NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
688 reports134,000 miles · Sep 24, 2018
Power Train
WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLE STARTED A LOUD GROWL NOISE, IT WAS HESITANT TO ADVANCE, IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS DRAGGING FROM THE BACK WHEELS AND STRUGGLE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MILES PER HOUR. I COULD STOPPED, PARK ON A SIDE STREET AND HAD A MECHANIC COME AND CHECK IT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR A…
Read full complaint
WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLE STARTED A LOUD GROWL NOISE, IT WAS HESITANT TO ADVANCE, IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS DRAGGING FROM THE BACK WHEELS AND STRUGGLE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MILES PER HOUR. I COULD STOPPED, PARK ON A SIDE STREET AND HAD A MECHANIC COME AND CHECK IT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR AXLE BEARING CLENCHED, THE ADVICE WAS NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE AS IT REPRESENTED A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA ODI #11130913
53,100 miles · Sep 16, 2018
EngineFire
2011 RAM WITH 53,000. METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. DROVE ALL DAY AND SHUT IT OFF. SMELLED LIKE GAS. INSPECTED FOR LEAKS. DIDNT SEE ANY WITH A QUICK LOOK OVER. WENT INOT HOUSE. CAME BACK OUTSIDE 10 MINUTES LATER AND TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS PARKED 4 FT AWAY FROM OUR HOUSE AND COULD HAVE BURNT THE WHOLE HOUSE DOWN.
NHTSA ODI #11129734
130,000 miles · Sep 10, 2018
Engine
MY TRUCK WAS EXPERIENCING THE MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 5, I TOOK IT INTO A DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE 20 OTHER DODGE HEMI VEHICLES THERE FOR THE SAME PART. THESE LIFTERS ARE ALL ON BACK ORDER, WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. THEY ARE SAYING THAT I MAY NOT GET THE LIFTERS FROM BACK ORDER…
Read full complaint
MY TRUCK WAS EXPERIENCING THE MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 5, I TOOK IT INTO A DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE 20 OTHER DODGE HEMI VEHICLES THERE FOR THE SAME PART. THESE LIFTERS ARE ALL ON BACK ORDER, WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. THEY ARE SAYING THAT I MAY NOT GET THE LIFTERS FROM BACK ORDER FOR A WHILE. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO WORK AND IF THERE ARE THAT MANY BROKEN LIFTERS IN THE HEMI ENGINES, THEY MUST BE FAULTY!
NHTSA ODI #11128592
95,000 miles · Sep 9, 2018
Engine
MY TRUCK HAS ALWAYS HAD PROPER MAINTENANCE DONE AND AT ONLY 95,000 MILES, THERE IS A LIFTER FAILURE THAT I BELIEVE IS CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE ENGINE. RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF OTHER RAMS WITH THE 5.7L HEMI ENGINE. HERE IS A LINK TO A FORUM WHERE MULTIPLE RAM OWNERS HAVE …
Read full complaint
MY TRUCK HAS ALWAYS HAD PROPER MAINTENANCE DONE AND AT ONLY 95,000 MILES, THERE IS A LIFTER FAILURE THAT I BELIEVE IS CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE ENGINE. RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF OTHER RAMS WITH THE 5.7L HEMI ENGINE. HERE IS A LINK TO A FORUM WHERE MULTIPLE RAM OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING.(HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/RAM_1500/2011/ENGINE/LIFTER_AND_CAM_ISSUE.SHTML) I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK WAS VIBRATING NOTICEABLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED TO FLASH. I HAD THE CODE READ AND IT TOLD ME MISFIRE, CYLINDER 5. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND AFTER REPLACING SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION COILS, AND FUEL INJECTOR, I AM TOLD IT IS LIFTER FAILURE AND THAT IT IS COMMON IN THESE ENGINES. WHEN THE LIFTER FAILS, IT IS KNOWN TO BORE INTO THE CAMSHAFT, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR COSTS AN AVERAGE OF $3200 WITH SOME GOING UP TO $4,000. CHYSLER MECHANICS KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE BUT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS.
