2011 Dodge RAM 4500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 14 complaints (71.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 57.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 21.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 10 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Steering: 10; Suspension: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 7; 2015: 3; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10461419 · 2012-06-13 (June 13, 2012)
IN A SLOW TIGHT TURN THE PASS SIDE TIE ROD END SHEARED OFF. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 73,744 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466019 · 2012-07-17 (July 17, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED, WHEN CROSSING ON AN OVERPASS, THE STEERING WHEEL START VIOLENTLY SHAKING BACK AND FORTH. IT GOT SO BAD I HAD TO IMMEDIATE BRAKE HARD AND EXIT THE FREEWAY. IT DID NOT STOP SHAKING UNTIL I WAS NEARLY STOPPED. THIS TRUCK IS USED FOR MY BUSINESS AND NORMALLY HAS A GOOSENECK TRAILER WITH A CONTROL ROOM AND HEAVY UMBILICAL CABLES MOUNTED ON IT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WITH A TRAILER ATTACHED, I KNOW I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. HAD THIS HAPPENED WITH SNOW OR ICE ON THE ROAD, I AM CERTAIN I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL, SPUN OUT AND MOST…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,531 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511666 · 2013-05-13 (May 13, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN AT A SPEED OF 1 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SEIZED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE OUTER TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V657000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584190 · 2014-04-22 (April 22, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY SINCE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,300.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10584190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10604262 · 2014-06-18 (June 18, 2014)
DODGE HAS REFUSED TO REPLACED THE CRITICAL PART AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. I WAS NOTIFIED BY DODGE EARLY IN 2014 ABOUT THE RECALL. DEALER SAID THAT REPLACEMENT WOULD BE MADE IN MAY 2014. WHEN CONTACTED IN MAY DEALER SAID THE REPLACEMENT WOULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2014. TRUCK HAS A SERIOUS PULL TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND SHOWS EXTREME WEAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. GIVEN THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THIS RECALL I WOULD LIKE THE REPLACEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE CONTINUAL DELAYS BY DODGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10604262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10607012 · 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)
OUR DELIVERY DRIVER WAS RETURNING TO SHOP AFTER A DELIVERY. HE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BECOMING VERY HARD WHEN HE PUSHED ON IT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, HE HAD NO BRAKES. HE THEN SHUT THE TRUCK OFF AND STARTED TO COAST WITH IT, GRADUALLY SLOWING. A MINIVAN STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN THE VERY RIGHTMOST LANE RESULTING IN OUR TRUCK REAR ENDING IT. AT THIS TIME THE TRUCK HAD SLOWED TO SOMEWHERE IN THE 20 MPH RANGE. THEN HE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND LIMPED THE TRUCK BACK TO THE SHO…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,352 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10621992 · 2014-08-13 (August 13, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10621992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10632871 · 2014-09-12 (September 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) BUT THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10632871 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V527000 · Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
Reported: 2013-11-06 (November 6, 2013)
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 4500 and 5500 trucks manufactured February 20, 2007, through December 22, 2012. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: On May 19, 2015 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would replace the tie rod assembly, 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 R16.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V635000 · Fuel System, Diesel | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
Reported: 2014-10-08 (October 8, 2014)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V739000 · Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 2016-10-13 (October 13, 2016)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may suddenly fail.
Consequence: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator with a revised alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S68.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V821000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
Reported: 2017-12-20 (December 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.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