2011 Dodge Ram 2500

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

Approximatly 6 years ago My TIPM failed on my 2011 dodge ram 2500. It was not under warrenty so I replaced it myself not knowing this was an ongoing problem with dodge products. My TIPM is again failing. What can be done with it? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11665348

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

The steering became uncontrollable and wobbled so violently I could not keep my hands on the wheel. It will be open for inspection at any time. The safety of all other road users and pedestrians were put in grave danger. Due to the complete loss of steering control. This has happened to other ram owners I have talked with as well. The problem was addressed by my local mechanic. He recommended replacing the entire front end steering and suspension components I agreed he did the work, he did the work. I also replaced all four tires with new and had them balanced. Within 2 weeks this death wobble happened. There are no warning lamps for this problem.

NHTSA ID

11624723

Incident

Sep 27, 2024

Warped head / blown head gasket

NHTSA ID

11611894

Incident

Aug 30, 2024

Yesterday, 3/22/2024, I was driving northbound on I-15, fat left lane, approx. 80 mph/posted highway speed. Suddenly lost steering control on my 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins diesel truck. Front end/tires began vibrating, all steering control lost, truck veered to the right across 3 lanes of traffic and off into the dirt/sage brush to the right of the highway. It almost rolled over, but I was able to slow it to a stop. My dogs & I could have been killed. I turned the truck off for a few minutes, then re-started the ignition. Was mid-trip with no other transportation option, so I drove the rest of the way at much slower speeds, was able to get the truck to our home. I am still shaken from what could have happened to me and our family. I have dash cam video of this incident.

NHTSA ID

11579069

Incident

Mar 22, 2024

Some electrical components became inoperative in the quick minute. Fuel pump was running continuedly till the battery was drained. Mechanic, I had used before told me that the TIPM Module was defective and needed replaced. Truck just before the battery died was that not all Eletronic's were working. Interior lights, horn, cruise control, FOBs not responding to the vehicle. Mechanic stated that the TPIM did need to be replaced. Contacted dealership were purchased and they told me that there have been recalls out on this particular part. I know that from 2009 to 2017 there have been several models that were impacted by this part being defective. I do have the invoice from the mechanic that took care of replacing the TIPM module.

NHTSA ID

11491994

Incident

Sep 9, 2022

Driving on the highway doing about 100km per hour and the truck shut off. No noise or anything it just died, no steering etc. luckily I was able to slow down and safely get to the side of the road. Put in park and it started up again fine. A few weeks later the same thing happened while drive 60km per hour. I took it home and appears the key is able to shake loose while in the run position; if you hit a bump etc it’s enough to cause the truck to shut off. I brought it to the dealer and told them and they knew exactly what the issue was; have to replace the ignition and get new keys- approximately a $1000 repair im told. They also said they do 4-5 of these repairs a week. I asked if it’s a recall item and they said no. I was shocked as it was very frightening when the truck shut off on the highway and not having full control of the vehicle. It was dangerous and I have not driven the truck since; have been 5 weeks waiting on the new ignition to come in. I also have a 2012 dodge 3500 diesel and it did the same thing this week. While driving it shut off. So I have 2 of these truck with the same issue; I’m told it’s a common issue with the trucks, but it’s not a recall? Seems like a huge safety concern to me. If I had been involved in an accident due to this issue I’m Sure we would be looking at a whole other issue.

NHTSA ID

11453936

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

I WAS DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE HIGHWAY, NORMAL DAY, AND I NOTICE A SUDDEN VIBRATION STARTED TO FEEL WORST AND WORST, SO I GOT OUT OF THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICE ONE OF THE TIRES DEFORMED ON THE CONTACT PART OF THE TIRE, THE BELT IS COMING OFF , I DROVE HOME CITY ROADS AND NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC SHOP , THE ISSUE IS CONFIRMED , I TALKED TO MY THE TIRE WHOLESALER TO REPLACE THE TIRES , AND THEY SAID " I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU A PARTIAL COST OF THE OLD TIRE AND THE NEW TIRE COST EVEN MORE" NO COVERING THE WARRANTY AT ALL, AND TO BE HONEST I WILL NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH THIS SET OF TIRES ANYMORE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE , TIRES GOT LESS THAN 10000 MILES, I WROTE AN EMAIL TO FALKEN COSTOMER SERVICES AFTER I TALKED TO THE WHOLESALER. IT REALLY BOTHERS ME NOW I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL THEY ANSWER THIS IS UNSAFE AND CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I PURCHASE A NEW SET OF TIRES TO AVOID A REAL BAD ACCIDENT ..

NHTSA ID

11432024

Incident

Sep 3, 2021

TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

NHTSA ID

11414470

Incident

Sep 7, 2019

Mileage

325,000 mi

Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning

BEARING - CRANKSHAFT THRUST and KIT

BEARING - CRANKSHAFT THRUST and KIT

LAMP - DOME

LAMP - DOME

LAMP - DOME