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

What owners actually said

670 reports

50,000 miles · Apr 30, 2016

Service Brakes

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EVER SINCE 50000 MILES I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE OF THE TRUCK. LATELY IT HAS GOTTEN SCARY BAD. AFTER A FEW STOPS EITHER HARD OR MERE TRAFFIC LIGHT STOPS THE BRAKES START TO OVER HEAT. I START TO SMELL THE PADS COOKING AS IF I WERE TRYING TO STOP A FREIGHT TRAIN. I GET HUGE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE FADE AND THE ABS FOR THE FRONT DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE. THE REAR ABS STILL KICKS ON BUT NOT AS FREQUENTLY. THE STOPPING DISTANCE DRAMATICALLY INCREASES. AFTER A FEW STOPS THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTS TO SINK TO THE FLOOR BOARD. DURING HARD PANIC STOPS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE HOT THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND I LOSE MOST OF THE BRAKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS AND STILL NO CHANGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES SAYING THAT IT WAS NORMAL OR I COULD HAVE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM REPLACED TO ATTEMPT AT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. TRUCK IS AT 142K MILES NOW AND STILL WITH THE SAME ISSUE GOT USED TO DRIVING SLOW AND REPLACING THE BRAKES EVER 30K MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10862345

142,000 miles · Apr 30, 2016

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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FOR THE PAST MONTH NOW MY 2009 DODGE RAM 1500 HEMI HAS STALLED OUT ON ME 4 TIMES. IT HAS HAPPENED BOTH WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, AND JUST SITTING IN DRIVE IN A PARKING GARAGE LOT. TRUCK HAS 142000 MILES ON IT BUT THIS STALLING ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AROUND 30K. I CAN PUT THE TRUCK BACK IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND START IT BACK UP BUT THERE'S A KNOCK EVERY TIME NOW. IT IS STARTING TO WORRY ME THAT THE TRUCK MAY STALL OUT ON THE FREEWAY. I DO NOTICE THAT IT OCCURS WHENEVER THE RPM GET LOW AROUND 500-700 RPM. THE TRUCK THEN BOGS DOWN AND STALLS WHENEVER I SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE ON THE FEW OCCASIONS THAT IT HAPPENED. WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT OR SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN I ALSO NOTICED THE RPM DROP TO STALL THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI #10862344

135,000 miles · Apr 20, 2016

Engine

FAILED TIMING CHAIN ..... CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #10860630

110,000 miles · Apr 18, 2016

Electrical System

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KEY FOBS, REMOTE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK FAILING. KEY FOBS KEEP FAILING, BUY NEW FOBS AND AFTER ABOUT A YEAR THEY FAIL. OWNERS RESORT TO UNHOOKING THE HORNS AS THE HORNS SOUND WHEN MANUALLY UNLOCKING THE DOORS WITH THE KEY. THIS IS A STATIONARY FAILURE OF THE FOB. HOWEVER IF OWNERS ARE DISCONNECTING THE HORNS, THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE NEED TO ALERT OTHER VEHICLES ARISES. VEHICLE OWNERS ARE NOT PURCHASING NEW FOBS DUE TO COST BUT RATHER DISCONNECTING THEIR HORNS SO THAT THE ALARM DOES NOT SOUND WHEN UNLOCKING THE DRIVERS DOOR TO GAIN ENTRY. MANY OWNERS ARE NOT REPORTING THIS DEFECT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS A VAST # OF COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITE FORUMS. SOURCE-I AM AN ASE MASTER TECH. I HAVE AN 09 1500 THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. I DO NOT DISCONNECT THE HORNS BUT RATHER JUST DON'T LOCK THE TRUCK. (TAKING A CHANCE AGAINST THEFT)

