Power Train. Review the 231 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports2 fire reports18 injury reports

Power Train complaints

231 reports

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164,000 miles · Dec 17, 2019

Power Train

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THERE WAS A RECALL AROUND 2012-2013 FOR 2009 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP TRUCKS BECAUSE SOME PINION NUTS COULD COME LOOSE. I HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED AS SOON AS I RECEIVED THE NOTICE. THE FIX FOR THIS WAS TO INSTALL A RETAINER THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE NUT TO LOOSEN. THIS WEEK, 12/16/19, I WENT TO REPLACE MY PINION SEAL AS I NOTICED LEAKING AT THE SHAFT. I FEEL THAT THE RETAINER THAT WAS USED TO HOLD THE NUT IN PLACE IS DEFECTIVE AND NOT A SUFFICIENT FIX AS THE NUT HAS DEFINITELY MOVED SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED. THERE ARE MOST LIKELY STILL TRUCKS ON THE ROAD WHERE A DANGEROUS CONDITION IS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT THE PINION NUT HAD ONLY ONE THREAD SHOWING AND TOOK VERY LITTLE FORCE TO REMOVE. AS I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REMOVE THE RETAINER "HOLDING" THE NUT IN PLACE, I USED A HAMMER AND A PUNCH TO TRY TO SPIN IT. THE RETAINER AND THE NUT MOVED WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. THERE WAS ONLY ONE THREAD ON THE SHAFT SHOWING BEFORE I LOOSENED IT. I CALLED A DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN THE NEXT MORNING. THE NUTS ON THESE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTED UNTIL THE BEARING YIELDS A CERTAIN RESISTANCE AND THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE WITH THE COMPONENTS IN THE REAR OF THE DIFFERENTIAL REMOVED. THE SERVICE MANAGER IS STARTING TO TALK ABOUT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" SINCE THE RECALL. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS NOT PERFORMED PROPERLY BY A DEALER WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE. WE CAN NOT KNOW WHAT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IF THE NUT HAS BEEN COMING LOOSE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THERE MAY BE A REQUIRED WASHER MISSING BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. IF THERE IS A WASHER MISSING, THAT MEANS THAT THEY REMOVED THE PINION NUT COMPLETELY BEFORE REPLACING IT WHICH YOU CANNOT DO WITHOUT REMOVING THE DIFFERENTIAL CARTRIDGE TO PROPERLY SET THE PRE-LOAD FORCE ON THE BEARING. EACH ONE OF THESE NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED INDIVIDUALLY.

NHTSA ODI #11289563

260,000 miles · Nov 21, 2019

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE PINION FAILED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V474000 (POWER TRAIN). PARKS MOTORS (11987 US-54, AUGUSTA, KS 67010, (316) 775-6365) PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO WARRANTIES ON RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR AXLE PINION WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 260,000.

NHTSA ODI #11281591

118,000 miles · Nov 18, 2019

Power Train

WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP OR BANG. THE TRUCK FELT SLIGHTLY FUNNY. PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. APPROX 75 TO 100 FEET AND STOPPED. WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN IT WOULD LOCK UP WITHIN A FOOT OF TRAVEL. HAD TO TOW IT TO A GARAGE. THE REAR AXLE IS LOCKED UP THE RE…

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NHTSA ODI #11280806

183,000 miles · Aug 5, 2019

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO FOURTH GEAR INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT A DIAGNOSIS WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ODI #11241757

76,000 miles · Jun 11, 2019

Exterior LightingPower TrainVisibility/wiper

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER, DEFROSTER, AND AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BUTTE'S MILE HIGH CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (3883 HARRISON AVE, BUTTE, MT 59701,(406) 565-4410) AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY FOR A LOANER VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE LIMITATION DUE TO THE DISTANCE FROM THEIR HOME TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH DID NOT ACTIVATE THE HEADLIGHTS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE HEADLIGHTS THEMSELVES. THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WERE REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ODI #11219309

