2011 Dodge RAM 4500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RAM 4500 years
- More complaints than other years 1st of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Dodge RAM 4500. That is the most of any RAM 4500 model year in the database (5 years). The most reported problem area is steering (11 complaints, 79%), typically at around 68,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 14owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2011 Dodge RAM 4500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 11 | 79% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 21% | 58,266 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 14% | 94,176 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2011 Dodge RAM 4500 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel; fuel system, diesel
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: 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.
Risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ram 4500. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the water pump failed which caused the serpentine belt to fracture. The fractured serpentine belt caused the loss of power steering and the vehicle could not be stopped for about 20 miles. The vehicle was not…
Took truck in for repair. Didn't have parts. Said would call when got in. Never called. Afraid to drive
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ram 4500. While driving 5 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
This recall was issued in may or june 2014 and the dealer still doesn't have the parts. Says they are on back-order. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge ram 4500. The contact received a notification for a manufacturer recall related to the driver side tie rod. The parts needed were not available. The dealer stated that the parts were still not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the delay. The contact had…
Other Dodge RAM 4500 years
← 2010 RAM 4500 · 2012 RAM 4500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 RAM 4500 | 10 | 9 |
| 2011 | 14 | 4 |
| 2010 RAM 4500 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 RAM 4500 | 4 | 3 |
| 2008 RAM 4500 | 10 | 3 |
See all Dodge RAM 4500 problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Dodge RAM 4500?
Owners most often report steering, suspension, service brakes problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 11 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Dodge RAM 4500?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2011 Dodge RAM 4500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RAM 4500 model years, the 2011 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.