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2010 Dodge RAM 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

133 reports with mileage · 103 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.

  • Steering. Review the 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 4/27/15*CN UPDATED 10/9/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10682167

15,799 miles · Dec 23, 2014
Engine

WAS DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO OVER 200 DEGREES. CALLED DEALER, TOOK IN. O2 SENSOR PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ON 12/10/13, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN 12/25/13. CALLED DEALER, SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ON 12/30/13. CALLED CHRYSLER, CASE OPENED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, BACK TO DEALER. CHEC…

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WAS DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO OVER 200 DEGREES. CALLED DEALER, TOOK IN. O2 SENSOR PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ON 12/10/13, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN 12/25/13. CALLED DEALER, SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ON 12/30/13. CALLED CHRYSLER, CASE OPENED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, BACK TO DEALER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, EVERY TIME IS O2 SENSOR. NOT REPAIRED. HAVE TALKED TO CHRYSLER ABOUT LEMON, WON'T ADDRESS, SAID CONTACT STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MAKE COMPLAINT. HAVE TALKED TO MAN IN OHIO, HE HAS SAME PROBLEM, SUING. BOUGHT TRUCK BRAND NEW. PROBLEM STARTED WHEN TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 16000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667930

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2014
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 13V529000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BEC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 13V529000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10667162

100,000 miles · May 27, 2014
EngineFuel System, DieselSteering

WE PURCHASED A 2010 DODGE RAM CUMMINGS 2500 ON 06/20/2011. WEEKS INTO MAKING THE PURCHASE WE STARTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. SUCH AS A CLOGGED FUEL FILTER, EGR VALVE, THE IGNITION KEY SWITCH, TRUCK WOULD NOT START WITH TURN OF THE KEY, YOU HAD TO WIGGLE KEY INSIDE IGNITION TO START TRUCK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, RE…

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WE PURCHASED A 2010 DODGE RAM CUMMINGS 2500 ON 06/20/2011. WEEKS INTO MAKING THE PURCHASE WE STARTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. SUCH AS A CLOGGED FUEL FILTER, EGR VALVE, THE IGNITION KEY SWITCH, TRUCK WOULD NOT START WITH TURN OF THE KEY, YOU HAD TO WIGGLE KEY INSIDE IGNITION TO START TRUCK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, RECENTLY THE MESSAGE PANEL DISPLAYED EXHAUST IS 90% FULL. THE TRUCK WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. AND RECENTLY IT TURNED OFF ON THE WAY HOME BARELY AVOIDING GETTING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. WE ALSO REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, THE BELT TENSIONER, AND IT HAD AC COILS CLOGGED. PAINT ALSO STARTED CHIPPING IN SOME AREAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594437

87,000 miles · Feb 13, 2014
Engine

UPON PURCHASING THIS USED PICKUP I PERFORMED AN INSPECTION OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE I NOTICED THAT THE OIL PAN HAD A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DENT IN IT. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED BY A SKID PLATE THAT WAS MOUNTED ON THE FRONT AXLE OF THIS TRUCK FROM THE FACTORY. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OWNER OF THIS MODEL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. ONE PERSO…

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UPON PURCHASING THIS USED PICKUP I PERFORMED AN INSPECTION OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE I NOTICED THAT THE OIL PAN HAD A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DENT IN IT. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED BY A SKID PLATE THAT WAS MOUNTED ON THE FRONT AXLE OF THIS TRUCK FROM THE FACTORY. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OWNER OF THIS MODEL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. ONE PERSON WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A DEALERSHIP TO REMOVE THE SKID PLATE AND REPLACE THE OIL PAN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE SKID PLATE WAS ONLY MEANT TO BE PUT ON THE GASOLINE MODELS NOT THE DIESEL MODELS. THIS IS DUE TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH CLEARANCE. THIS CAN CAUSE A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN WHICH CAN EASILY LEAD TO AN EXPENSIVE BUT NEEDLESS ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ON A TRUCK THAT COST $50000, DODGE SHOULD PERFORM THESE REPAIRS AND SKID PLATE REMOVAL FOR THESE MODELS FOR NO COST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564146

50,000 miles · Jan 6, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HVAC RECIRCULATION DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HVAC RECIRCULATION DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10558640

136,000 miles · Jul 23, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #10531493