72,100 miles · May 21, 2019

Power Train

ENGINE TICKING - FAULTY MANIFOLD BOLTS

NHTSA ODI #11209066

180,000 miles · May 21, 2019

Power Train

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I OWN A 2009 DODGE RAM , VIN #[XXX], THAT IS COVERED BY RECALL 13V-038. DODGE/FCA AND IT'S AGENT STERICYCLE REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THE RECALL. ON MARCH 18, 2019 ,AFTER CALLING THE RECALL NUMBER FOR 3 WEEKS, [XXX] WITH STERICYCLE CALLED TO OFFER ME $8,560 FOR MY DODGE RAM 1500. THAT NUMBER IS OF COURSE NOT THE PURCHASE PRICE I PAID BUT IS THE ONLY OFFER [XXX] WOULD MAKE. I RELUCTANTLY AGREED AND SENT HER THE INFORMATION SHE REQUESTED. UNFORTUNATELY ON MARCH 28TH WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO DEL RIO, TX FROM MY HOME IN SAN ANGELO, TX THE DEFECT OCCURRED AND THE DRIVE TRAIN DETACHED FROM MY REAR AXLE. MY TRUCK WAS STRANDED IN SONORA, TX. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED [XXX] OF THE SITUATION AND ASKED FOR HER GUIDANCE. SHE HAS REFUSED TO RESPOND TO MY PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS UNTIL MAY 9TH WHEN SHE EMAILED ME THAT I WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR TOWING. SHE REFUSES TO RESPOND TO MY REQUESTS FOR THE PROCESS TO SUBMIT MY TOWING EXPENSES OR PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON WHEN THE BUYBACK WILL OCCUR. I DON?T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A COMPANY COMPLY WITH A RECALL. I HAVE HAD TO BORROW VEHICLES TO GET TO WORK. I HAVE HAD TO RENT VEHICLES FOR WORK. I HAVE EXHAUSTED MY RESOURCES. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I AM THE ONLY CONSUMER BEING HARMED BY DODGE/FCA'S REFUSAL TO COMPLY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11209050

136,000 miles · Feb 8, 2019

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LONE STAR DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (1309 S PACIFIC ST, MINEOLA, TX 75773, 903-569-8600) AND THE POWER TRAIN WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE ABS MODULATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE FAILURE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WITH THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE RUSHED AND NOT COMPLETELY PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #11175726

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2019

Power TrainStructure

I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET MY TRUCK FIXED UNDER RECALL 7 TIMES SINCE THEY CAME OUT. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY BEEN TOLD THE PARTS ARE BACKORDERED AND MY VEHICLE CAN'T BE FIXED. I CONTACTED FCA AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EXCEPT MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT?

NHTSA ODI #11165531

15,500 miles · Dec 31, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainCrash

DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB, V6 ENGINE. DIAL GEAR SHIFTER GOES OUT OF PARK WHILE STOPPED AND PLACED IN PARK. WILL MOVE FORWARD. I WAS STOPPED(STATIONARY), VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. ON A HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD, THE STRIKING VEHICLE IN FRONT. POLICE REPORT COMPLETED, CASE #18-101657

NHTSA ODI #11164216

Official recalls

13V038000 · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

Feb 6, 2013

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008. The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.

Remedy: On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.

12V474000 · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

Oct 2, 2012

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2010, Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota trucks, manufactured from July 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009, because the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to a lack of adhesive.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP14004 · Totally Integrated Power Module Failure

Opened Sep 25, 2014 · Closed Jul 24, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

