILED REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL LIFTERS AND THE CAMSHAFT. THIS OCCURRED AT 91620 MILES IN SPITE OF A PERFECT SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE RECORD.

NHTSA ODI #11298550

104,642 miles · Jan 8, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THIS HAS BEEN ON ONGOING ISSUE. FIRST WOULD NOT START FINALLY AFTER TRYING SO MANY TIMES I JUST STARTED USING ANOTHER CAR AND I GOT THE FUEL PUMPED REPLACED THEN THE SAME ISSUE NOW THE AC UNIT WAS NOT WORKING SO I REPLACED IT 3 TIMES. WELL NOW IT STILL DOES NOT WORK AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT I JUST GIVE IT SOME TIME T…

Read full complaint

THIS HAS BEEN ON ONGOING ISSUE. FIRST WOULD NOT START FINALLY AFTER TRYING SO MANY TIMES I JUST STARTED USING ANOTHER CAR AND I GOT THE FUEL PUMPED REPLACED THEN THE SAME ISSUE NOW THE AC UNIT WAS NOT WORKING SO I REPLACED IT 3 TIMES. WELL NOW IT STILL DOES NOT WORK AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT I JUST GIVE IT SOME TIME TO START NOW. ONLY WAY TO START VEHICLE. THEN WHILE ON THE FWY THE VEHICLE JUST LOST POWER I ASSUME BUT MY SPEED WAS DECLINING WHILE I WAS DRIVING SO I TRIED TO PRESS ON THE GAS OR BREAK BUT BOTH WERE TOO STIFF WOULDNT DO ANYTHING AND FINALLY MAYBE LIKE 25 SECONDS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS LIKE THAT FINALLY I COULD FEEL THAT I WAS ABLE TO PRESS ON GAS I COULD TELL MY SPEED WAS RISING THEN THE BREAK NO LONGER WAS STIFF AND HARD TO PRESS ON . BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS . THIS ALL HAPPENED ON HWY AT 70 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11298045

110,000 miles · Dec 24, 2019
EngineFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. ON OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START, IT WOULD SPORADICALLY SHUT OFF. AN UNKNOWN DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MAN…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. ON OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START, IT WOULD SPORADICALLY SHUT OFF. AN UNKNOWN DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI #11291070

265 miles · Dec 24, 2019
Engine

LIFTER FAILURE CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE CAMSHAFT AND ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #11291010

100,000 miles · Dec 21, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

CAM/LIFTER ISSUE WITH THE 01-11 DODGE RAM 1500! IT'S A FACTORY ENGINE PROBLEM THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX. IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE & YET IT'S STILL NOT A RECALL ON IT. NOBODY HAS THE TIME OR MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD HAVE FIXED BEFORE HAND. KEEPS THROWING THE CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE COD…

Read full complaint

CAM/LIFTER ISSUE WITH THE 01-11 DODGE RAM 1500! IT'S A FACTORY ENGINE PROBLEM THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX. IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE & YET IT'S STILL NOT A RECALL ON IT. NOBODY HAS THE TIME OR MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD HAVE FIXED BEFORE HAND. KEEPS THROWING THE CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE CODE & EVERYTHING THAT I CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE HAS BEEN REPLACED

NHTSA ODI #11290485

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.