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

Steering complaints

28 reports

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Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2014

Steering

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ABOUT JANUARY 6, 2014 FOR OUR 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. RECALL NUMBER N49 / NHTSA 13V-529. I HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER MONTHLY SINCE THAT TIME (BERGSTROM AUTOMOTIVE, KAUKAUNA, WI 54130, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. I NEED TO WAIT FOR A SECOND NOTICE. WH…

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NHTSA ODI #10583482

27,300 miles · Dec 5, 2013

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND A LOUD CLICKING NOISE EMITTED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH FRONT TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE FRONT TIE RODS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10554915

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2013

Power TrainSteering

WHEN IS OUR LOCAL DEALER GOING TO GET THE RECALL PART-PINION NUT?????? THIS IS RIDICULOUS! LIVES ARE ON THE LINE!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536778

56,000 miles · Aug 19, 2013

Power TrainSteering

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SAFETY RECALL N08/NHTSA 13V-038 ISSUED 2/13. LETTER RECEIVED THAT 'PARTS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THIS CONDITION ARE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. CHRYSLER WILL CONTACT YOU AGAIN BY MAIL, WITHA FOLLOW UP RECALL NOTICE WHEN REMEDY PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.' CONTINUED TO CALL DEALER AND CONTINUOUSLY TOLD PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECIEVED YET. IN MAY 2013, HAD DEALER CONFIRM REAR AXLE PINION NUT WAS TIGHT (THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE PARTS TO FIX RECALL). HAVE IN WRITING THAT NUT WAS TIGHT AND ALL WAS FINE. AUG. 16, 2013, THE NUT FAILS AND DRIVESHAFT SNAPS FREE (GEARS SHEARED OFF). LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO REAR WHEELS LOCKING. LUCKILY HAD JUST EXITED RT 80 ON TO SIDE ROAD. DEALER CONFIRMED ALL DUE TO PINION NUT FAILURE. DEALER ORDERED ALL NEW PARTS TO REBUILD TRUCK. WHEN ASKED IF THIS WILL RENDER THE RECALL 'FIXED' HE SAYS NO. WE STILL HAVE TO GET THE RECALL PINION NUT FIXED ON THE NEW PART. BUT THERE IS NO FIX!! SO THEY ARE BASICALLY PLACING MY FAMILY IN A DEATH TRAP AGAIN. WHO IS GOING TO STOP THE BLATANT NEGLIGENCE AT THIS POINT? ISN'T THIS SITE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE? HELP US! THIS ISN'T A HOT SPILLED CUP OF COFFEE. THIS IS NOT A FRIVOLOUS REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536186

87,505 miles · Nov 1, 2012

Power TrainSteering

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WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 45 MPH MY AXLE FELL OUT OF MY 2009 DODGE RAM. WE LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WERE STUCK IN THE STREET WHILE AWAITING A TOW TRUCK. THIS WAS CAUSED DUE TO MY PINION NUT COMING OFF.I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DODGE AND I ASK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESES TRUCKS,THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL. I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE WHICH COST ME $1898.66. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD IN FACT DID A RECALL RECENTLY. I WROTE TO CHRYSLER AS I WAS DIRECTED.I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL TODAY 11/01/2012 AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 07/01/09 30/11/09. MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN DEC OF 08. PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP ME !! I KNOW THAT IM NOT GONNA BE THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482853

67,149 miles · Sep 19, 2012

Power TrainSteeringWheels

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I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA EXPLORE THE POWER TRAIN ISSUES AFFECTING THE 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. DRIVER WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 60MPH WHEN TRUCK STARTING MAKING A WHINING AND GRINDING SOUND WHICH CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1 MILE BEFORE TRUCK STARTED TO RUN FUNNY . DRIVER SLOWED DOWN AND MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THERE WAS A BIG BANG AND A CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM BACK END OF TRUCK. AT THE SAME TIME THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND TRUCK WENT SKIDDING OFF THE ROAD. WHEN DRIVER EXAMINED CAR FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT ROD AND TRANSFER CASE WERE LAYING UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OTHER PIECES OF HARDWARE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO RELEASE EVEN IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. WHEN THE DODGE DEALER LOOKED INTO THE INCIDENT THEY STATED A " PIN FELL OUT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND BACKED UP INTO THE REAR CAUSING THE PIN TO JAM THE TRANSFER CASE". THIS INCIDENT RESULTED IN A COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN SYSTEM. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A GUIDE RAIL MADE MANDATORY FOR DODGE VEHICLES AS THIS ROD FALLOUT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FLIPPED VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE LESS THAN 4 WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING SAME VEHICLE AT 15 MPH THE TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE OF A SHREDDED BOLT IN THE REAR STABILIZER BAR THAT CONNECTS THE REAR TO THE AXLE. VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN TO DEALER WHO CLAIMS IT IS ALL DUE TO THE INITIAL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475939

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

42,000 miles · Jul 3, 2012

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT INCLUDED GREASE FITTINGS, WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V657000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10464116

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)