DODGE RAM 1500 · model year

2011 DODGE RAM 1500

985 NHTSA complaints, 53 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011DODGERAM 1500 carries 985 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 53 crashes, 9 fires, 36 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 RAM 1500 is electrical system with 208 filings, followed by power train (166) and engine (150). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2011 RAM 1500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

985
Complaints
53
Crashes
9
Fires
36
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

985 filings

Crashes Reported

53 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM208
POWER TRAIN166
ENGINE150
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM128
UNKNOWN OR OTHER46
STEERING43
SUSPENSION26
EXTERIOR LIGHTING26
SERVICE BRAKES20
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL19
STRUCTURE:BODY14
AIR BAGS13
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)12
WHEELS10
SUSPENSION:REAR9

Recent Complaints

20260110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

There are multiple electrical issues I’ve had to trouble shoot over the past 4 months. As I’ve researched other people with the same issues online, I’ve bee seeing a lot about some recalls pertaing to electrical issues and fuel issues and so I am wondering if there are prior recalls that I might need to have taken care of which I feel could fix my vehicle issues

20260110ENGINE

There are multiple electrical issues I’ve had to trouble shoot over the past 4 months. As I’ve researched other people with the same issues online, I’ve bee seeing a lot about some recalls pertaing to electrical issues and fuel issues and so I am wondering if there are prior recalls that I might need to have taken care of which I feel could fix my vehicle issues

20260110FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

There are multiple electrical issues I’ve had to trouble shoot over the past 4 months. As I’ve researched other people with the same issues online, I’ve bee seeing a lot about some recalls pertaing to electrical issues and fuel issues and so I am wondering if there are prior recalls that I might need to have taken care of which I feel could fix my vehicle issues

20260105AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2011 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.

Mileage: 172,000

20251206SERVICE BRAKES

I was driving my 2001 Dodge Ram 20-30mph and experienced a total power loss, power steering, power brakes and clock reset. My husband was also in the pickup and can attest to issue. I am an older person so had a very hard time stopping the vehicle and attempting to steer it to the side of the road. Traffic backed up behind me before I could put on my warning blinkers.Eventually, I turned off and on the pickup and everything worked somewhat normally but the vehicle went into limp mode. I got home, had the vehicle towed to the dealership. I explained issue, requested a total diagnosis of everything that was wrong but most importantly, I wanted the total power loss issue diagnosed, pinpointed and resolved. because I don't feel safe driving until issue is truly diagnosed and fixed. I gave them my lifetimecarmaxplus warranty . The techs found a list of parts that needed to be fixed besides the power loss problem, but told me they couldn't fix the total power loss because no codes had bee

20251206STEERING

I was driving my 2001 Dodge Ram 20-30mph and experienced a total power loss, power steering, power brakes and clock reset. My husband was also in the pickup and can attest to issue. I am an older person so had a very hard time stopping the vehicle and attempting to steer it to the side of the road. Traffic backed up behind me before I could put on my warning blinkers.Eventually, I turned off and on the pickup and everything worked somewhat normally but the vehicle went into limp mode. I got home, had the vehicle towed to the dealership. I explained issue, requested a total diagnosis of everything that was wrong but most importantly, I wanted the total power loss issue diagnosed, pinpointed and resolved. because I don't feel safe driving until issue is truly diagnosed and fixed. I gave them my lifetimecarmaxplus warranty . The techs found a list of parts that needed to be fixed besides the power loss problem, but told me they couldn't fix the total power loss because no codes had bee

20251206ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I was driving my 2001 Dodge Ram 20-30mph and experienced a total power loss, power steering, power brakes and clock reset. My husband was also in the pickup and can attest to issue. I am an older person so had a very hard time stopping the vehicle and attempting to steer it to the side of the road. Traffic backed up behind me before I could put on my warning blinkers.Eventually, I turned off and on the pickup and everything worked somewhat normally but the vehicle went into limp mode. I got home, had the vehicle towed to the dealership. I explained issue, requested a total diagnosis of everything that was wrong but most importantly, I wanted the total power loss issue diagnosed, pinpointed and resolved. because I don't feel safe driving until issue is truly diagnosed and fixed. I gave them my lifetimecarmaxplus warranty . The techs found a list of parts that needed to be fixed besides the power loss problem, but told me they couldn't fix the total power loss because no codes had bee

