Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
390–25K
4625–50K
2750–75K
1575–100K
13100–150K
9150K+
149 reports with mileage · 148 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.
Steering. Review the 210 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
297 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2019
Power Train
SEVERAL MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF CAUSING EXHAUST TO LEAK EARLY. POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS DEPENDING ON HOW BAD THE LEAK IS, NOT TO MENTION THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. VERY KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE BUT FCA WILL ONLY ADDRESS IF THE VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PERIOD. VEHICLE IS 7 YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS…
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SEVERAL MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF CAUSING EXHAUST TO LEAK EARLY. POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS DEPENDING ON HOW BAD THE LEAK IS, NOT TO MENTION THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. VERY KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE BUT FCA WILL ONLY ADDRESS IF THE VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PERIOD. VEHICLE IS 7 YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #11164693
89,500 miles · Dec 30, 2018
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other
INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND WILL NOT READ ANY TRAILER WHEN CONNECTED. STATES 'TRAILER DISCONNECTED'
NHTSA ODI #11164131
188,560 miles · Sep 14, 2018
Unknown Or Other
I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON GRAND AVE IN GLENDALE ARIZONA WHEN I CAME ON TO A TURN MY VEHICLE TURNED OFF ON ME I LOST STEERING AND BRAKES VEHICLE DRIFTED INTO ANOTHER LANE LUCKILY NO ONE WAS NEXT TO ME WHEN IT HAPPENS I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TRIED TO START THE TRUCK 4 TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON, LATER T…
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I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON GRAND AVE IN GLENDALE ARIZONA WHEN I CAME ON TO A TURN MY VEHICLE TURNED OFF ON ME I LOST STEERING AND BRAKES VEHICLE DRIFTED INTO ANOTHER LANE LUCKILY NO ONE WAS NEXT TO ME WHEN IT HAPPENS I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TRIED TO START THE TRUCK 4 TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON, LATER THAT DAY SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON FREEWAY I-10 AND 75TH AVE HEADING WEST.
NHTSA ODI #11129572
112,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Engine
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I AM ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BY MOVING THE IGNITION KEY AROUND.
NHTSA ODI #11122718
140,130 miles · Aug 17, 2018
Power Train
NHTSA RECALL 17V-821 THIS VEHICLE BEING OFFERED FOR SALE WITH CLEAN HISTORY/CARFAX REPORT. RECALL NOT COMPLETED. DEALER: AUTONATION DODGE RAM ARAPAHOE 10743 EAST ARAPAHOE RD., ENGLEWOOD, CO 80112 866 331-0726
NHTSA ODI #11120729
60,000 miles · Jan 26, 2018
Power TrainFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY A LARGE EXPLOSION. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND A HOLE WAS OBSERVED IN THE FLOOR AREA ALONG WITH FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY A LARGE EXPLOSION. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND A HOLE WAS OBSERVED IN THE FLOOR AREA ALONG WITH FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CONTACT CALLED 911 WHERE THE POLICE OFFICER WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (LITHIA CHRYSLER, 7171 WEST CANEL DR, KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON 99336) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVELINE BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SENT A REPRESENATIVE TO DO A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THE VIN SEARCH REVEALED ONE RECALL, WHICH WAS NOT IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TT *TR
NHTSA ODI #11065279
153,000 miles · Jan 22, 2018
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RON SAYER'S CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE IN IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO 83401 (WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIND MODULE NEE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RON SAYER'S CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE IN IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO 83401 (WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIND MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
NHTSA ODI #11064173
153,000 miles · Jan 22, 2018
Electrical System
THE WIN MODULE MAKES THE CAR SHUT OFF, WITHOUT WARNING TO THE DRIVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES GOING DOE THE FREE WAY AT 81 MPHS. IT ALSO HAPPENS IN THE CITY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IT GOING TO HAPPEN. THE TRUCK LITERALLY SHUTS OFF BECAUSE WHENEVER. IT ALSO HAS ISSUES STARTING BACK UP.
NHTSA ODI #11064151
250,200 miles · Jan 12, 2018
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE HOOD WAS LIFTED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES TO THE ALTERNATOR WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE HOOD WAS LIFTED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES TO THE ALTERNATOR WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR COST WAS $400. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V435000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,200.
NHTSA ODI #11062421
42,000 miles · Dec 24, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES WITH CODES P241A AND P2196. I HAVE REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR 3 TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS THE WRING HARNESS.
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.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Diesel
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 2500 4X4 and 3500 4X4 trucks, 2008-2012 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis, and model year 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about February 27, 2014, Chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about April 14, 2014. 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 N49.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; AND MODEL YEAR 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 MEGA CAB 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2008, BECAUSE THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD MAY FRACTURE. THIS CONDITION TENDS TO OCCUR DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT TYPE MANEUVERS WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS MAKING A TIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 VEHICLES MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE AFFECTED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AS A REPLACEMENT PART DURING NORMAL SERVICE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 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.
2011 Dodge RAM 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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