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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

Engine complaints

61 reports
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114,000 miles · Jan 29, 2019
Engine

TRUCK HAS SHUT OFF AT LOWER SPEEDS WHILE TURNING TWICE IN 30 DAYS. VERY SCARY AND SERIOUS POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT. TRUCK HAS 114K MILES

NHTSA ODI #11172718

60,000 miles · Oct 26, 2018
Engine

I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHRYSLER DEALER THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION. THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS BECAUSE OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS THAT HAVE BROKEN, THEREFORE THE SEAL BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE HAD BEEN COMPROMISED. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 60000 MILES ON IT. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH IT IS EVIDENT THA…

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I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHRYSLER DEALER THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION. THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS BECAUSE OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS THAT HAVE BROKEN, THEREFORE THE SEAL BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE HAD BEEN COMPROMISED. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 60000 MILES ON IT. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE AND ENGINE COMBINATION. THERE ARE VAST AMOUNTS OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS EXACT ISSUE AND HOW TO REMEDY THIS DESIGN FLAW. I ATTEMPTED TO REACH OUT TO CHRYSLER SO THEY COULD PERFORM A GOODWILL GESTURE REPAIR. MY ATTEMPT WAS DENIED, WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. THE ISSUE WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, AND CHRYSLER IS AT FAULT AND NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR USING INFERIOR BOLTS OR IMPROPER ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES. THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR, AND WHILE COSTLY, CHRYSLER SHOULD BARE THE COST TO MAKE THESE VEHICLES SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

NHTSA ODI #11142841

60,000 miles · Sep 13, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A 50 MPH FRONTAGE ROAD AND DECELERATING TO TURN ON A SIDE STREET, THE TRUCK STALLED SUDDENLY AT THE APEX OF THE TURN, GAVE A WARNING SOUND AND A MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN STATING "LOW OIL PRESSURE". NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODE WAS STORED IN THE COMPUTER. …

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A 50 MPH FRONTAGE ROAD AND DECELERATING TO TURN ON A SIDE STREET, THE TRUCK STALLED SUDDENLY AT THE APEX OF THE TURN, GAVE A WARNING SOUND AND A MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN STATING "LOW OIL PRESSURE". NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODE WAS STORED IN THE COMPUTER. WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED I LOST POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING AND (OBVIOUSLY) ENGINE POWER. THE ENGINE RESTARTED EASILY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, SOME AT THE SAME LOCATION OR LOCATIONS WITH SIMILAR SPEED/DECELERATION/TURNING CONDITIONS. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE STALL AND THUS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM 2 TIMES AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THEM ONCE. THEY ONLY OFFERED A SERIES OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCES LIKE CLEANING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NHTSA ODI #11129362

92,000 miles · Sep 11, 2018
Engine

92,000 MILES AND AM REPLACING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS FOR THE 4TH TIME. EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS COVERED UP TO NOW, BUT NEXT TIME AND ALL THE TIMES AFTER WILL BE ON ME.

NHTSA ODI #11128693

144,000 miles · Aug 17, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE PASSING LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TWIN RIVERS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE, INC (529 W COURT ST, BEATRICE, NE 68310, (402) 228-3311) AND THEY TESTED THE OIL, BUT NO DIAGNOSIS WAS DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE PASSING LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TWIN RIVERS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE, INC (529 W COURT ST, BEATRICE, NE 68310, (402) 228-3311) AND THEY TESTED THE OIL, BUT NO DIAGNOSIS WAS DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH A DEFINITIVE ANSWER REGARDING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ODI #11120636

147,000 miles · Aug 15, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON ANOTH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON ANOTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ODI #11120050

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2018
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (TWIN RIVERS CHRYSLER-JEEP-DODGE INC, 529 W COURT ST, BEATRICE, NE 68310, (402) 228-3311) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC WERE NOT A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (TWIN RIVERS CHRYSLER-JEEP-DODGE INC, 529 W COURT ST, BEATRICE, NE 68310, (402) 228-3311) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11111516

151,000 miles · Jun 12, 2018
Engine

CAMSHAFT FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #11101321

153,044 miles · May 25, 2018
Engine

TAKATA RECALL, I HAVE A TICKING! KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. WHEN START VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVE TICKING SOUND OVER 2 WEEKS HAVE GOTTEN LOUDER.

NHTSA ODI #11098040

150,000 miles · May 14, 2018
EngineService BrakesSteering

TRUCK WILL START, RUN, AND DRIVE. BUT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING IT WILL DIE, LEAVING YOU WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. PUT IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL START BACK UP. YOU CAN'T GUESS WHEN IT WILL DIE, OR HOW MANY TRIES IT WILL TAKE TO START AGAIN. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE IN MOTION, TURNING, GOING FAST OR…

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TRUCK WILL START, RUN, AND DRIVE. BUT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING IT WILL DIE, LEAVING YOU WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. PUT IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL START BACK UP. YOU CAN'T GUESS WHEN IT WILL DIE, OR HOW MANY TRIES IT WILL TAKE TO START AGAIN. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE IN MOTION, TURNING, GOING FAST OR SLOW, OR STATIONARY. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS IN ALL SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11093621

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.