2011 Dodge Ram 3500 Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the OEM trailer brake controller indicated that the trailer brake was disconnected even though it was attached correctly. The failure occurred while different trailers were hitched to the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact replaced the OEM brakes with new OEM brakes; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that there was not enough amp signal to recognize that the trailer was connected. The mechanic attached a magnetic pigtail line with magnets attached to both ends, and the vehicle recognized that the trailer was connected. The cause of failure was found; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11703652

Incident

Mar 8, 2025

Mileage

145,000 mi

THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 17V-821, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: T79 RECALL DATE: DECEMBER 20, 2017. WHEN I CALLED MOPAR TODAY TO SEE WHAT THE STATUS IS THEY TOLD ME THE MANUFACTURER STILL DOES NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT PART AND ADDED ME TO A LIST TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN IT COMES IN (SEE ATTACHED LIVE ASSISTANCE EXCHANGE). THE SOLUTION IN THE INTERIM IS TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN WE USE THE PARKING BRAKE IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM, SO WE STOPPED USING THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS LEAVES US WITH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. WE ARE UNABLE TO USE OUR 5TH WHEEL BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED THAT WE WILL BE STUCK SOMEWHERE AND NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THIS RESOLUTION IS TAKING TOO LONG. I HAVE NOTED THE DATE THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE.

NHTSA ID

11093197

Incident

May 31, 2016

2011 DODGE RAM 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK SAFETY RECALL.. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE ON. THE VEHICLE ROLLED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND INTO IN ELECTRICAL POLE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE.*JS

NHTSA ID

11089408

Incident

Apr 19, 2018

LOST MY BRAKES AND STEERING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY DOING 65. LOST ALL BRAKE POWER AND POWER STEERING.THE MOTOR RUNS BUT HAVE NO BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. LOOKING AT IT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE 2 YOUNG KIDS AND THEY COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY HURT IF I WASN'T ABLE TO MAN HANDLE THE TRUCK. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING IT. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO LOOK INTO THIS CAUSE NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK. ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS IN IT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS BUT I WOULD REALLY HATE TO SEE SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN TO A FAMILY FOR A ISSUE LIKE THIS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE TO HEAR A RESPONSE BACK FROM YOU ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11003078

Incident

Jul 4, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

WHILE HAULING A LARGE LOAD OF HAY, I WAS TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 10MPH AS I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN ON TO ANOTHER ROAD. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE STEERING COMPLETELY WENT AWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS VERY STIFF AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT VERY RESPONSIVE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK STOPPED AS I WAS HEADING TOWARD ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND BACKING THE VEHICLE UP THE STEERING RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN. I TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD TO MY DESTINATION AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO TURN I LOST ALL STEERING AGAIN AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS VERY STIFF AND NOT VERY RESPONSIVE. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT MOVED IT.

NHTSA ID

10762200

Incident

Sep 6, 2015

Mileage

69,000 mi

THE UPPER STEERING HOSE INNER PLASTIC TUBE BECOMES LOOSE OR BREAKS AND LODGES INTO THE METAL FITTING WHICH CAUSES A LOUD HISSING NOISE UNDER THE STERRING WHEEL. BECAUSE IT IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL BECOMES UNSAFELY SOFT. DODGE/RAM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AS IT A KNOWN ISSUE ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND BECOMES A REAL DANGER WHEN BRAKING HARD OR TOWING.

NHTSA ID

10732524

Incident

Jul 6, 2015

Mileage

89,770 mi

THE OEM INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER WILL NOT APPLY POWER TO THE BRAKES ON THE TOWED VEHICLE WHEN DEPRESSING THE TOW VEHICLE FOOT BRAKE. YOU MUST MANUALLY SLIDE THE BRAKE CONTROLLER LEVER IN ORDER TO ACTUATE THE SYSTEM. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TOWING A CAMPER, TRAILER, ETC. I HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK IN TWICE TO THE DEALER: THE FIRST TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG; THE SECOND TIME, THEY REPLACED THE CONTROLLER W/ A NEW ONE. IT PERFORMS EXACTLY THE SAME--THAT IS, IT DOESN'T. THEY ASSURE ME IT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED IT WAS MY TRAILER. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT TRAILER I AM TOWING, IT DOES NOT WORK. ALL OF MY TRAILERS BRAKE FINE WHEN HOOKED TO OTHER TOW VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643545

