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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90,000 miles · Apr 10, 2013

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE REAR END SEIZED AND THE DRIVE SHAFT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT DID REPLACE THE DRIVER SHAFT AND PERFORMED MINOR REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE YEAR LATER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COVERED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505820

89,000 miles · Mar 7, 2013

Power Train

LOSS OF REAR AXLE PINION NUT, REAR AXLE LOCKUP AND DAMAGED DRIVESHAFT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501904

30,100 miles · Mar 5, 2013

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A RATTLE NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE TIRES SEIZED AND CAUSED HIM TO SKID TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE PINION NUT AND DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,100.

NHTSA ODI #10501419

67,794 miles · Mar 4, 2013

Power TrainCrashInjury

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AT APPROX 1PM ON JAN 22ND I WAS DRIVING NORTH ALONG A SECONDARY ROAD IN MY 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 40 MPH WITH MY SEATBELT ON WHEN I BEGAN TO HEAR A WHISTLING NOISE FROM THE TRUCK. AS I SLOWED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND THE TRUCK SPUN VIOLENTLY IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE MOTION. AS IT DID, THE TRUCK WENT AIRBORNE AND CROSSED OVER THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT CHROMED OFF THE BOTTOM OF SOME LOW HANGING TREE BRANCHES AND CAME TO A REST IN THE DITCH TO THE RIGHT OF THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE OF THE ROAD. INITIALLY I DID NOT FEEL ANY PAIN BUT CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS I BEGAN TO HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT PAIN IN MY LEFT SHOULDER/NECK AND MY RIGHT RIBCAGE AREA. FIRE AND EMS WERE DISPATCHED AND ARRIVED APPROX 5-10 MINUTES LATER. I WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL ER, EVALUATED AND RELEASED WITH CRACKED CARTILAGE IN MY LOWER RIGHT RIBCAGE AREA. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. I WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE REAR PINION NUT HAD COME OFF CAUSING THE GEAR TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE DRIVESHAFT, LOCKING UP THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THERE WAS AN APPARENT RECALL FOR SIMILAR TRUCKS FROM JULY-SEPT 2009, HOWEVER MY TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2009. SINCE THE ACCIDENT DODGE HAS RE-ISSUED THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MY TRUCK. I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY TRUCK IS INCLUDED IN WHATEVER ANALYSIS IS DONE AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501162

90,000 miles · Feb 14, 2013

Power Train

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THE STEEL COOLER LINES FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE FACTORY INSTALLED TRANSMISSION COOLER STARTED LEAKING AT THE CRIMPED AREA BETWEEN THE STEEL AND RUBBER JOINTS. CHRYSLER KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS A LONG DELAY FOR GETTING REPLACEMENT PARTS. THEY WILL NOT BE RELEASING THE PARTS UNTIL LATER IN FEBRUARY. THIS LEAK COULD BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM AND CAUSE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CHRYSLER DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT COULD IMPACT THE POWER TRAIN (WHICH IS UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY). THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF IT IS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM THOSE COULD CAUSE INJURY OR LOSS OF PROPERTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10498120

60,992 miles · Feb 8, 2013

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND THE AXLE AND DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,992.

NHTSA ODI #10496857

60,992 miles · Feb 8, 2013

Power Train

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I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A WHINING NOISE WHEN I RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS GOING TO GET MY WIFE TO HAVE HER HELP ME TO DROP IT OFF AT MY MECHANIC. I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO DRIVE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET PULLED OVER TO THE CURB. I GOT OUT AND FOUND THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD FALLEN OFF THE REAR PUMPKIN. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO 4WD DO GET OFF THE STREET BUT WAS UNABLE TO AS THE REAR TIRES HAD LOCKED UP. THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND HE TOLD ME THE PINION NUT HAD GIVEN OUT. HE WINCHED THE TRUCK ONTO HIS FLATBED AND TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP. THEY DID A VIN CHECK AND FOUND NO RECALLS. I DID A SEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION NUT, JUST NOT INCLUDING MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496855

62,000 miles · Dec 24, 2012

Power Train

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WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE MADE A SLIGHT ROAD NOISE SOUND, SUCH AS A ROCK STUCK IN THE TIRE TREAD. WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF THE SOUND STARTING, THERE WAS A LOUD "POP" SOUND AND THE DRIVESHAFT FLEW OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS SHATTERED INTO MANY PIECES. WHEN THE WRECKER ARRIVED, THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE REAR AS THE REAR END WAS LOCKED UP. THIS TRUCK WAS THE LARAMIE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODEL AND HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING WITH ISSUES AT ALL. I BOUGHT IT USED AT WESTGATE DODGE IN PLAINFIELD INDIANA WITH 40,000 MILES IN FEBRUARY 2012. I HAD THE WRECKER DRIVER TOW IT TO ANDY MOHR CHEVROLET IN PLAINFIELD THE SAME DAY AND I TRADED IT IN. I LOST $7,000 DUE TO THE DAMAGE. I WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS TRUCK AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. THE TRUCK HAD A CLEAN CAR FAX WHEN PURCHASED AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489593

60,000 miles · Dec 18, 2012

Power Train

THE REAR END LOCKED UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489112

62,000 miles · Dec 18, 2012

Power Train

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THE PINION NUT HAS BACKED OFF THE YOKE ON MY 2009 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT 4X4 CREW CAB. I WAS LOOKING UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK AND FOUND OIL FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SPLATTERED EVERYWHERE. THE TRUCK IS GOING IN 19 DECEMBER TO BE LOOKED AT. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT APPARENTLY MY BUILD DATE DOESN'T FALL IN LINE. I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS HAPPENING TO RAM 1500'S ACROSS THE BOARD. MY BUILD DATE IS 1/09. THE RECALL DATE NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL 4TH GENERATION DODGE RAM'S BUILT IN 2009 AND 2010. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489091

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)