NHTSA ODI #11128367
110,000 miles · Sep 7, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP CONSTANTLY RUNNING HOURS AFTER THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY TWICE NOW AND IS TRUCK IS SOMETIMES HARD TO CRANK. I CAN FEEL THE TRUCK LOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROADS AND THOUGH IT HAS NOT YET LOST POWER COMPLETELY I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA ODI #11128109
124,071 miles · Aug 31, 2018
Power Train
THE VEHICLE STARTED CUTTING OUT HAVING A MISS IN WHAT THE CODE CALLED CYLINDER 3 WE TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND THEY TOLD US IT IS THE LIFTER AND THE CAM WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #11123791
122,121 miles · Aug 28, 2018
Engine
DRIVING HOME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OUT. TOOLING TO NEAREST PARTS STORE TO RUN A CODE. CAME BACK AND CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE. CHANGED PLUGS AND COILS PACKS. NOTHING CHANGED. TOOK IT TO MY NEAREST DODGE DEALERSHIP. RAN A CHECK ON IT CAME BACK AS CAM AND LIFTERS. SAID IT'S COMMON ON THESE TRUCKS. MULTIPL…
Read full complaint
DRIVING HOME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OUT. TOOLING TO NEAREST PARTS STORE TO RUN A CODE. CAME BACK AND CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE. CHANGED PLUGS AND COILS PACKS. NOTHING CHANGED. TOOK IT TO MY NEAREST DODGE DEALERSHIP. RAN A CHECK ON IT CAME BACK AS CAM AND LIFTERS. SAID IT'S COMMON ON THESE TRUCKS. MULTIPLE TRUCKS WITH THE 5.7 HEMI ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES BEFORE AND AFTER A 100K MILES. THESE CAM AND LIFTERS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT ON THE HEMI MOTORS WITH MDS
NHTSA ODI #11123054
135,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
FUEL PUMP RELAY WILL NOT ENGAGE AT TIMES. TURNING THE IGNITION KEY SEVERAL TIMES SOLVES ISSUE. FUEL PUMP RELAY WILL NO LONG SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP AFTER TURNING IGNITION OFF CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AS THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO PUMP UNTIL BATTERY IS DRAINED. POSSIBLE SAFETY CONCERNS INCLUDE OVER HEATING OF FUEL PUMP CAUSI…
Read full complaint
FUEL PUMP RELAY WILL NOT ENGAGE AT TIMES. TURNING THE IGNITION KEY SEVERAL TIMES SOLVES ISSUE. FUEL PUMP RELAY WILL NO LONG SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP AFTER TURNING IGNITION OFF CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AS THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO PUMP UNTIL BATTERY IS DRAINED. POSSIBLE SAFETY CONCERNS INCLUDE OVER HEATING OF FUEL PUMP CAUSING A SHORT SHORT IN THE FUEL PUMP WHICH MAY LEAD TO THE GAS TANK EXPLODING. VOLTAGE TEST WERE COMPLETED TO VERIFY RELAY IS THE ISSUE. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THE SAME ISSUES WERE PRESENT IN THE 2011 GRAND CARAVANS AND GRAND CHEROKEES, WHICH WHERE RECALLED, RUNNING THE SAME TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE AS MINE AND SEVERAL OTHERS WAS ADDRESS BUT NOT THE OTHER MODELS.
NHTSA ODI #11122486
111,000 miles · Aug 24, 2018
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A THUMPING SOUND AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A THUMPING SOUND AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
NHTSA ODI #11122208
119,000 miles · Aug 24, 2018
Electrical System
TRUCK HAS A DEAD SHORT IN THE TIPM. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY POST EVERYTIME I STOP. ENGINE WILL CRANK AND TURN OVER BUT OFTEN WILL NOT START. WHEN IT DOES START IT SOMETMES DIES OUT AND/OR HESITATES WHILE DRIVING CREATING A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM DOES IT TAKE TO GET THIS …
Read full complaint
TRUCK HAS A DEAD SHORT IN THE TIPM. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY POST EVERYTIME I STOP. ENGINE WILL CRANK AND TURN OVER BUT OFTEN WILL NOT START. WHEN IT DOES START IT SOMETMES DIES OUT AND/OR HESITATES WHILE DRIVING CREATING A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM DOES IT TAKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM AS A RECALL? THE SAME PART ALREADY HAS A RECALL FOR JEEP AND CHRYSLER. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? 119,000 MILES ON A VERY WELL MAINTAINED TRUCK
NHTSA ODI #11122179
Official recalls
4Mar 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.
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.
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.
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.