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2010 Dodge RAM 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

354 reports with mileage · 132 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 229 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

71 reports
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35,000 miles · Sep 19, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

WIFE WAS DRIVING DONE THE RODE AT ABOUT 35 MILES AND THE TRUCK WENT DEAD , NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. PULLED IT OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BROUGHT IN TO DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THE REPLACED SOMETHING IN THE COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY THE NEXT DAY AND IT DIED ON ME CROSSING THE HIGHWAY, S…

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WIFE WAS DRIVING DONE THE RODE AT ABOUT 35 MILES AND THE TRUCK WENT DEAD , NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. PULLED IT OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BROUGHT IN TO DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THE REPLACED SOMETHING IN THE COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY THE NEXT DAY AND IT DIED ON ME CROSSING THE HIGHWAY, SEMI TRUCK ALMOST KILLED ME, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS, DISHED OUT 225 DOLLARS FOR THAT, SAID ITS FIXED AGAIN. DID IT AGAIN TO MY WIFE THE NEXT DAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE. BROUGHT IT BACK IN DODGE HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS, KNOW THERE TELLING ME ITS THE FUSE BOX MODULE AT 1400 DOLLARS. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, TALKING TO DEALERSHIP MANAGER ABOUT WIFE NOT FEELING SAFE IN THE VEHICLE, SHE SAID ELECTRICAL WORK IS HARD TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO KNOW, YOU SPEND 30,000 PLUS ON A VEHICLE YOU WOULD THING THEY DODGE OR CHRYSLER WOULD BACK THERE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED WITH THIS TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637504

103,094 miles · Sep 16, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Visibility

DEFROSTER STOP BLOWING ON WINDSHIELD, HOWEVER, IT WOULD BLOW OUT OTHER VENTS, TECH FOUND THAT THE MODE 2 ACTUATOR HAD AN INTERNAL OPEN CIRCUIT, DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE MODE 2 ACTUATOR. I SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. [XXX]. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED , I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE DID NOT H…

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DEFROSTER STOP BLOWING ON WINDSHIELD, HOWEVER, IT WOULD BLOW OUT OTHER VENTS, TECH FOUND THAT THE MODE 2 ACTUATOR HAD AN INTERNAL OPEN CIRCUIT, DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE MODE 2 ACTUATOR. I SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. [XXX]. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED , I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633594

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2014
Electrical System

THE DEALER REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY THE SOUND STOP BUT START TO MAKE IT AGAIN TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626178

71,000 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE HVAC CONTROL HEAD NEEDED RE-PROGRAMMING AND THE ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE HVAC CONTROL HEAD NEEDED RE-PROGRAMMING AND THE ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10626097

75,700 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure

A/C DID NOT PUT OUT COLD AIR. ISSUES WITH A ACUATER DOOR BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AT 15K. THEN AT ABOUT 36K THE A/C WAS PUTTING OUT WARM AIR AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED A REGULATOR FOR THE COMPRESSOR. THE TRUCK HAS 75K AND THE EVAPERATIVE COOLER BEHIND THE DASHBOARD IS LEAKING AND NEEDS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578374

105,411 miles · Jan 18, 2014
Electrical System

WHEN THE LIGHT ARE ON ON THE MIRROR THEY DIM OUT I NOT SURE IF THERE IS A SHORT OF WHAT BUT BOTH OF THEM DO IT! IF THERE IS A SHORT IT MIGHT CAUSE A FIRE. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560459

100,500 miles · Dec 23, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DODGE SEEMS TO HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO NOT WORK THAT IS UNRELATED TO THE CONDITION OF THE LAMP ITSELF OR A FUSE. APPARENTLY A $500+ PART IS REQUIRED. MANY PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR AND GO WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS INSTEAD CAUSING OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557060

52,000 miles · Jul 22, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #10526213

22,000 miles · Feb 22, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN DRIVING. DASH LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THEY WILL COME BACK ON IN A FEW MILES AND ALSO IF I STOP THE TRUCK AND RESTART. PLAYING WITH THE SWITCH DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE CHRYSLER REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES TO SEARCH FOR AN ERROR BUT NONE ARE SHOWN. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING …

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HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN DRIVING. DASH LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THEY WILL COME BACK ON IN A FEW MILES AND ALSO IF I STOP THE TRUCK AND RESTART. PLAYING WITH THE SWITCH DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE CHRYSLER REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES TO SEARCH FOR AN ERROR BUT NONE ARE SHOWN. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING SINCE THEY CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. I ALSO HAD THE SIDE OUTSIDE HEATED MIRROR REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD A BURNT SPOT IN THE LOWER CORNER. UCONNECT HAS ALSO BEEN AFFECTED AT TIMES RIGHT BEFORE THE LIGHTS GO OUT. THE ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAYED "NOT TRAINED" ONE MORNING WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO GET IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448919

12,000 miles · Jan 6, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PCM AND TIFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RESTARTED AND ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PCM AND TIFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RESTARTED AND ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND IGNITION PARTS, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.

NHTSA ODI #10374988

Official recalls

4

18V160000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Mar 8, 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks currently, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Exposure to environmental conditions such as water mixed with road salt may cause the front fuel tank strap frame "T-Slot" bracket to corrode, possibly causing the fuel tank to drop and make contact with the ground.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel tank were to drop and contact the ground, a fuel leak may result. Additionally, in the event of a crash, the fuel tank may not remain secured to the vehicle, possibly causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence in an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will bolt a bracket reinforcement to the frame, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U04.

17V821000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Dec 20, 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.

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

1

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.