2011 Dodge RAM 2500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Dodge RAM 2500 has 389 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (54% of all complaints), specifically: 2500 series dodge ram pickups have serious front end problems. they are not safe straight out of the factory in my opinion. we have recently bought two 2011 ram 2500's one has less than 10,000 miles and the other 18,000, and they wobble all over the road. it is very dangerous, especially if they . ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.
389
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
4.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
211 complaints- • 2500 SERIES DODGE RAM PICKUPS HAVE SERIOUS FRONT END PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT SAFE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY IN MY OPINION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT TWO 2011 RAM 2500'S ONE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND THE OTHER 18,000, AND THEY WOBBLE ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY
- • MY TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES TO CORRECT A SHIMMY OR AS THE SERVICE WRITER CALLED IT A "DEATH WOBBLE" THE DEALER HAS FELT THE ISSUE AND ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TRIED TO FIX IT. INCLUDING ALIGNING THE VEHICLE OUT OF FACTORY SPECS ON THE ADVICE FROM THE RAM ENGINEERS. THEY HAVE ALSO SW
- • JULY 1ST EXPERIENCE LOOSE STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OVER BUMPS; STEERING WHEEL NOT CENTERED OFF TO THE LEFT. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP; TOLD NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS BRING BACK AFTER HOLIDAYS. RETURNED JULY 12 TOLD TRUCK NEEDED ALIGNMENT AND BOTH REAR SHOCKS WERE LEAKING. REPLACED BOTH REAR SHOCKS ON JULY
“2500 SERIES DODGE RAM PICKUPS HAVE SERIOUS FRONT END PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT SAFE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY IN MY OPINION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT TWO 2011 RAM 2500'S ONE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND THE OTHER 18,000, AND THEY WOBBLE ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
40 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE EXHAUST BEGAN LEAKING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS OVERPOWERING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSUTRUMENATL PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A DECREASE IN FUEL EFFICIENCY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE T
- • FIRST INCIDENT, WHILE DRIVING, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT WENT ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. COULD NOT RESTART UNTIL VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, PUT IN PARK AND THE KEY WAS CYCLED FROM ON TO OFF AND BACK. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON 11/28/10 BASED ON THE PRESENCE OF DIAGNOSTIC CODE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE EXHAUST BEGAN LEAKING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS OVERPOWERING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
37 complaints- • 2500 SERIES DODGE RAM PICKUPS HAVE SERIOUS FRONT END PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT SAFE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY IN MY OPINION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT TWO 2011 RAM 2500'S ONE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND THE OTHER 18,000, AND THEY WOBBLE ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY
- • WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45MPH THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER HIGHWAY EXPANSION JOINTS OR POTHOLES. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE ONLY RECOURSE IS LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES UNTIL SPEED FALLS BELOW 25MPH. *TR
- • HIT POTHOLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE TRUCK. TRUCK WAS LITERALLY BOUNCING DOWN THE HIGHWAY UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN TO APROX. 30MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. *TR IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN ON A CURVE IN THE ROAD I WOULD B
“2500 SERIES DODGE RAM PICKUPS HAVE SERIOUS FRONT END PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT SAFE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY IN MY OPINION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT TWO 2011 RAM 2500'S ONE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND THE OTHER 18,000, AND THEY WOBBLE ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
23 complaints- • TRUCK WAS IDLING, JUST GOT HOME AND THE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH STARTED SMOKING AND AS THAT HAPPENED BOTH BACK WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN AND FIRE CAME OUT FROM WINDOW SWITCH. *TR
- • THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ONLY WORKS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 90 DEGREES AND THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON THE INTERIOR CAB WILL NOT COOL DOWN. IT IS NOT UNTIL YOU START TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING STARTS TO
- • SERVICE BULLITIN 25-003-13 O2 SENSOR WIRE HARNESS ENDING WITH (AC) O2 SENSOR AND O2 COMPUTER MODULE FAILURE. *TR
“TRUCK WAS IDLING, JUST GOT HOME AND THE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH STARTED SMOKING AND AS THAT HAPPENED BOTH BACK WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN AND FIRE CAME OUT FROM WINDOW SWITCH. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
21 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 13V529000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REA
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V529000 (STEERING) AND 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PART AND THE PERMANENT REMEDY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 13V529000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 389 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: 2500 SERIES DODGE RAM PICKUPS HAVE SERIOUS FRONT END PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT SAFE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY IN MY OPINION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT TWO 2011 RAM 2500'S ONE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND THE OTHER 18,000, AND THEY WOBBLE ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE EXHAUST BEGAN LEAKING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS OVERPOWERING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: 2500 SERIES DODGE RAM PICKUPS HAVE SERIOUS FRONT END PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT SAFE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY IN MY OPINION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT TWO 2011 RAM 2500'S ONE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND THE OTHER 18,000, AND THEY WOBBLE ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TRUCK WAS IDLING, JUST GOT HOME AND THE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH STARTED SMOKING AND AS THAT HAPPENED BOTH BACK WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN AND FIRE CAME OUT FROM WINDOW SWITCH. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge RAM 2500 — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 389
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 6
- Crash reports
- 5
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Dodge RAM 2500