Incident

Oct 15, 2012

Mileage

10,000 mi

POWER ASSIST FOR BRAKES AND STEERING IS LOST AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR LIGHTS, TURNS, ETC., REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT MANUAL EFFORT TO CONTROL THE TRUCK. POWER WILL RETURN AFTER ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR SLOW TURN BUT GO OUT AGAIN WHEN SPEED IS REDUCED TO 20-25 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554247

Incident

Nov 30, 2013

Mileage

15,600 mi

"DEATH WOBBLE" - I HIT A BUMP WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. I WAS DOING 40-45 MPH AT THIS TIME. THE TRUCK FRONT END STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE, AND THEN THE REAR STARTED TO BOUNCE. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH TRAFFIC ON ALL SIDES. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND TRIED TO STEER TO THE RIGHT, THE TRUCK CONTINUE TO GO STRAIGHT, AND THEN STARTED TO GO SIDEWAYS TO THE LEFT. ONCE MY SPEED DROPPED BELOW 5 MPH IS WHEN I REGAINED CONTROL OF MY TRUCK THIS INCIDENT WAS TERRIFYING, AND ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ARE THEY (CHRYSLER/RAM) WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE? IF YOU SEARCH ON THIS SITE FOR "DEATH WOBBLE" THEN FILTER 2011 RAM 3500 YOU COME UP WITH 125 REPORTS FOR THE 3500 SERIES TRUCK FROM 2011 - 2013. THAT IS 125 INCIDENTS. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO CHRYSLER, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, AND WE ARE GETTING NO WHERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525183

Incident

Jun 23, 2013

Mileage

13,321 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL AFTER REPEATEDLY ENGAGING THE BRAKES WITH FORCE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER A HITCHED TRAILER WAS BEING TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TEN TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INCORRECT BRAKE SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

NHTSA ID

10508442

Incident

Mar 23, 2011

Mileage

600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEVER FOR THE INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE HIS LEFT KNEE AREA ON THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WOULD REPEATEDLY STRIKE HIS KNEE ON THE LEVER. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS OVER POSSIBLE FUTURE INJURIES AND STATED THAT THE LEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSITIONED ELSEWHERE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

NHTSA ID

10453546

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

5 mi

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 CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,600. UPDATED 01/18/12 LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER. IT DID NOT APPLY THE TRAILER BRAKES PROPERLY. IT WOULD WORK, WHEN THE MANUAL LEVEL WAS USED, BUT NOT WHEN THE TRUCK BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPDATED 01/19/12

NHTSA ID

10441017

Incident

Oct 3, 2011

Mileage

450 mi

THE FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. NO MATTER HOW THE GAIN IS ADJUSTED THE BRAKE CONTROLLER EITHER ENGAGES THE TRAILER BRAKES TO THE POINT OF LOCK UP OR THE TRAILER BRAKES DON'T ENGAGE AT ALL. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, IN AN EMERGENCY STOP THIS COULD CAUSE THE TRAILER TO JACK KNIFE OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE TOW VEHICLE. I HAVE READ ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED BRAKE CONTROLLER. MANY PEOPLE REPORT THAT THE CONTROLLER WORKS SPORADICALLY, EITHER THE TRAILER BRAKES LOCK UP OR THEY DON'T ACTUATE AT ALL. THE FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THIS IS A FAULTY PRODUCT AND IS VERY UNSAFE FOR TOWING. HAVING YOUR TRAILER BRAKES LOCK UP OR NOT COME ON AT ALL IS A LIFE OR DEATH MATTER. I HAVE READ THE OWNERS MANUAL AND HAVE ADJUSTED THE GAIN MANY TIMES AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER FAILS EVERY TIME IT IS USED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10421088

Incident

Aug 20, 2011