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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115,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015

Power Train

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I HAVE A RECALL #12V-474 ON MY 2009 DODGE RAM THAT STATES, " THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHOUT AN ADHESIVE PATCH ON THE PINION NUT THREADS. THE LACK OF THIS ADHESIVE PATCH COULD ALLOW THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT TO LOOSEN AND/OR THE REAR DRIVESHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE REAR AXLE. A LOOSE PINION NUT COULD CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO SEIZE AND A SEPARATED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. EITHER SITUATION COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING". THE CHRYSLER RECALL ASSISTANCE CENTER TOLD ME THAT I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE BUYBACK PROGRAM BECAUSE MY RECALL NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH ANY LISTED IN THE CONSENT ORDER ISSUED BY THE NHTSA. HOWEVER, THERE IS A RECALL # 13V-038 ON THE CONSENT ORDER THAT STATES, "CHRYSLER ANNOUNCED A RECALL OF 278,229 VEHICLES ON FEBRUARY 6, 2013, TO CORRECT A DEFECT THAT MAY CAUSE THE AXLE TO LOCK. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER MAY LOSE STEERING POWER AND CRASH." MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THESE ARE TWO RECALLS ON THE SAME DEFICIENCY. ONE IS LISTED IN THE CONSENT ORDER AND THE OTHER (CONVENIENTLY FOR THEM) IS NOT. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD QUALIFY FOR THE BUYBACK PROGRAM. THE COMPANY IS SIMPLY TRYING TO DISMISS MY RECALL TO AVOID ADDING MY VEHICLE TO THE COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF OTHER CLAIMS OF WHICH THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO BUY BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10761035

112,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #10761008

80,000 miles · Aug 31, 2015

EnginePower Train

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WHEN SLOWLY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP I COULD HEAR A RATTLING/VIBRATION SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE UNTIL I FOUND THE HEAT SHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS LOOSE DUE TO BROKEN STUD BOLTS. I DID NOT REPAIR IMMEDIATELY AS I THOUGHT THE BREAK WAS SUPERFICIAL (OUTSIDE THE MANIFOLD). OVER THE NEXT MONTH A SLIGHT EXHAUST LEAK COULD BE HEARD, WHICH HAS GOTTEN VERY LOUD NOW. THERE IS CLEARLY AT LEAST ONE BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT ON PASSENGER SIDE. I AM SECOND OWNER (PURCHASED AT 19,000 MILES), SO LIFETIME WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID. I FEAR THIS LEAK COULD CAUSE POISONOUS CARBON MONOXIDE GAS TO FILL THE CABIN OF MY TRUCK WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT I HAVE HEARD, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT REACHED RECALL STATUS.

NHTSA ODI #10760584

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2015

EquipmentPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V158000 (EQUIPMENT) AND 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER …

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NHTSA ODI #10759681

70,000 miles · Aug 7, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

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THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT ON MY TRUCK IS RECALLED CAUSING MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. CHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN TELLING PEOPLE TO WAIT AND THEY ARE OK TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT BREAKS. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE, AND I NEED A SAFE VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY AND ME TO BE IN. YOURE PUTTING OUR LIVES, AND EVERYONE ELSES AT RISK IS 100%IRRESPONSIBLE OF ME AND CHRYSLER. PLEASE HELP US CONSUMERS. MY LIGHT CAME ON SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE, ESP TRACTION CONTROL, I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH IS WHAT SAVED ME, I AM HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, FIRST THE DRIVERS SIDE AND NOW THE PASSAGER SIDE. I HAVE CALLED DODGE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO SCHEDULE THE SERVICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART OR DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE THERE.

