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

48,500 miles · Apr 10, 2012

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE ABS LIGHT, LIMITED SLIP LIGHT, ESP LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL CAME ON. I WENT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE COMPUTER SCANNED FOR THE CODE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTICS FEE. I LOOKED UP AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM DUE TO BAD SOFTWARE LOADED INTO 125,000+ VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. IN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, I HAVE SPOKEN TO 4 OTHER 2009 RAM 1500 OWNERS WHO HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN BY DODGE TO HAVE AN ABS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY ADMIT THEY NEED TO FIX IT!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454728

40,500 miles · Apr 10, 2012

TiresWheels

THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) ON MY WHEEL HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT OF BREAKING. THIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE BODILY HARM, UP TO INCLUDING DEATH TO A PERSON(S)IN MY VEHICLE ON A RAPID AIR LOSS OF MY TIRE(S). THESE VEHICLES VALVE STEMS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR NORTHERN TERRITORY WHERE SALT IS USED FOR WINTER MONTHS. ALSO CHECK…

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NHTSA ODI #10454651

34,000 miles · Apr 2, 2012

Unknown Or Other

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 RAM AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT LIT UP, INDICATING A PROBLEM. BEFORE I HAD TIME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (KEEP IN MIND I WAS ONLY MOVING AT 35MPH), THE LEFT REAR TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FLAT TIRE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS MISSING. AFTER TAKING THE TIRE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WE LEARNED THAT THE ALUMINUM NUT ON THE VALVE STEM APPARENTLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE VALVE STEM TO FALL INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, THUS ALLOWING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT, VIRTUALLY INSTANTLY. WHILE PURCHASING A REPLACEMENT TPS (TIRE PRESSURE SENSING) VALVE AT NAPA, I WAS TOLD BY THE EMPLOYEES THERE, THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS DESIGN, CAUSED BY THE CORROSION OF THE NUT DUE TO THE SALT USED ON HIGHWAYS HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THIS EVENT, I HAD THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE REMAINING 3 VALVE STEMS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY FAIL ALSO. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY FOUND ONLY ONE ADDITIONAL VALVE THAT APPEARED TO HAVE A "CRACKED" NUT. THEY REPLACED ONLY THAT VALVE. (BY THE WAY.. THE NEW VALVE DESIGN IS ALL RUBBER. NO MORE ALUM NUT). I ROTATED THE TIRES TO PLACE THE POTENTIAL "TIME BOMB" VALVES ON THE REAR, IN ORDER TO PREVENT A LOSS OF STEERING WHEN THESE VALVES FAIL, AND THEY WILL. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. I ONLY HOPE THE TIRES DON'T GO FLAT WHILE I'M TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH. AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE METAL VALVES. I'M GOING TO CONTACT CHRYSLER (DODGE) TO FILE A COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI #10454109

65,585 miles · Mar 29, 2012

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVE SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE OTHER REPAIRS PERFORMED TO THE VEHICLE BUT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,585. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10453476

39,000 miles · Mar 6, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F…

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NHTSA ODI #10450443

41,000 miles · Feb 29, 2012

Visibility

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HEAT WOULD NOT BLOW FROM THE VENTS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V158000 (EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10449706

92,000 miles · Jan 30, 2012

Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

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DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING AND CAVING IN. LARGE AND SMALL PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DASH AREA. SOON AFTER, I NOTICED THAT SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE TRIED USING MY HIGH BEAMS, AND WILL LOSE MY HEADLAMPS, AND THE HIGH BEAMS DON'T COME ON EITHER. DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE RELATED BUT RECENTLY HAVE HEARD AND READ OF SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR DODGE RAMS THAT HAVE BROKEN DASHBOARDS. SOME HAVE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASH TOO. I ALSO NOW HAVE SIGNIFICANT WIND WHISTLE COMING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD UNLESS I LEAVE A WINDOW CRACKED OR VENT OPEN WHEN TRAVELLING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SUSPECT IT IS FROM LOSS OF STRUCTURAL RIGIDITY DUE TO COLLAPSED DASH. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10445824

83,000 miles · Jan 25, 2012

Power Train

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I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I STARTED HEARING A WHINING/GRINDING NOISE FROM UNDER THE TRUCK IT CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 2 MILES GROWING LOUDER AND LOUDER. I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG WITH THE TRUCK SO I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED INTO THE TURNING LANE, JUST AS I DID THE REAR END LOCKED UP AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG, I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK A FOUND THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD FALLEN OFF ONTO THE GROUND. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE HAD THIS HAD HAPPENED AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I DRIVE MY 3 YEAR DAUGHTER AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE AND NOW WORRY ABOUT HERS AND MY SAFETY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE PINION GEAR FAILED THROUGHOUT THE RING GEAR CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY AXLE AND DRIVE SHAFT. THE REAR AXLE AND DRIVE SHAFT WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. THE WORK IS COVERED UNDER MY LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10445208

10,000 miles · Nov 2, 2011

Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXTREME WIND NOISE AROUND THE PASSENGE SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT FOAM BLOCKS WOULD HAVE TO BE INSERTED IN THE PASSENGER DOOR TO REDUCE THE WIND NOISE. THE VEHI…

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NHTSA ODI #10433931

45,500 miles · Sep 2, 2011

Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIE ROD ENDS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED HIM NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,500.

NHTSA ODI #10423044

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)