20251022SUSPENSION

The contact's son owns a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal grinding and rubbing sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for brake service. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being repaired, the independent mechanic confirmed the abnormal grinding and rubbing sound. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to contact the dealer for assistance. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V656000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. In addition, the contact stated that the dealer had not confirmed the failure but had agreed to inspect

Mileage: 125,000

20250811FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Driving my vehicle throughout December of 2024 and the vehicle would die and power back up, vehicle would run intermittently and fail to continue operating while driving to and from work. Vehicle intermittently stalling during driving would cause "Near Miss" accidents on the road. Potentially endangering myself as the operator and other operators on the road due to a "no start" issue and unsafe operating condition in the electrical system of the vehicle. I thought it was a bad battery so I replaced it with a brand new battery from the auto parts store While I struggled to have this matter resolved before leaving for Army Active Duty. I arranged to have the vehicle turned into a Chrysler, Dodge, Ram dealer to have a diagnostic done on the vehicle. on June 6th according to their technicians report, it shows my TIPM is bad. and needed to be replaced. The dealer failed to acknowledge this was a recall issue and would not cover the repair cost since the vehicle was out of warranty due t

20250811ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Driving my vehicle throughout December of 2024 and the vehicle would die and power back up, vehicle would run intermittently and fail to continue operating while driving to and from work. Vehicle intermittently stalling during driving would cause "Near Miss" accidents on the road. Potentially endangering myself as the operator and other operators on the road due to a "no start" issue and unsafe operating condition in the electrical system of the vehicle. I thought it was a bad battery so I replaced it with a brand new battery from the auto parts store While I struggled to have this matter resolved before leaving for Army Active Duty. I arranged to have the vehicle turned into a Chrysler, Dodge, Ram dealer to have a diagnostic done on the vehicle. on June 6th according to their technicians report, it shows my TIPM is bad. and needed to be replaced. The dealer failed to acknowledge this was a recall issue and would not cover the repair cost since the vehicle was out of warranty due t

20250811VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Driving my vehicle throughout December of 2024 and the vehicle would die and power back up, vehicle would run intermittently and fail to continue operating while driving to and from work. Vehicle intermittently stalling during driving would cause "Near Miss" accidents on the road. Potentially endangering myself as the operator and other operators on the road due to a "no start" issue and unsafe operating condition in the electrical system of the vehicle. I thought it was a bad battery so I replaced it with a brand new battery from the auto parts store While I struggled to have this matter resolved before leaving for Army Active Duty. I arranged to have the vehicle turned into a Chrysler, Dodge, Ram dealer to have a diagnostic done on the vehicle. on June 6th according to their technicians report, it shows my TIPM is bad. and needed to be replaced. The dealer failed to acknowledge this was a recall issue and would not cover the repair cost since the vehicle was out of warranty due t

20250724ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

my 2011 RAM 1500 5.7L has a Faulty TIPM. Fuel Pump cuts out, causing stalling and intermittent operation, starting vehicle becomes problematic while commuting. vehicle will sometimes not start at all and will remain stuck in an ignition loop. Continues to throw random check engine codes. I have had several near miss collisions while driving due to its unsafe condition I took the vehicle in to have a diagnostic done and a licensed Chrysler dealer deduced the vehicle has a faulty TIPM, which correlates to the mass recall on the 2011 RAM 1500 models However my VIN does not show its associated with the many models of 2011 RAM 1500 when I cross referenced this.

20250724FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

my 2011 RAM 1500 5.7L has a Faulty TIPM. Fuel Pump cuts out, causing stalling and intermittent operation, starting vehicle becomes problematic while commuting. vehicle will sometimes not start at all and will remain stuck in an ignition loop. Continues to throw random check engine codes. I have had several near miss collisions while driving due to its unsafe condition I took the vehicle in to have a diagnostic done and a licensed Chrysler dealer deduced the vehicle has a faulty TIPM, which correlates to the mass recall on the 2011 RAM 1500 models However my VIN does not show its associated with the many models of 2011 RAM 1500 when I cross referenced this.

