2011 Dodge RAM 1500 steering problems

Filed Dec 6, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · IN

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 . The techs found a list of parts that needed to be fixed besides the power loss problem, but told me they couldn't fix the total power loss because no codes had been thrown. I explained that since there was a total power loss it was reported by other Dodge techs that no codes could be retrieved. I asked the service manager to ask his tech what diagnostics were used and to what extent to determine the problem. He said he would call me after talking to his tech but never did. I went to the dealership 2 weeks later and asked what he found out from his tech. He was confused and apparently never did anything more about the situation. I called Chrysler warranty, they gave me a case number but again seemed oblivious to the total power loss and fixing this major safety issue. No one has attempted to address the problem or offered to have another mechanic inspect the vehicle. There were no codes that I saw on the dash and I did try to immediately retrieve any but none came up. The front passenger window locks also had been working intermittently 2 mos prior. My husband reported vehicle going in limp mode briefly 2 days prior to ...all electrical issues

Filed Dec 17, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · FL

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. I have researched this online and there are countless reports from other 2011 Ram owners experiencing the same exact issue. How has a safety recall not been issued for this?

Filed Aug 30, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · NY · crash · 1 injury

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 #[XXX]) with a clean health record. It is currently at the North Star Auto Body (516‑781‑2200) awaiting inspection by the Allstate Insurance adjuster (Claim # [XXX]). A police report was also filed. (Case #[XXX]) There was no warning to this catastrophic event. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Dec 9, 2021 · Electrical, Fuel system · WV

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.

Filed Sep 14, 2021 · Electrical, Fuel system · GA

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 . later on the truck ended up shorting my fuel pump and my tipm costing me alot of money 1400 to replace the tipm. And 535 to replace the fuel pump . then 1 yr later again the security light on dash came on and bam it burnt my fuel pump up again , thus causing me to fork out another 535 plus a by pass relay harmess for 135. Luckily i have had no more issues out of the fuel pump . knock on wood ... But the truck still shoots the security light on and causes all my lights to stop working and puts me in harms way whenever the truck feels like acting up . this is ridiculous and dangerous bc might i add me and my family were in the vehicle in almost every instance that occured. And thats not safe . i thought highly of dodge but now im starting to wonder if its even safe to have me and my family. In this truck again . luckily the last two time the incident occured i was leaving my house so i was able to have help getting it back in my drive way when it unlocked from its lock down mode. But there has 5o be some type of issue that can be resolved after the amount of money payed for the repairs and the cost of truck as well

Filed Oct 23, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CO

The vehicle stops unexpectedly while driving. This has happened on a busy street and highway almost getting into two accidents with family members in my vehicle

Filed Feb 4, 2020 · Steering, Transmission · FL

2011 dodge ram 1500. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle buy back program. *ld the consumer stated the vehicle should be included in the buyback program for steering and axle failures.

Filed Jan 29, 2020 · Acceleration, Steering · 115,850 miles · TX

Currently has a hazardous malfunction that is putting myself and my passengers at risk. In the span of 2 months, I have had the steering wheel completely "lock" up while in drive on normal driving conditions (sunny and clear, not too bright, not too windy or wet at all, no fog) when performing a right turn at appropriate turn speeds. You would be unable to maneuver the vehicle out of harm's way when the wheel tenses and locks up completely like this. My first encounter with this issue was turning on a right lane with your own protected lane at the posted speed limit for the turn. It completely locked up on me and I eased my foot forcibly onto the brake so that I could avoid braking too hard and causing the tires to spin out or worse, hitting the pole that is directly 200 feet away (approximate speed was 35mpn and brake reaction time was 2 seconds, accounting for initial notice of the sudden tension and loss of complete control of the truck's steering.). The second encounter occurred within a 2 month span, this time carefully approaching a street intersection. I fortunately realized what was occurring and tried to move far right and out of harm's way but I could only maintain my appropriate lane. At first I could not take out the key or turn it on or off. It was still in drive to my realization. I put it into park and was able to turn the truck back on and continue my way to work. However, I could only be paranoid that this could occur to me under more severe or worse conditions like rain or fog. What if this malfunction were to occur to me if I was on a very elevated highway or had someone tailing me at that very instance?

Filed Nov 6, 2019 · Steering · 69,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ram 1500. While driving 10 MPH, the steering wheel began to grind and bounce. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and then taken to suresky chrysler dodge jeep ram (located at 2 hatfield ln, goshen, ny 10924, (888) 633-3227) where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.*dt

Filed May 30, 2019 · Steering, Transmission · 127,000 miles · FL

Pulling off a roadway making a right turn, truck stalled, cant turn steering wheel without the engine running! Extremely dangerous!!! Restarted it, very hard to start like it was out of time.after restart, drove about two miles , and the engine light came on and dinged the warning chime. Continued to flash engine light. Had the engine light code read and the problem is # 5 cylinder misfire. Worn lifter or camshaft.this issue should not happen on a truck with perfect maintenance! At 125,000 miles.