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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65,800 miles · Sep 18, 2012

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A LOUD BANG EMITTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND BOTH OF THE REAR TIRES SUDDENLY SEIZED. THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,800.

NHTSA ODI #10475774

42,000 miles · Sep 12, 2012

Power Train

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HEARD A CLUNKING AND WHINING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. SUDDENLY, I HEARD A LOUD THUD SOUND REALLY LOUD, THE REAR END LOCKED UP AND WHITE SMOKE WAS FILLING UP THE AIR BEHIND MY TRUCK. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A CAR TO PASS. THE POUNDING BECAME SUPER LOUD. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND THE TRUCK JERKED, I TRIED MERGING TO THE RIGHT LANE AND AS I DID THAT, I COULD BARELY CONTROL MY STEERING WHEEL. MY TRUCK STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS DOWN THE HIGHWAY. LATER, ONCE THE TRUCK STOPPED SIDEWAYS ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 150 FT, I REALIZED THE LOUD THUD WAS MY DRIVE SHAFT, IT DISCONNECTED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND HIT THE GROUND. THE TRUCK ALMOST FLIPPED OVER AND I WAS ON A BRIDGE. MY TRUCK WAS THEN PUSHED BY A HIGHWAY PATROL CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC AND LATER ONTO A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE MOVED. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND. OIL WAS POURING OUT OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL. (PICS AVAILABLE) ONCE AT THE DODGE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PIN IN THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD FALLEN OFF AND A LARGE PORTION OF IT WAS NOT THERE ANYMORE (PROBABLY STILL ON THE HIGHWAY). ONCE THAT BROKE OFF APPARENTLY IT STUCK IN THE REAR AXLE WHICH LOCKED UP MY BACK TIRES. AT FIRST THEY ASKED ME IF I HAD A REAR DIFFERENTIAL CHECK UP LATELY. I EXPLAINED THAT THEY SERVICED MY CAR LAST AND WOULD BE THE ONES TO KNOW IF IT NEEDED IT. THEN I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND SO MANY OTHERS WITH SAME TRUCK AND SAME EXACT PROBLEM. IT WAS SCARY AND GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY LOWER BACK IS STILL IN MAJOR PAIN, I HAD TO GO TO AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON AND NOW ON 3 DIFFERENT PAIN MEDS- AND OUT OF WORK. WHAT A MESS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475241

41,265 miles · Aug 31, 2012

Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR END LOCKED UP AND DRVIE SHAFT CAME UNATTACHED FROM REAR END. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO ROLL AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION. AFTER INITIAL EVALUATION FROM DEALER OTHER ISUES NOTED WERE AT LEAST THE TRANSFER CASE WAS DAMAGED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473147

30,300 miles · Aug 9, 2012

Power TrainSteering

I WAS SITTING AT A RED STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. AT THAT TIME I HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND THE TRUCK SHOOK AS IF WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND. WE WERE NOT HIT. THE TRUCK WOULD RUN, BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE WHEN IT WAS IN GEAR. MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL…

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NHTSA ODI #10469969

22,000 miles · Aug 7, 2012

Power Train

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I HEARD A WHINING SOUND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH, DECIDED TO GET OFF BUSY STREET TO INVESTIGATE. AS I APPROACHED THE TURN LANE (SLOWING TO ABOUT 5MPH) THE REAR END LOCKED UP. I HEARD A LOT OF RATTLING AND THEN A KERPLUNK AS SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. THE "KERPLUNK" WAS MY DRIVE SHAFT, IT DISCONNECTED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND HIT THE GROUND. MY TRUCK HAD TO BE DRAGGED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO A TOW TRUCK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BUT IT WAS SCARY. IM GLAD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MY 3 YR AND MY 1 YR GIRLS WERE WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469548

34,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AS VEHICLE ABRUPTLY. STOPPED ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING.THE REAR WHEELS ALSO SEIZED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SAW THAT THE REAR DRIVESHAFT WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD ALSO SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THE EXACT FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468759

54,000 miles · Jul 24, 2012

Power Train

REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP -- POSSIBLY DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES' DIFFERENTIAL. BROKEN PIN? THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP! IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FATALITIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467578

33,333 miles · Jul 24, 2012

Power Train

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. PINION BOLT CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL/REAR END TO LOCK UP AS I WAS DRIVING. MY TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE NOR MOVE IN NEUTRAL AFTER THE PINION BOLT CAME LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467196

71,200 miles · May 2, 2012

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED FROM THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10457136

65,585 miles · Mar 29, 2012

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVE SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE OTHER REPAIRS PERFORMED TO THE VEHICLE BUT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,585. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10453476

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)