2011 Dodge Ram 3500 problems
NHTSA has received 297 complaints about the 2011 Dodge Ram 3500, and 56% of them involve steering. Next are suspension (9%) and engine (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 297 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 56% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 49,000 miles 156 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 42 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 26 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 19 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 26 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 13 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 10 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Of the 156 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 49,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 42,000 miles (67 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 7 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 20 model years of the Dodge Ram 3500 with enough data (251 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
This vehicle was bought new october 2010 and in december 2010 we had took it to be serviced because when you turned on the heated seat, you could smell an electrical burning smell. Dodge ordered a new seat pad and replaced it on 1/11/11 and when we took it in we also made them aware that the power seat entry had stopped working and when you used the switch to move the seat back, it went all the way forward nearly pinning my husband in the seat between the steering wheel and seat.
Traveling at approximatly 45 MPH on smooth paved road. Suddenly shot to left into oncoming traffic. Resulting in serious injury. It also felt as if there was a sudden acceleration. However, everthing occurred in an instant. So, acceleration may just be perceived. Witness, following described same way to pd.
We were made aware of the three (3) recalls and possible buyback on our 2011 dodge ram 3500 truck by "word of mouth"! We were never contacted about the recalls or the consent order-----we accidentally found out! We have had smoke coming from the engine compartment twice, once while refueling and once while the truck was in motion. We have noticed a bad and dangerous vibration from the steering!
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ram 3500. The contact stated that the tie rod and ball stud failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 10v657000 (steering), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. While reversing at approximately 5 MPH and turning the steering wheel, the contact heard a loud pop noise and observed that the tie rod failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.