AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK THROUGH AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFT MOTOR ENGAGED PUTTING THE TRANSFER CASE IN 4 LOW. THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED. IF THIS MALFUNCTION HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Power Train complaints
229 reports2010 DODGE RAM 1500 W/ GEAR SHIFTER LOCATED ON STEERING COLUMN WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND BEGAN TO ROLL. AS A RESULT, OWNER OF VEHICLE SUFFERED LEFT ANKLE AND THORACIC FRACTURES REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION. VEHICLE CAME TO REST AFTER CRASHING INTO A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK MONDAY MORNING AND PUT IT IN DRIVE, IT WENT STRAIGHT INTO FOURTH GEAR. I THOUGHT I HAD ACCIDENTALLY PUT IT IN MANUAL MODE, SO I TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IN THE DRIVE POSITION IT WOULD ONLY OPERATE IN FOURTH GEAR. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I DISCOVERED ITS CALLED LIMP MODE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE CULPR…
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WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK MONDAY MORNING AND PUT IT IN DRIVE, IT WENT STRAIGHT INTO FOURTH GEAR. I THOUGHT I HAD ACCIDENTALLY PUT IT IN MANUAL MODE, SO I TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IN THE DRIVE POSITION IT WOULD ONLY OPERATE IN FOURTH GEAR. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I DISCOVERED ITS CALLED LIMP MODE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE CULPRIT IS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOID, SOMETIMES CALLED THE RANGE SENSOR, PART NUMBER 68353383AB. I HAD TAKEN IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT?S WHAT THE CULPRIT WAS, BUT IF I WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT I MIGHT AS WELL REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION...$2800. NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THIS, (NOR DID I THINK IT WAS NEEDED), I CALLED ADVANCED AUTO WHO ORDERED A SOLENOID PACK FOR ME, BUT IT WAS THE WRONG ONE, (4800171AA). THAT?S WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OFF 295 IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA. [XXX] GIVE ME THE CORRECT PART NUMBER, LET ME KNOW THAT IT WAS A SPECIAL ORDER, AND THAT THEY WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO ORDER FIVE A WEEK AND IT WOULD TAKE 5 TO 7 DAYS TO COME IN. I SAID THAT SEEMED ODD AND ASKED IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE. HE SAID LET ME LOOK, AND THAT?S WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE FIXING 640 OF THESE A WEEK NATIONWIDE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. HOW IS THAT SO? I WAS LUCKY IN THAT MY ISSUE HAPPENED IN/ON MY OWN DRIVEWAY/STREET WHERE I COULD BACK UP AND FIGURE OUT A PLAN. BUT I HAVE READ WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE AS THEY ARE OUT AND ABOUT WITH NO WARNING. DANGEROUS OR NOT, OVER 33,000 REPAIRS IN A YEARS TIME SEEMS TO BE AT RECALL LEVEL. THE PART FROM DODGE IS $460 PLUS ABOUT 7 GALLONS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND A TRANSMISSION KIT, SO OVER $500 AND A HOT MESS IF YOU?RE WILLING TO TACKLE IT YOURSELF. ADD 2-4 HOURS SHOP LABOR AT $60-$100/HR PLUS SHOP SUPPLIES AND MOST OF YOUR DAY OR MULTIPLE DAYS (EITHER WAY) IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING OR ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
DRIVING 25 MPH. REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. DRIVE LINE SEPARATED FROM THE PINION GEAR. VIOLENTLY THROWN INTO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BEYOND REPAIR. A REPLACEMENT DIFFENENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. EXPENSIVE REPAIR. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR. SAID IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE…
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DRIVING 25 MPH. REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. DRIVE LINE SEPARATED FROM THE PINION GEAR. VIOLENTLY THROWN INTO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BEYOND REPAIR. A REPLACEMENT DIFFENENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. EXPENSIVE REPAIR. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR. SAID IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE EXISTING RECALL NOTICE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY SUCH RECALL UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT.
BROKEN MANIFOLD BOLTS CAUSING TICKING NOISE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME CONCERNING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AT SHERIDAN MOTOR (1812 COFFEEN AVE, SHERIDAN, WY 82801, (307) 763-5884) INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RECEIVING ONE PART PER W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME CONCERNING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AT SHERIDAN MOTOR (1812 COFFEEN AVE, SHERIDAN, WY 82801, (307) 763-5884) INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RECEIVING ONE PART PER WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V474000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TRI-LAKES MOTORS (180 STATE HWY F, BRANSON, MO 65616, (417) 334-7543) WAS CON…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V474000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TRI-LAKES MOTORS (180 STATE HWY F, BRANSON, MO 65616, (417) 334-7543) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A STRONG SHAKE AND A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO A SAFE AREA AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A STRONG SHAKE AND A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO A SAFE AREA AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS FOUND IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE COMPUTER HEAD UNIT THAT CONTROLLED THE HEATING, RADIO, AND DEFROSTER FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DEFROSTER DID NOT OPERATE AND THE HEAT ONLY BLEW ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN CHRYSLER DEALER FOR THE COMPUTER HEAD UNIT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE COMPUTER HEAD UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AND A RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2018. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL DEALER (CHYRSLER OF WINONA, 121 HUFF ST, WINONA, MN), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NOT AVAILAB…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2018. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL DEALER (CHYRSLER OF WINONA, 121 HUFF ST, WINONA, MN), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SOUND OF SOMETHING VIBRATING WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED AND THE DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RON CARTER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF LEAGUE CITY (3535 GULF FWY, DICKINSON, TX 77539, (281) 206-0656…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SOUND OF SOMETHING VIBRATING WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED AND THE DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RON CARTER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF LEAGUE CITY (3535 GULF FWY, DICKINSON, TX 77539, (281) 206-0656) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Official recalls
418V160000 · 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
1EA19001 · 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.
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