NHTSA ODI #10747077

84,162 miles · Aug 4, 2015

Power Train

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THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN OUR VEHICLE WENT OUT EVEN THOUGH WE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD THE RECALL PART PUT ON AT THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO A DODGE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY HAD THE TRUCK FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 DAYS. WE WERE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS. THE SAME DAY WE PICKED THE VEHICLE UP, THE TRUCK STARTED WOBBLING BUT AT THAT TIME WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ROAD WE WERE ON. WE SCHEDULED THE TRUCK FOR A RECHECK AND IN THE MEANTIME WE HAD TO MAKE A TRIP TO DALLAS, TX (APPX. 500 MILES) AND WE PULLED OUR 26 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER BEHIND US. DURING THIS TRIP, THE VIBRATION IN OUR TRUCK BECAME VIOLENT AND MY HUSBAND COULD HARDLY HOLD IT ON THE ROAD. WE MADE IT HOME SAFELY AND CALLED THE DODGE SERVICE CENTER AND REPORTED THE PROBLEMS, ALONG WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT BEING ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. THEY SET AN APPT. FOR 4 DAYS LATER. WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN AND WERE TOLD THAT WHEN THEY REPAIRED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THE ORIGINAL RECALL PART WAS ON BACK ORDER SO THEY PUT THE TRUCK BACK TOGETHER WITHOUT IT AND GAVE IT BACK TO US. THEY NEVER TOLD US THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE READ, THE DRIVE SHAFT COULD HAVE DROPPED OUT IN DALLAS TRAFFIC WITH US PULLING A 26 FOOT TRAILER AND WE COULD HAVE VERY WELL BEEN KILLED. THE SERVICE CENTER HAS NOW HAD OUR TRUCK AGAIN FOR OVER A WEEK. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHETHER WE ARE INCLUDED IN THE BUY BACK BECAUSE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GOING OUT TWICE BUT I'M BEING GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. AT THIS POINT, WE ARE PAYING FOR A TRUCK STILL IN THE SHOP AND EVEN IF IT WERE REPAIRED, WE ARE DEATHLY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. BASED ON THIS SERVICE CENTER'S PAST HISTORY, WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE TRUCK WILL BE FIXED WHEN WE GET IT BACK OR NOT. WE WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO GIVE US A YES OR NO ANSWER ON THE BUY BACK OF THIS VEHICLE AND WE ARE GETTING DIFFERENT STORIES FROM FCA.

NHTSA ODI #10746226

68,445 miles · Aug 2, 2015

Power Train

THE REAR AXLE DRIVESHAFT IS LOOSE AT THE REAR AXLE.

NHTSA ODI #10745663

80,000 miles · Jul 30, 2015

Power Train

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I RECIEVED A RECALL FOR MY TRUCK A WHILE BACK. THE DATE ABOVE MAY NOT BE CORRECT AS I HAVE NOT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE EXACT DATE. WHEN I TOOK IT IN I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CALLED WHEN IT WAS DONE. WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY GAVE ME MY TRUCK BACK. THE EMPLOYEE ACTUALLY SAID IT WOULDN'T HAD MATTERED BECAUSE THE REPAIR WASN'T AVAILABLE TO THEM YET ANYWAY. NOW KNOWING MY TRUCK IS ON THE RECALL, THIS IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING CONSIDERING MY FAMILY HAS BEEN RIDING IN THIS THING FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES! NOW WHAT DO I DO? I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT BUT I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER CAR. I GUESS I JUST HAVE TO WAIT SOME 60 DAYS UNTILL CHRYSLER CAN FIGURE THINGS OUT...

NHTSA ODI #10744875

8,300 miles · Jul 29, 2015

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 (NA) DODGE RAM 1500. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY AT APPROXIMATELY 9 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

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NHTSA ODI #10744627

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2015

Power Train

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WAS NOTIFIED IN FEBRUARY OF 2013 THAT MY VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED FOR THE REAR AXLE RETAINING NUT. THE NUT COULD COME LOOSE CAUSING THE REAR END TO SEIZE, OR CAUSING THE REAR AXLE TO COME OUT OF ITS HOUSING. MIKE ANDERSON IN ROCHESTER, IN TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THE REPAIR KIT AND WOULD NOTIFY ME WHEN IT CAME IN. I CHECKED BACK ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. THEY STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED THE PART. I HEARD NOTHING SINCE. IT SEEMS THAT TWO YEARS IS AN EXCESSIVE LENGTH OF TIME TO FIX THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10744444

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)