In a letter dated August 21, 2014, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged failures associated with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) installed in Chrysler SUV?s, trucks, and vans beginning in the 2007 model year. The petitioner alleges that TIPM defects may result in engine stall, airbag non-deployment, failure of fuel pump shutoff resulting in unintended acceleration, fire, and other symptoms. On September 25, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened DP14-004 to evaluate the petition for a grant or deny decision. ODI analyzed complaint data provided by CAS as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers. In total, there were 296 complaints submitted by the petitioner in the original petition and five supplements, including 271 complaints related to the subject vehicles equipped with TIPM-7. Approximately 3 percent of CAS complaints are related to vehicles equipped with TIPM-6 and ODI?s review of these complaints did not identify any safety defect trends. ODI conducted a detailed review of complaints narratives submitted by CAS and consumers including careful analysis of vehicle repair histories, warranty claims obtained from the manufacturer and any available Customer Assistance Inquiry reports (CAIR). Analysis of the field data indicated that MY2011-2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles exhibited significantly higher complaint rates related to fuel pump relay (FPR) failures than other subject vehicles. In a September 3, 2014 letter to NHTSA, Chrysler submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in the FPR within the TIPM-7 which can result in a no start or stall condition in approximately 188,723 model year (MY) 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK) and Dodge Durango (WD) vehicles manufactured from January 5, 2010 through July 20, 2011 (14V-530).In a February 24, 2015 letter, Chrysler submitted a second DIR expanding the scope of the FPR defect condition to include an additional 338,216 MY 2012 through 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured from September 17, 2010 through August 19, 2013 and MY 2012 through 2013 Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured from January 18, 2011 through August 19, 2013 (15V-115).ODI analysis of the CAS allegations of TIPM defects resulting in stall while driving, airbag non-deployment, unintended acceleration, fire and other faults identified a single defect condition related to 1 of over 60 different circuits in the TIPM assembly. The most common effect of this defect condition, related to the fuel pump relay, was a no-start concern, but it could also result in stall while driving (76 complaints). No valid evidence was presented in support of claims related to airbag non-deployment, unintended acceleration or fire resulting from TIPM faults and these claims were found to be wholly without merit based on review of the field data and design of the relevant systems and components.Except insofar as the petitioner's contentions relate to the defect condition addressed by the Chrysler recalls, the factual bases of the petitioner's contentions that any further investigation is necessary are unsupported. In our view, additional investigation is unlikely to result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists or a NHTSA order for the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect as alleged by the petitioner at the conclusion of the requested investigation. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is den

PE12021 · Rear Differential Failure

Opened Jul 19, 2012 · Closed Mar 5, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:axle Assembly; Power Train:driveline; Power Train:driveline:differential Unit; Power Train:driveline:driveshaft; Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)

In a letter dated October 2, 2012, Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA identifying a safety defect in approximately 48,058 vehicles built with an axle pinion nut that can loosen, which could result in lock-up of the rear axle and/or separation of the rear drive shaft from the rear axle (NHTSA Recall No. 12V-474).The vehicles involved in this recall are model year (MY) 2009 and MY 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 (46,677) and Dodge Dakota (1,381) vehicles manufactured between July 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009 built with 9.25? rear axles built at Chrysler?s Detroit Axle Assembly Plant.Chrysler stated it determined during this time frame there were instances of 9.25? axles built with rear axle pinion nuts that were missing the adhesive patch.The remedy for these vehicles is to install a pinion nut retainer.In a review of data in its complaint database and data submitted by Chrysler, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) identified 194 reports (including 3 crash reports) of rear axle lock up and/or drive shaft separation outside of the scope of recall 12V-474.In a letter dated February 5, 2013, Chrysler submitted a second DIR to NHTSA identifying another safety defect in approximately 278,150 vehicles built with 9.25? rear axles and outside of the scope of recall 12V-474 that could also result in lock-up of the rear axle and/or rear drive separation (NHTSARecall No. 13V-038).Chrysler stated that analysis of field return parts from this vehicle population, undersized pinion splines were found as the likely factor contributing to the loosening of the pinion nut.The vehicles involved in this recall are:266,091 MY 2009?2012 Dodge Ram 1500 vehicles manufactured from 2/28/09 through 6/30/09 and 12/1/09 through 10/20/11 (including 183,421 MY 2009-2010 subject vehicles); 8,475 MY 2009?2010 Dodge Dakota vehicles manufactured from 2/18/07 through 6/30/09 and 12/1/09 through 7/9/10; 2,346 MY 2009 Chrysler Aspen vehicles manufactured from 1/19/07 through 12/18/08; and 1,238 MY 2009 Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured from 1/17/07 through 12/18/08.The remedy for these vehicles is the same as for 12V-474.The failure counts in this resume are for the subject MY 2009-2010 Dodge Ram 1500 vehicles only.The recalled vehicle counts are based on current estimates from Chrysler and may differ from estimates in the original DIR's.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10489593,10489091,10488952,10485174,10485096,10484596,10484490,10483394,10483370,10482853,10482816,10482438,10479806,10479352,10478724,10477460,10477354,10476923,10476691,10475939,10475241,10475158,10473147,10472488,10470655,10470516,10470231,10470152,10469969,10469548,10469435,10468759,10468024,10467819,10467805,10467683,10467196,10466630,10464240,10448778,10445208,10443542,10439902,10375394,10362531,10353440

Additional source detail variants (14)

Power Train:automatic Transmission

Power Train:axle Assembly

Power Train

Power Train:driveline

Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)