2011 Dodge RAM 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Ram 2500 most often write about front-end shaking that begins after a bump or expansion joint at highway speed, usually called a wobble or shake in the complaints, and about the left tie rod breaking. Reports of the shaking are common at low mileage, while engine, electrical and fuel complaints tend to appear much later in the vehicle's life.

1. 1
   Steering

   Front-end wobble or violent shaking at highway speed

   • 41 complaints (14%)
   • median 33,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2024

   Complaints describe the front end shaking violently after hitting a bump, bridge expansion joint or rough pavement, usually between about 45 and 75 mph, with the shaking easing only after slowing to roughly 30 mph. Owners say the steering felt hard to hold and some report the truck moving out of its lane. According to the complaints, dealers replaced or adjusted steering dampers, track bars and bushings, rotated and balanced tires, or told owners nothing was found, and the shaking often returned. Mostly reported between about 8,000 and 75,000 miles, and several owners say it happened repeatedly on the same truck.

   What to check: Drive the truck at highway speed over expansion joints and rough patches before buying, and ask whether the steering damper, track bar and front-end bushings have been replaced or checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Death wobble - I was driving in heavy traffic on a 4 lane highway. I drove over a bridge expansion joint and suddenly the truck began shaking violently. I could not steer. I could not brake. We nearly collided with a highway divider and other vehicles. I had to coast down to 30 MPH or so when it resolved itself.”

   NHTSA complaint #11041489, filed 2017-10, 95,500 miles

   “While driving at 65 miles per hour, and crossing a bridge expansion joint, truck began shaking violently. Shaking did not stop until I was able to reduce the speed below 45mph. Similar incidents continue to occur every time I drive the truck. This could easily lead to a serious accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10629263, filed 2014-08, 28,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Left tie rod breaking or tie rod recall work

   • 45 complaints (15%)
   • median 44,947 mi at 3.3 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2016

   Owners describe the driver-side tie rod snapping or shearing, often at low speed while reversing or turning, leaving the wheel without steering. Many complaints are about recall notices and parts availability: dealers told owners the parts were on backorder or that the truck was not covered, and some report the tie rod failed after recall work had already been done. A few owners describe front tires tilting inward after the tie rod separated. Reported from roughly 8,000 to 80,000 miles, generally at low speed while turning or reversing.

   Recall 13V529000Recall 11V350000

   What to check: Ask for documentation that the tie rod recall was completed and which side was replaced, and have a mechanic inspect both tie rod ends and ball joints before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While backing a trailer into my driveway. The drivers side tie rod broke off. I contacted the dealer and they stated that my truck was not covered under the l16 safety recall. Strange that my trucks VIN does not fit into the recall but it broke just like the trucks that are covered in the recall have broken. I have the broken tie rod if you want it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10547720, filed 2013-10, 71,400 miles

   “While traveling 5mph or less in reverse while turning the driver's side tie rod ball stud sheared off causing the left wheel to be without steering. This happened two days after the vehicle was at a dealer for a safety recall related to the same components. The dealer advised me my vehicle did not have the affected parts that needed replaced and said they made a torque adjustment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10461147, filed 2012-06, 15,900 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving

   • 22 complaints (7%)
   • median 69,022 mi at 6.7 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at speed, sometimes restarting on its own and sometimes leaving the driver without power steering or power brakes until the truck is stopped and restarted. Several owners say a dealer or mechanic traced the problem to the power module or wiring, and others report diagnosis without a confirmed repair. One owner described the engine needing replacement after repeated stalling. Reported from about 8,000 to 180,000 miles, with many cases in the 40,000 to 75,000 mile range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the power module or wiring repairs have been done, and watch for dash lights, radio or lighting flicker and hard starting during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Truck shut off while driving. Couldn't steer, couldn't turn, could barely stop. I was in the middle of a rotary with my 7 month old daughter in the car. Most likely the tipm was the cause because it started right up afterwards. No signs or warnings occurred before issue happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #10939569, filed 2017-01, 49,000 miles

   “While operating the vehicle on a city street, highway, and off road; on both a rough paved roads and while running over bumps in the road, the vehicle experienced sudden loss of power (engine and all powered accessories) affecting the vehicle's engine, power steering and braking. Fortunately, no accidents or other events have occurred when I was operating the vehicle during this sudden loss of power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11355282, filed 2020-09, 132,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Diesel emissions and fuel-system faults

   • 33 complaints (11%)
   • median 67,344 mi at 5.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2024

   Owners of diesel trucks describe check-engine lights tied to emissions and fuel-system codes, exhaust fumes entering the cab during regeneration, and a fuel pump circuit that required replacing the fuse box. Some say a wiring harness overlay was needed and that coverage was refused. Complaints also mention turbocharger replacement for smoke and power loss. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 180,000 miles.

   Recall 14V6350003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have any stored emissions or fuel-system codes read before buying, ask about regeneration behavior and exhaust smell in the cab, and check whether emissions-related repairs were done under warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Diesel fumes invade the cab of the truck when it is undergoing the regeneration phase of its emissions cycle. We are literally choking and holding our breath when this happens on a daily basis. The fumes are much worse if we have the heater or AC working at the time. It happens when we are moving but it is much more pronounced when the vehicle is stationary at a stop light or when parking.”

   NHTSA complaint #10930182, filed 2016-12, 125,000 miles

   “There are two issues at hand here. One is the fuel pump fuse/relay. It went out but cant be fixed without replacing the entire fuse box as it is internally within fuse box. I did a bypass and replaced fuel pump, but I still have codes related to fuel system having a leak. When this issue happened, my wife was left stranded as the truck wouldn't turn on. Also, on a different note, I noticed my trailer brake light coming on saying it is disable and flashes on and off as I am driving. Not sure if this is related to the electrical aspect of it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11342669, filed 2020-08, 177,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Trailer brake controller not sending power

   • 9 complaints (3%)
   • median 79,692 mi at 5.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2012–2020

   Owners describe the integrated trailer brake controller showing a no-trailer-brake message or failing to send voltage to the trailer connector, so the truck does all the stopping. Complaints mention checking the seven-pin connection and the trailer wiring with no fault found on the trailer side, and dealers being unable to resolve it. Reported between about 70,000 and 100,000 miles, typically while towing.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: If you plan to tow, test the seven-pin connector with a trailer or meter and confirm the controller sends voltage before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power steering failed while driving. It will go in and out intermittently and then work periodically. Our tie rod already snapped and was replaced under recall, but now the truck has power steering issues. A VIN check says all repairs have been completed on our truck but we are still having steering issues. Was driving and making a turn when the steering went out initially and we could not turn the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10818321, filed 2016-01, 60,000 miles

   “My wife and I were hauling our 5th wheel from alabama to georgia and had been on several steep grades with no problems. Before our trip ended the no trailer brake indicator showed up on the evic. We had the 5th wheel brakes and electrical components examined by a trailer dealer and no problems where found with it. However, I checked, as did the trailer dealer, my 7 prong connection on the truck and it shows that there is no voltage going to the 5th wheel from the integrated trailer brake controller. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10744056, filed 2015-07, 87,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the front steering linkage, tie rod ends and track bar is worthwhile, along with proof that the tie rod recalls were completed. On diesel examples, have the truck scanned for emissions and fuel-system codes and check for exhaust smell in the cab.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.