20250724ENGINE

my 2011 RAM 1500 5.7L has a Faulty TIPM. Fuel Pump cuts out, causing stalling and intermittent operation, starting vehicle becomes problematic while commuting. vehicle will sometimes not start at all and will remain stuck in an ignition loop. Continues to throw random check engine codes. I have had several near miss collisions while driving due to its unsafe condition I took the vehicle in to have a diagnostic done and a licensed Chrysler dealer deduced the vehicle has a faulty TIPM, which correlates to the mass recall on the 2011 RAM 1500 models However my VIN does not show its associated with the many models of 2011 RAM 1500 when I cross referenced this.

20250623CrashPOWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, an abnormal clunk was heard coming from under the vehicle before the rear end of the drive shaft disconnected. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he lost control and the vehicle had jumped the curb into a ditch before coming to a stop on a culvert. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries to his neck however, no medical attention was sought. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed and parked at the contact's home address, where it remains until further investigation. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the contact related to the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V796000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20250611FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2011 Ram 1500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 17V821000 (Power Train). The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the fuel tank detached from the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated an abnormal sound was coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact pulled to the side of the road and noticed the fuel tank was being dragged by the wires. A driver pulled over and assisted the contact by strapping the fuel tank back in place. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was determined that the front fuel tank strap frame T-Slot bracket was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but refused to perform the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 180,000

20250523STRUCTURE:BODY

The gas tank fell onto the road while driving to pick up my daughter from the bus. I immediately pulled over due to the sound. I then saw the front of the gas tank on the ground , half a mile down the road I was traveling there are alot of pit holes and that could of ended in a fire or worse with my tank dragging the ground. I have taken it to the dealership that would help repair the recall but they have yet to repair or give me information about what the manufacturer has said on what to do. They told me it is to rusty underneath to repair and contacted manufacturer. I am without a vehicle its been almost 2 weeks and I have a 6 year old child and my own health issues that inquire dr appointments. I have no money for a rental and no family or friends who can help with rides. I am unsure of what to do next I just know this is extremely frustrating considering I had purchased this vehicle only a few months ago.

20250523ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The gas tank fell onto the road while driving to pick up my daughter from the bus. I immediately pulled over due to the sound. I then saw the front of the gas tank on the ground , half a mile down the road I was traveling there are alot of pit holes and that could of ended in a fire or worse with my tank dragging the ground. I have taken it to the dealership that would help repair the recall but they have yet to repair or give me information about what the manufacturer has said on what to do. They told me it is to rusty underneath to repair and contacted manufacturer. I am without a vehicle its been almost 2 weeks and I have a 6 year old child and my own health issues that inquire dr appointments. I have no money for a rental and no family or friends who can help with rides. I am unsure of what to do next I just know this is extremely frustrating considering I had purchased this vehicle only a few months ago.

20250523POWER TRAIN

The gas tank fell onto the road while driving to pick up my daughter from the bus. I immediately pulled over due to the sound. I then saw the front of the gas tank on the ground , half a mile down the road I was traveling there are alot of pit holes and that could of ended in a fire or worse with my tank dragging the ground. I have taken it to the dealership that would help repair the recall but they have yet to repair or give me information about what the manufacturer has said on what to do. They told me it is to rusty underneath to repair and contacted manufacturer. I am without a vehicle its been almost 2 weeks and I have a 6 year old child and my own health issues that inquire dr appointments. I have no money for a rental and no family or friends who can help with rides. I am unsure of what to do next I just know this is extremely frustrating considering I had purchased this vehicle only a few months ago.

20241021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My truck first started having trouble starting .when driving engine it would shut-off at anytime making it dangerous to steer and breakdown in traffic. There was no fault codes or warning lights on dash . After doing testing I found that the fuel pump relay was shut-off. Tipm is faulty and all Chrysler that have this style of tipm should be added to recall . I purchased a external fuel pump relay harness to repair tipm.

Compare 2011DODGERAM 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 DODGE RAM 1500 have?
The 2011 DODGE RAM 1500 has 985 NHTSA complaints, 53 crashes, 9 fires, 36 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 DODGE RAM 1500?
The most-complained component for the 2011 DODGE RAM 1500 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 208 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and ENGINE.
Is the 2011 DODGE RAM 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.