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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 689

Of the 2011 reports, 28 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 21 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system214 reports · 31% of complaints
Owner complaints689Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship4 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system214
  2. Power train176
  3. Engine151
  4. Fuel/propulsion system128
  5. Other or unspecified46
  6. Steering45
  7. Suspension40
  8. Exterior lighting29

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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: power train

176 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Power train, Electrical system, Apr 15, 2011

    THERE WERE NO SPECIAL EVENTS BEFORE PROBLEM SHOWED UP, OTHER THAN THE ENGINE MUST ATTAIN NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN TRAVELING , UPHILL-DOWNHILL- OR ON LEVEL, IF YOU ARE ABOVE 45MPH AND YOU STOP APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO COAST. THE VEHICLE WILL COAST UNTIL YOU REACH APPROXIMATELY 40MPH AT WHICH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WILL DOWNSHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. THIS CAUSES AN ABRUPT SLOWING WITHOUT ALERTING VEHICLE BEHIND YOU. THIS COULD IN EFFECT CAUSE A REAR COLLISION BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ACTIVATED, AND THE GEARING IS LOW IN REAR AXLE WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SLOW AT A FASTER RATE THAN NORMAL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THERE ALL THE TIME, ONE TIME IT DID NOT APPEAR WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE AS IT HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER, FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, 3 TIMES. FIRST TIME THEY HOOKED COMPUTER TO VEHICLE AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. SECOND TIME HOOKED COMPUTER TO VEHICLE DROVE IT AND TOOK MORE READINGS. THIRD TIME THEY WERE TO TAKE MORE READINGS AND TRANSMIT TO CHRYSLER, ALSO AT THAT TIME THEY WERE TO WORK ON TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM NOT FIXED, WHEN I RETURNED HOME THAT EVENING I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM DEALER STATING THAT CHRYSLER WAS TO GIVE THEM A COMPUTER FLASH OR PROGRAM THAT MAY FIX THE PROBLEM, AND IT COULD TAKE 3 TO 6 MONTHS TO OBTAIN. DURING THE SECOND VISIT I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER HAD AT LEAST 3 OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS AND THEREFORE THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED IN WRITING BY DEALER OR CHRYSLER CORP. NO PARTS WERE REPLACED THAT I AM AWARE OF. I ALSO DROVE ANOTHER TRUCK SAME EQUIPMENT IT DID NOT EXHIBIT THE PROBLEM. I AM NOT CERTAIN IF THIS IS A PLOY TO SKIRT THE LEMON LAW OR NOT. AT ANY RATE THE PROBLEM NEEDS ATTENTION SOONER THAN LATER, ALSO THIS IS CAUSING HIGHER FUEL CONSUMPTION BECAUSE OF HAVING TO FEED GAS WHEN THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE COASTING! *TR