2011 Ram 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 689 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 17 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 28 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 21 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assembly, mountingMar 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 18V160000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftDec 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 17V821000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, differential unitFeb 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V038000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rear, axle, spindleDec 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.
A FAILURE OF THE BEARING COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 10V656000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
156 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 15, 2013
AFTER A COUPLE REPAIRS ON SAME PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING TO GO SHOPPING WHEN ETC BOLT LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS LETTING OFF GAS TO SLOW DOWN SO I COULD TRY SHUTTING TRUCK OFF TO RESET COMPUTER SO I COULD GET IT TO DEALER. WHEN I LET OFF GAS THE TRUCK WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN SO I HELD BRAKE DOWN AND LET UP ON BRAKE TO INCH FORWARD TO GET ALL THE WAY OFF ROAD WHEN IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN LIKE IT WAS FLOORED. I STOPPED AND PUT IT IN PARK. IN PARK THE ENGINE WAS RACING AT 3000 RPM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAULTY SYSTEM.I HAD TAKEN IT TO DEALER AND THEY RESET IT SAYING WHEN THEY CALLED FACTORY THEY WERE TOLD TO RESET IT. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN MAY BE WIRE HARNESS. I HAVE TAKEN TIME TO FILE THESE COMPLAINTS AS I FEEL THIS IS A DEADLY ISSUE. THESE TRUCKS HAVE CHILDREN RIDING IN THEM AND IN OTHER CARS THAT MAY COLLIDE WITH THEM. PLEASE RESEARCH THE WIRELESS DRIVE ON THE DODGE RAM 2011. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 15, 2013
AFTER HAVING THE GAS PEDAL REPLACED A FEW MONTHS LATER, NOW 4/11/2013 THE ETC BOLT LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT CITY SPEEDS AS I SLOWED FOR TRAFFIC , WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE THE TRUCK SPEED UP VERY FAST WITHOUT EVER USING CRUISE CONTROL OR TOUCHING THE GAS. I ALMOST RAN A RED LIGHT, HAD TO SMASH THE BRAKE DOWN HOLDING STEERING WHEEL TIGHT TO STOP THE TRUCK AFTER TURNING KEY OFF. I THEN RESTARTED IT I PUT IT IN DRIVE. WHEN I LET OFF BRAKE THE TRUCK TOOK OFF LIKE HECK, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS FLOORED ON ITS OWN. THE CAR DEALER CALLED THE FOR ADVICE ON THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. THEY THEN REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS THE DEALERS FAULT, I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT IN THE WIRELESS DRIVE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY BUILDER AND RECALLED. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 15, 2013
I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS WITH ENGINE AND ETC BOLT LIGHT ON DASH, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO GO IN LIMP MODE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT THE TRUCK HAD TO BE RESET. ON SEPT 21/2012 THE ETC BOLT LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN I SLOWED DOWN FOR TRAFFIC USING THE BRAKE I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND BEFORE I COULD DO ANYTHING THE TRUCK RACED OFF ON ITS OWN ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE GAS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. I TURNED OFF KEY AND DANGEROUSLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND RE STARTED THE TRUCK. AT THIS POINT I HAD ONLY ENGINE LIGHT SO I TOOK IT TO DEALER. THEY REPLACED GAS PEDAL AND RESET IT. THE TRUCK ALWAYS SCARED ME AFTER THIS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A GREAT DANGER WITH THE NEW WIRELESS DRIVE SYSTEM.THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BUY THE BUILDER OF THIS TRUCK. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Sep 14, 2013
AFTER PASSING A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, MY TRUCK SHUT DOWN.THE ENGINE CUT OFF ,DASH LIGHTS AND PARK LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER ERRATICALLY AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. I MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE LIGHTS FROM FLICKERING I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY (THEY FLICKERED WITH THE SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION). AS THE LIGHTS FLICKERED I COULD HEAR RELAYS CLICKING UNDER THE HOOD AND DASH. AFTER WAITING A WHILE I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND ALL SYSTEMS CAME BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE TRUCK AND DRIVE IT HOME. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK IT OUT UNTIL WED THE 18. ALL SYSTEMS SEEM TO BE NORMAL. I HAVE TO GO TO WORK . I' M DRIVING IT 60 MILES ROUND TRIP EVERYDAY. *TR
Engine, May 17, 2013
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRUCK STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I GOT IT RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BUT THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL UPON PUTTING IT IN GEAR. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND RENT A CAR FROM HERTZ. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE TRUCK NOW FOR 4 DAYS AND STILL CAN NOT TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THIS TRUCK HAS A 5.7-LITER V8 HEMI ENGINE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 25, 2012
DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THAT I DRIVE 3-4 TIMES A WEEK,WITHOUT WARNING THE TRUCK SHOOK VERY VIOLENTLY. COULD NOT KEEP IN MY LANE,IT SHOOK UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I INSPECTED WHEELS AND RELATED PARTS COULD FIND NO ISSUES. I CARRY A WHEELCHAIR WITH ME AS I HAVE BROKEN MY NECK IN 8 PLACES WITH NERVE DAMAGE AND CAN NOT BE OPERATED ON, I CAN WALK FOR VERY SHORT DISTANCES ONLY. IF I HAD BEEN IN TRAFFIC I COULD HAVE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DUE TO MY PHYSICAL CONDITION COULD HAVE BEEN PARALYZED OR WORST. MY TRUCK COST $57,000 AND I HAVE ONLY MADE 5 PAYMENTS. I PURCHASED THIS UNIT BECAUSE IT RODE GOOD FOR MY CONDITION,PLUS COULD CARRY MY WHEELCHAIR. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I SPENT MONEY ON NEW BECAUSE I NEEDED DEPENDABILITY AS I CAN NOT WALK IF IT BREAKS. PLUS MUCH OF THE TIME MY PAIN LEVELS ARE VERY HIGH AND I JUST WANT TO GET TO MY DESTINATION OR HOME AS DRIVING CAUSES ME A LOT OF EXTRA PAIN. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR ABUSED AS I AM 56 YEARS OLD AND TRY TO TAKE CARE OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND SOME DEALERS WORK WITH THEM SOME DO NOT,BUT THE ONLY REPAIR IS BUYING AFTER MARKET PARTS. I AM ON MY OWN AND CAN NOT LEAVE THE TRUCK AT A DEALER AND STILL HAVE THE ISSUE. *TR