TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
NHTSA ODI 11414470
Home · 2011 Ram 2500 Regular Cab · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
10 of 297 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters
TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
NHTSA ODI 11414470
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY A LARGE EXPLOSION. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND A HOLE WAS OBSERVED IN THE FLOOR AREA ALONG WITH FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CONTACT CALLED 911 WHERE THE POLICE OFFICER WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (LITHIA CHRYSLER, 7171 WEST CANEL DR, KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON 99336) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVELINE BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SENT A REPRESENATIVE TO DO A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THE VIN SEARCH REVEALED ONE RECALL, WHICH WAS NOT IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TT *TR
NHTSA ODI 11065279
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE HOOD WAS LIFTED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES TO THE ALTERNATOR WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR COST WAS $400. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V435000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,200.
NHTSA ODI 11062421
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED 10 DAYS AND 75 MILES LATER. BLUE SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO EXTENUATOR FAILED AND THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 01/21/16*LJ *CN
NHTSA ODI 10790020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE EXHAUST TAIL PIPE HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND WAS SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND THE TAIL PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPRAY ON BED LINER CONTAINED BUBBLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
NHTSA ODI 10715000
TRUCK HAS THE N49 RECALL, TOOK IT TO DEALER IN FEB 2014, WANTED TO DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. TOLD HIM IT WAS A RECALL. ORDER PART (WAITED, WAITED) CALL BACK WAS 30TH ON LIST. THEN TOLD ME THEY DO ONE A WEEK. CALLED BACK IN 3 WEEKS, STILL 30TH ON LIST. ON JUNE 26 THE TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE, LOST CONTROL AND WENT IN DITCH, PUSHING THE FRONT IN. CHRYSLER SAID THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT AFTER THEY CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10616044
TRUCK WAS IDLING, JUST GOT HOME AND THE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH STARTED SMOKING AND AS THAT HAPPENED BOTH BACK WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN AND FIRE CAME OUT FROM WINDOW SWITCH. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10564690
WHILE ROUNDING A LEFT HAND CURVE, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED HARD TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN AND WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND INTO A DRY CREEKBED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ON INSPECTION THE FRONT LEFT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN. MYSELF AND MY 14 YR SON SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. WE LATER RECEIVED NOTICE FROM CHRYSLER ON 12/24/2013 OF THE RECALL OF OUR VEHICLE FOR SAME FAILURE OF TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10557897
TRUCK CIRCULATING DIRT ROAD AFTER 25 MILES CONSTANT. THE BILLET SHOCK TOWER, LEFT DEFORMED MATERIAL FATIGUE. DEFORMING THE CHASSIS SUPPORT AREA, AND THE SHOCK IS DESTROYED. GENERATING A WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY, CUTTING RODS. BOTH WHEELS BEING UNCONTROLLED. THE UPPER COIL SUPPORT, SHOWS A CLEAR IN ITS ZONE FATIGUE. THIS SAME FAULT HAPPENED AT 3500 MILES, AND CHRYSLER DEALER IN CHILE, JUST CHANGE THE BARS TRACKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10502587
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGER WAS RESTING THEIR ARM ON THE WINDOW SEAL WHEN THE AUTOMATIC LOCK ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY, PINCHING THE PASSENGER ON THE ARM BETWEEN THE LOCK AND THE WINDOW. THE FAILURE CAUSED SEVERE BRUISING TO THE PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,000.
NHTSA ODI 10472631
Working with the data? Download all 297 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026