2011 Ram 1500 MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2011 Ram 1500 is rated 15 to 16 mpg combined across 5 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 3.7L 6-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2011 Ram 1500 · 5 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

16MPG combined

14 city 20 highway

$4,200 a year to fuel

3.7L 6-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic

Best version costs $9,000 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $4,200 to $5,050 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2010.

Fewer complaints than a typical Ram 1500 year

The 2011 drew 148 owner complaints in its first three years, against 210 for a typical Ram 1500 year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.

Years to avoid: 2019; best year: 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Ram 1500 year ranked The 2011 Ram 1500's recalls and problems

Every 2011 Ram 1500 version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
3.7L 6-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD	16 mpg	14 / 20	$4,200
5.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD · Midgrade fuel	16 mpg	14 / 20	$4,750
4.7L 8-cyl · 4WD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	15 mpg	13 / 18	$4,450
4.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	15 mpg	14 / 19	$4,450
5.7L 8-cyl · 4WD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD · Midgrade fuel	15 mpg	13 / 19	$5,050

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas and $5.07 a gallon for midgrade gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
3.7L 6-cyl · RWD · 4-speed automatic	$4,191	$349	$20,953
5.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic	$4,753	$396	$23,766
4.7L 8-cyl · 4WD · 5-speed automatic	$4,470	$373	$22,350
4.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic	$4,470	$372	$22,350
5.7L 8-cyl · 4WD · 5-speed automatic	$5,070	$422	$25,350

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Ram 1500 MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 16 to 23 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2019. Diesel: 23 to 26 mpg (2014 to 2023); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best diesel version

2011: gas 16 mpg · diesel not offered

Show as a table

Ram 1500 best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best diesel version
2010	16	–
2011	16	–
2012	16	–
2013	21	–
2014	21	23
2015	21	24
2016	21	24
2017	20	23
2018	20	23
2019	23	23
2020	23	26
2021	23	26
2022	23	26
2023	23	24
2024	23	–
2025	23	–
2026	22	–

Every Ram 1500 year's ratings in one table

How the 2011 Ram 1500 compares

2011 full-size pickups covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2011 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Best: hybrid	21 mpg	18 mpg	$3,200
GMC Sierra 1500 Best: hybrid	21 mpg	18 mpg	$3,200
Ford F-150 Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Toyota Tundra Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,700
Ram 1500 This page Best: gas	16 mpg	16 mpg	$4,200

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs Ram 1500MPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2011 Ram 1500 recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 689 owner complaints for the 2011 Ram 1500.

Owners most often describe stalling (100 complaints, 15%), then the engine not starting (60). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 2 to 3 stars, depending on the version.

See the 2011 Ram 1500 recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2011 Ram 1500's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 1 mpg combined: the 5.7L 8-cyl gets 16 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 15 with 4WD.

Does the 2011 Ram 1500 need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2011 Ram 1500 version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2011 Ram 1500's MPG compare with the 2010?

For 2011, the best gas version is rated 16 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.