NHTSA ODI #10860078

78,900 miles · Apr 9, 2016

Electrical SystemPower Train

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I WAS STOPPED AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN IT TURNED GREEN AND I ACCELERATED, THE TRUCK POWER FELT AS IF THE TRUCK WAS PULLING A HEAVY LOAD. I NOTICE THE SHIFTER INDICATOR ON THE (-/+ ) INSTEAD ON (D). I TRY TO SHIFT TO (D) BUT INSTEAD IT WENT TO REVERSE.THE TIRES SQUEALED AND THE TRUCK DIED. IT STARTED BACK UP BY THE RADIO WAS NOT OPERABLE. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN IT ON AND THE RADIO WORK. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WITH THE RADIO HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF 2 TIMES. SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I HAVE AN ENGINE LIGHT ON. NOW WHEN THE TRUCK IS IN (-/+) MODE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT INDICATE MY TRUCK IS 4TH GEAR. THERE IS ANOTHER (-/+) AS WELL ON THE SHIFTER WERE YOU CAN INCREASE OR DECREASE THE GEAR YOU ARE IN. I HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE THAT GEAR. BY PRESSING THE + AND HOLDING IT, IT WILL SHOW THAT IT CHANGES FROM 4 TO D BUT AS SOON AS YOU STOP PRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO 4TH GEAR. THE WAY I CAN GET IT BACK TO D, I HAVE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER PUTTING IT PARK OF COURSE, AND STARTED UP, THEN IT SHIFTS TO D, EVENTUALLY IT GOES BACK TO THE MANUAL MODE. I JUST PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE FROM CARMAX IN WOODBRIDGE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION WAS BY FAR THE BETTER. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLES COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM BY THE HUNDREDS. TO BAD I DIDN'T SEE IT BEFORE BUYING. NICE TRUCK AND ALL, BUT IN THE MEANTIME OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS OR WORSE ARE STILL DRIVING THESE VEHICLES WITH THEIR FAMILIES ON BOARD, AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR A FAMILY TO END UP DEAD ON THE ROAD BECAUSE DODGE INSTEAD OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANUFACTURING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, POSSIBLY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOW THEY WILL CONTINUE CHARGING PEOPLE THAT PURCHASED THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES UNTIL IT BECOMES EVENTUALLY A RECALL. A VEHICLE OPERATING IN THAT CONDITION WOULD FAIL ANY STATE DMV INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI #10854598

45,000 miles · Mar 30, 2016

Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK FOR UP TO 90 SECONDS. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY, AND WHEN IT DOES DECIDED TO SHIFT THE BREAK PEDDLE MAY OR MAY NOT BE PUSHED.

NHTSA ODI #10852344

70,000 miles · Mar 29, 2016

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IN THE FORWARD OR REVERSE POSITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACTS' RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10852185

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2016

Unknown Or Other

FIAT/DODGE IS REFUSING TO HONOR THEIR COURT ORDER AND BUY MY RECALLED TRUCK BACK AT FAIR MARKET VALUE PLUS 10% OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. INSTEAD I WAS OFFERED TRADE IN PLUS 10% OF THAT. I WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM TRYING TO MAKE A DOLLAR OFF OF THEIR MISTAKE. THEY ARE PUTTING MY FAMILIES SAFETY AT RISK EVERY DAY THEY PLAY THIS LOWB…

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NHTSA ODI #10852114

95,000 miles · Mar 8, 2016

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE ENGINE BLOCK HINGES WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE…

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NHTSA ODI #10845576

129,000 miles · Feb 24, 2016

SteeringSuspension

DURING A TRIP IN JANUARY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNCONTROLLABLY WOBBLE AND I HAD TO REDUCE SPEED TO GAIN CONTROL, HAD SOME STEERING PARTS REPLACED WHICH IMPROVED THE RIDE BUT STILL HAD ISSUES SO I REPLACED THE STRUTS , SPRINGS AND SHOCKS BUT A SLIGHT WOBBLE IS STILL THERE AT ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION AND UPON HITTING BUMP…

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NHTSA ODI #10838089

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)