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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

Suspension complaints

28 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2025
Power TrainSuspensionWheels

Me and my husband were driving down the road to go see a friend and all of a sudden the wheel hub assembly broke in half causing us to have to slam on our brakes and keep from crashing. The wheel almost ended up under our truck making the truck look like it was kachowing like Lightening McQueen from the movie Cars

NHTSA ODI #11683820

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2022
Suspension

i recieved a recall for the rear axle pinion nut, took truck in and was told my truck was not involved. then i recieved another recall for the same thing and took truck in and they installed a retainer on the nut and this was supposed to fix the problem. now at 85,000 miles the pinion came loose so the retainer was not the answe…

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i recieved a recall for the rear axle pinion nut, took truck in and was told my truck was not involved. then i recieved another recall for the same thing and took truck in and they installed a retainer on the nut and this was supposed to fix the problem. now at 85,000 miles the pinion came loose so the retainer was not the answer. took to dealer and they want me to pay then try to get my money back from chrysler. i think chrysler should fix it at there cost because they knew they had a bad product to start with. truck is well taken care of not beaten normal driving. there is no way a rear end should go out at 85,000 miles. sent a notice to chrysler complaint dept but no responce, gues they just dont care.hope you do

NHTSA ODI #11492556

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2021
Suspension

One of the Front Swivel bar ends fell off.

NHTSA ODI #11440287

150,792 miles · Nov 4, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STARTED TO SMELL FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR, HE ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 4WD WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STARTED TO SMELL FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR, HE ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 4WD WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED SMOKE AND A FUEL LEAK ON THE REAR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND REAR WHEEL SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,792.

NHTSA ODI #11278171

107,000 miles · Apr 25, 2018
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GROWLING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE REAR AXLE AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILLION DODGE CHRYSLER (1130 1 AUTO PLAZA DR., BOZEMAN, MT 59715, (406) 582-5555) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARINGS AND GEARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GROWLING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE REAR AXLE AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILLION DODGE CHRYSLER (1130 1 AUTO PLAZA DR., BOZEMAN, MT 59715, (406) 582-5555) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARINGS AND GEARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11090153

87,000 miles · Feb 23, 2018
Power TrainSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS BENT AND THE PINION NUT AND BEARINGS WERE SHAVED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS BENT AND THE PINION NUT AND BEARINGS WERE SHAVED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO COURTESY CHRYSLER/DODGE IN CONYERS GEORGIA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTIFIED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ODI #11074464

111,000 miles · Sep 11, 2017
SteeringSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MAC HAIK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (11000 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77037 (281) 447-9500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL AND TIE ROD FRA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MAC HAIK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (11000 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77037 (281) 447-9500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL AND TIE ROD FRACTURE THAT NEEDED REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V657000 (STEERING) ONLINE AT NHTSA.GOV. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ODI #11022707

50,000 miles · Jun 13, 2016
SteeringSuspension

WHEN TRAVELLING AT APPRX 65MPH AFTER ABOUT AN HR COMMUTE, THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING/TREMBLING BADLY, STEERING WHEEL SHAKING SIDE TO SIDE, I HAD TO DROP MY SPEED TO 25/30 MPH TO REGAIN CONTROL OF STEERING AND SHAKING... AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS OR SO, IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL... BUT ONCE I STARTED TRAVELLING AGAIN SAME DISTANCE & MPH T…

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WHEN TRAVELLING AT APPRX 65MPH AFTER ABOUT AN HR COMMUTE, THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING/TREMBLING BADLY, STEERING WHEEL SHAKING SIDE TO SIDE, I HAD TO DROP MY SPEED TO 25/30 MPH TO REGAIN CONTROL OF STEERING AND SHAKING... AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS OR SO, IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL... BUT ONCE I STARTED TRAVELLING AGAIN SAME DISTANCE & MPH THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN... THIS ISSUE IS RANDOM, THERE ARE TIMES IT DOES IT AND TIMES IT DOESNT, BUT MOST TIMES ITS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS AT A HIGH SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #10874056

110,000 miles · Feb 16, 2016
SteeringSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN TURNING CORNERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10836472

53,000 miles · Jan 11, 2016
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED A HUMMING NOISE AND THE REAR SUSPENSION EMITTED A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED A HUMMING NOISE AND THE REAR SUSPENSION EMITTED A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI #10819357

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.