Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Yesterday, the Front Right Wheel completely separated from the axel while driving 25 mph. The truck veered sharply to the right, crashing into the driver's side of a fortunately unoccupied parked car, and continued to the right into the curb. I was not seriously injured, though my neck was strained. The tire and rim were destroyed, and it appears that the metal attachment from the wheel to the car was completely sheared through. There was also extensive Front End damage. Had I made it another mile to the parkway, this would have been a fatal injury to me, as well as other drivers. The truck was just inspected 2 days prior to this occurrence by a Certified Dodge Ram Dealer (NY Facility #[redacted]) with a clean health record. It is currently at the North Star Auto Body [phone]) awaiting inspection by the Allstate Insurance adjuster (Claim # [redacted]). A police report was also filed. …
This issue has been experienced more than 5 times and only occurs while turning. While making both left and right hand turns, the steering wheel locks mid turn and the engine completely shuts off resulting in the inability to turn in any direction. The first time this happened, I almost went into a ditch and today as I turned to cross an intersection, I lost all steering control and the truck shut down mid turn in the middle of the intersection. This left the truck immobilized in the intersection and facing into oncoming traffic. Following each incident, I put the truck in park and restart it as if there was no issue. There are no warning lights that appear prior to any of the incidents that would indicate an issue and the instrument panel goes dark each time the issue occurs. This is going to get me and/or my family killed one of these days. …
WIN IGNITION UNIT CAN Turn off BY KEY FOB MOVEMENT WHEN DRIVING CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WITH LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING Control *** Fuel pump remains on when vehicle is off and key fob is removed. Risk of fuel pump fire and electrial FIRE. **TIPM SHORTS AT FUEL PUMP RELAY CAUSING FUEL pump to continually operate and drain battery and risk of fire FUEL pUMP TO CONTINUALLY RUN AND operate RISK OF FIRE DAMAGE TO Surroundings. fuel pump runs WITH VEHICLE IGNITION OFF AND KEY REMOVeD CAUSING A DRAIN ON THE VEHICLE battery until battery is fully discharged.
In march/ 2020 my truck shut off 3xs going down the hwy with me and my kids in it . all without any warning. Upon the third event it caused my truck to began losing power to my headlights and tail lights and no hazards as well ? Which i thought was a very concerning matter especially at night... Very dangerous and it could have had one of us hurt or even killed . i payed 150 for a wrecker and hauled it to a mechanic that night . over the course of the next few days they checked it and no signs of the same thing recurring while at the shop . payed another 75 dollars amd drove truck for another couple months and then the same thing happening again . yet this time i was lucky enough to be just pulling out of my driveway . took to mechanic again paying a friend 75 to carry by tow dolly . only to be told nothing was wrong . its like my truck is possessed . …
I was driving my 2001 Dodge Ram 20-30mph and experienced a total power loss, power steering, power brakes and clock reset. My husband was also in the pickup and can attest to issue. I am an older person so had a very hard time stopping the vehicle and attempting to steer it to the side of the road. Traffic backed up behind me before I could put on my warning blinkers.Eventually, I turned off and on the pickup and everything worked somewhat normally but the vehicle went into limp mode. I got home, had the vehicle towed to the dealership. I explained issue, requested a total diagnosis of everything that was wrong but most importantly, I wanted the total power loss issue diagnosed, pinpointed and resolved. because I don't feel safe driving until issue is truly diagnosed and fixed. I gave them my lifetimecarmaxplus warranty . …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ram 1500. While driving approximately 25 MPH making a right turn, the vehicle shook hard without warning. The brake pedal traveled to the floor when it was depressed. The contact had no control over the steering and the wheel would not move. The contact crashed into another vehicle and the brakes returned to normal. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and a knot on the left side. Medical attention was not required. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to his residence. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000.
After stoping at a stop sign. Made a right turn and the transmission shift to high speed gear causing rapid speed the the ingine shut off caused hard steering. At that time a vehicle approach me head on because there cars park in oncoming traffic lane. The car crash into me forcing me to the right of my lane into a city light pole. The vehicle has has 4 recalls on it and 2 safety recalls open at this time. The vehicle has a buy back recall. And I would like to be refunded please. This happen in a cty street. In motion
Takata recall I stop at stop sign made a right turn the truck went in high speed on its own down hill oncoming traffic was coming up in my lane I brake hard as I could trying to avoid head on collision. The car hits me pushes the truck into a light pole to my right. The airbags did not even deploy. I could have been srious hurt are a passenger. These trucks are very dangerous. In motion
Takata recall the TIPM went bad in my truck at 85,000 miles. Truck will not start at times, it will lock me out of my own vehicle (thank god my kids were never locked in). The fuel pump runs constantly even when the truck is turned off because the TIPM does not allow it to turn off. It affects all of my electrical stuff, including radio, power locks and power windows. My windows will role down out of nowhere when the vehicle is turned off, and the windows will not role back up. The backup camera will come on while I am driving forward, my radio will freeze up to where I can no do anything to it. My key gets stuck in the ignition and will not come out! The whole entire truck just locks up. When you're driving, and it decides to shut off out of nowhere, I lose all power!!! No brakes or steering!!! Its uncontrollable!! …
This vehicle has been repaired twice for the front end. While driving the vehicle at either 35, 45, 55, 65 or 75 it wobbles, vibrates something fierce and then it seems you reach a certain distance at that speed or a bump in the road and bam it fine for a while until it does it again. And it will get to the point that you smell axle gear oil. When I went to have it repaired the first time I was told the front wheel bearing was changed on the passenger side and if it were to make the same noise bring it back made the same wobble noise brought it to another place they replaced the wheel bearing (same one) and the whole front axle and said it was fixed, I took it home and low and behold same problem. …
Steering complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the steering of the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500, 7% of the model year's 689 complaints. The component named most often is linkages › tie rod assembly (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.