2011 Dodge RAM 3500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Dodge RAM 3500 has 293 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (56% of all complaints), specifically: when making a right turn my 2011 dodge ram 3500 steering locked for just a second. no accident occurred but it did scare the daylights out of me. there was no control for just a second. this has no re-occurred but i have slowed down on my turns. i notified the dealer and have a appointment this next. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.
293
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
3.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
165 complaints- • WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN MY 2011 DODGE RAM 3500 STEERING LOCKED FOR JUST A SECOND. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT IT DID SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. THERE WAS NO CONTROL FOR JUST A SECOND. THIS HAS NO RE-OCCURRED BUT I HAVE SLOWED DOWN ON MY TURNS. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND HAVE A APPOINTMENT THIS NEXT
- • WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY.UPON HITTING A POT HOLE OR EXPANTION JOINT THE TRUCK DEVELOPES A VIOLENT SHAKE AND OR WOBBLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER REPLACED THE SWAY BAR SHOCK ON THE SWAY BAR ARM AND INSPECTED THE REMAINING PARTS ON THE F
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE 3500 MEGACAB 4X4. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK AND AS HE STEERED TO THE RIGHT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT
“WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN MY 2011 DODGE RAM 3500 STEERING LOCKED FOR JUST A SECOND. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT IT DID SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. THERE WAS NO CONTROL FOR JUST A SECOND. THIS HAS NO RE-OCCURRED BUT I HAVE SLOWED DOWN ON MY TURNS. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND HAVE A APPOINTMENT THIS NEXT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
27 complaints- • LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND A HOLE IN THE CONDENSOR LINE BEHIND THE OPENING IN THE FRONT BUMPER WHERE THE RADIATOR, A/C COOLING LINES, TRANSMISION COOLER ALL SIT EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARDS, SUCH AS ROCKS, DEBRIS OR ANY OTHER SHARP OBJECT THAT MAY ENTER THROUGH THE OPE
- • DRIVING AT NIGHT GOING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN ALL SYSTEMS FAILED, NO ENGINE, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING AND WORST OF ALL, NO LIGHTS. ENGINE WOULDN'T CRANK, FUSE BOX WAS MAKING SNAPPING SOUNDS EVEN WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER ABOUT 5 MIN TRUCK STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, ABOUT 5
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS LEAKING. THE
“LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND A HOLE IN THE CONDENSOR LINE BEHIND THE OPENING IN THE FRONT BUMPER WHERE THE RADIATOR, A/C COOLING LINES, TRANSMISION COOLER ALL SIT EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARDS, SUCH AS ROCKS, DEBRIS OR ANY OTHER SHARP OBJECT THAT MAY ENTER THROUGH THE OPE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
26 complaints- • THIS TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED A DRAMATIC SHIMMY/WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS 70 MPH AND HITTING BUMPS OR EXPANSION JOINTS. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED STEERING DAMPER BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE SITUATION. *TR
- • DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIT AN ASPHALT PATCH TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VERY VIOLENTLY HAD TO COME ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE IT STOPPED. *TR
- • TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON GALEN ROAD IN LAFAYETTE TENNESSEE AT 45MPH I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END THAT WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP I LATER CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE WHICH WAS GOOD I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE STEERING.
“THIS TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED A DRAMATIC SHIMMY/WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS 70 MPH AND HITTING BUMPS OR EXPANSION JOINTS. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED STEERING DAMPER BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE SITUATION. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
17 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450 AND THE CU
- • DRIVING AT NIGHT GOING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN ALL SYSTEMS FAILED, NO ENGINE, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING AND WORST OF ALL, NO LIGHTS. ENGINE WOULDN'T CRANK, FUSE BOX WAS MAKING SNAPPING SOUNDS EVEN WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER ABOUT 5 MIN TRUCK STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, ABOUT 5
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING FOR 10-20 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AW
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450 AND THE CU”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
16 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE SMELL IN THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING THE OCCUPANTS NAUSEOUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAI
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V529000 (STEERING) AND 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PA
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE SMELL IN THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING THE OCCUPANTS NAUSEOUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAI”
— 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 293 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN MY 2011 DODGE RAM 3500 STEERING LOCKED FOR JUST A SECOND. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT IT DID SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. THERE WAS NO CONTROL FOR JUST A SECOND. THIS HAS NO RE-OCCURRED BUT I HAVE SLOWED DOWN ON MY TURNS. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND HAVE A APPOINTMENT THIS NEXT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND A HOLE IN THE CONDENSOR LINE BEHIND THE OPENING IN THE FRONT BUMPER WHERE THE RADIATOR, A/C COOLING LINES, TRANSMISION COOLER ALL SIT EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARDS, SUCH AS ROCKS, DEBRIS OR ANY OTHER SHARP OBJECT THAT MAY ENTER THROUGH THE OPE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: THIS TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED A DRAMATIC SHIMMY/WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS 70 MPH AND HITTING BUMPS OR EXPANSION JOINTS. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED STEERING DAMPER BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE SITUATION. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450 AND THE CU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge RAM 3500 — 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
- 293
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 5
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 5
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Dodge RAM 3500