38,000 miles · Jul 2, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire

FROM STATEMENT OF OPERATOR "WHILE PERFORMING ROAD MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES I WAS DRIVING UP A GRADE AT LOW SPEED WHILE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND IN LOW GEAR. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS A SUDDEN BURST OF SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD ACCOMPANIED BY THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMING ON. I TRIPPED THE HOOD RELEASE, WENT TO THE FRONT O…

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FROM STATEMENT OF OPERATOR "WHILE PERFORMING ROAD MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES I WAS DRIVING UP A GRADE AT LOW SPEED WHILE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND IN LOW GEAR. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS A SUDDEN BURST OF SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD ACCOMPANIED BY THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMING ON. I TRIPPED THE HOOD RELEASE, WENT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO OPEN THE HOOD. THE SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT PREVENTED ME FROM SAFELY LOCATING THE HOOD RELEASE. I THEN RETRIEVED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED IT THE BEST I COULD TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER EMPLOYEE RETRIEVED AN ADDITIONAL 2 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FROM ANOTHER FOREST SERVICE TRUCK AND APPLIED THEIR CONTENTS IN A SIMILAR FASHION. THE APPLICATION WAS INSUFFICIENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. OVER THE SUBSEQUENT HALF HOUR TO 45 MINUTES THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. THE SECOND OPERATOR SAID WHEN HE SEEN THE SMOKE HE RAN UP TO THE FRONT SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND COULD SEE FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND AT THAT TIME THEY TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE USING 3 5ABC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. AFTER DEPLETING THE EXTINGUISHERS THEY MOVED BACK AND UNHOOKED THE ROCK RAKE THEY WERE PULLING AND WAITED FOR THE FIRE RESPONSE TO ARRIVE AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522837

3,000 miles · Oct 31, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE KEY MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD BECOME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE KEY MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD BECOME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,859.

NHTSA ODI #10482752

20,124 miles · Oct 23, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

WAS DRIVING UNDER CRUISE CONTROL AT 75MPH ON I95 NORTH IN THE MIDDLE LANE, AND NOTICED MY TRUCK STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND ENGINE HAD STALLED. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WENT OUT AND THERE WAS TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND ME IN ALL THREE LANES, SO I HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALL ELECTRONICS…

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WAS DRIVING UNDER CRUISE CONTROL AT 75MPH ON I95 NORTH IN THE MIDDLE LANE, AND NOTICED MY TRUCK STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND ENGINE HAD STALLED. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WENT OUT AND THERE WAS TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND ME IN ALL THREE LANES, SO I HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALL ELECTRONICS REMAINED ON, KEY WAS STILL IN ON POSITION, AND THERE WERE NO STATUS INDICATORS ANYWHERE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OR EVIC TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS STILL OVER HALF FULL. ONCE THE TRUCK CAME TO A STOP, I PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. I WAS THEN ABLE TO START THE TRUCK BACK UP AND CONTINUE DRIVING THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT. I TOOK THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAULT CODES FROM THE ECU. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO FAULT CODES FOUND, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS TO PREVENT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION FROM RE-OCCURRING. SO, I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH OF MY OWN ON THIS CONDITION AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER HAS HAD IDENTICAL PROBLEMS IN OTHER VEHICLE MODELS FOR WHICH THEY ISSUED A RECALL (RE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V139000). IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE KEY FOB AND THE WIRELESS IGNITION NODE (WIN). THIS WIRELESS CONNECTION IS REQUIRED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT FOR A GLITCH IN THE WIRELESS CONNECTION TO RESULT IN A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTDOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY UNLESS I STAY IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482016

Official recalls

4

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.

14V635000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel; Fuel System, Diesel

Oct 8, 2014

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Diesel

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

13V529000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Nov 6, 2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 2500 4X4 and 3500 4X4 trucks, 2008-2012 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis, and model year 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about February 27, 2014, Chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about April 14, 2014. 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 N49.

11V350000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Jul 6, 2011

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; AND MODEL YEAR 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 MEGA CAB 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2008, BECAUSE THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD MAY FRACTURE. THIS CONDITION TENDS TO OCCUR DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT TYPE MANEUVERS WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS MAKING A TIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 VEHICLES MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE AFFECTED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AS A REPLACEMENT PART DURING NORMAL SERVICE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

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.