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
689 reports, newest first.
Suspension, May 25, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V656000(SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AGO AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE MANUFACTURER ONLY ALLOWED ONE PART TO BE ISSUED EVERY SEVEN DAYS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE RECALL IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,900.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 17, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE DOOR LATCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WERE ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE AND ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE STILL ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,682. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN UPDATED 06/23/11
Suspension, May 16, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V656000, SUSPENSION REAR: AXLE: SPINDLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY ALLOW THEM TO ORDER ONE PART EVERY FOURTEEN DAYS AND IT WOULD BE THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED SINCE THE RECALL STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6,400.
Suspension, May 16, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER INFORMED THEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER ONLY ALLOWED DEALERS TO ORDER ONE PART PER WEEK FOR NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V656000(SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE.) THE RECALL WAS ISSUED DECEMBER 24, 2010 AND WAS SCHEDULE TO BEGIN IN FEBRUARY 2011. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNTIL JULY BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCE LISTED IN THE RECALL STATED THE VEHICLE COULD LOOSE CONTROL AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 7,200. UPDATED 06/17/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 29,2011. UPDATED 06/21/11*JB
Suspension, May 12, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V656000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE). AFTER CALLING THE DEALER AND TRYING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOUR MONTHS TO HAVE REPAIRS PERFORMED DUE TO PARTS ONLY BEING DISTRIBUTED ONCE EVERY WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 05/25/11
Suspension, May 11, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN RESPONSE TO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V656000 (SUSPENSION: REAR: AXLE: SPINDLE) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY ALLOWING THE DEALERS TO ORDER ONE PART EVERY 14 DAYS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY CONFIRMED THEY ARE ONLY SENDING OUT TWO PARTS PER MONTH. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE BEARING COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,225.
Suspension, May 9, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V656000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE ONCE A MONTH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Suspension, May 4, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THEY RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V656000 (SUSPENSION: REAR: AXLE: SPINDLE) AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WOULD TAKE 7-8 MONTHS BEFORE THE REPAIR COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD DUE TO THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN PRODUCTION, THEY WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO SEND OUT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PARTS TO DEALERSHIPS PER MONTH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,618.
Power train, May 3, 2011
THE PROBLEM IS... THE REAR AXLE PINION BEARING ON YOUR TRUCK (VIN: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX) MAY NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE LUBRICATION UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS LACK OF LUBRICATION CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE PINION BEARING TO SEIZE AND CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND/OR A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. DODGE ONLY ALLOWS THE DEALER TO DO 2 OF THESE RECALLS A MONTH. SO MY DODGE TRUCK CAN NOT BE FIXED FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. I AM AT RISK OF MY TRUCK SEIZING UP AND LOOSING CONTROL. DODGE NEEDS TO ALLOW THE DEALERS TO DO MORE THEN 2 A MONTH. OR EXCEPT ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INJURIES. *TR
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
Steering, Apr 13, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE STEERING STARTED TO GET LOOSE AND THE WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TIE RODE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V657000 (STEERING: LINKAGES: TIE ROD ASSEMBLY) FOR THE 4500 AND 5500 MODEL, BUT NOT THE 2500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ UPDATED 05/09/11
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Traction control system, Feb 10, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE ACCELERATING ON AN ICY ROAD THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGED AND A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALSO BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED. THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO PULSATE VIOLENTLY BEFORE DEPRESSING TO THE FLOOR. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,700.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 6, 2011
BRAKE FAILURE AFTER "SERV 4WD" INDICATOR APPEARS. WAS OPERATING IN 2WD MODE, TRAVELING AT APX 30MPH WHEN AFTER BRAKES APPLIED THE VEHICLE LOST GRIP AND SLIDE. "SERV 4WD" ILLUMINATED AND HAD NO BRAKE POWER, USE EMER TO STOP. SHUTODD ENGINE, RESTARTED AND MESSAGE WAS GONE. *TR
Structure, Jan 5, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD. WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN HE WOULD ROLL THE REAR WINDOWS DOWN, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY ALMOST CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 2,300. BW UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