2010 Ram 1500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Ram 1500 has 629 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 1093. The most common issue is transmission problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: drove vehicle for the first time in wet, slushy snow (on paved roadways) for about 45 minutes. snow packed in around transmission and transfer case causing shifter linkage to be physically impeded. could not put vehicle in park. ended up stuck in reverse with lever in park, causing a situation where. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.
629
Total Complaints
4
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TRANSMISSION
229 complaints- • DROVE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WET, SLUSHY SNOW (ON PAVED ROADWAYS) FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. SNOW PACKED IN AROUND TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE CAUSING SHIFTER LINKAGE TO BE PHYSICALLY IMPEDED. COULD NOT PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. ENDED UP STUCK IN REVERSE WITH LEVER IN PARK, CAUSING A SITUATION WHERE
- • EXCESSIVE NOISE AND VIBRATION WITH REAR WINDOWS IN DOWN POSITION IN 2010 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB TRX. *TR
- • I BOUGHT NEW 2010 DODGE RAM 1500 TRX 4X4 MODEL QUAD CAB FROM DAY ONE I GET NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM REAR OF TRUCK AND IS NOTICEABLY WORSE WHEN WINDOWS ARE DOWN IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP OVER 4 TIMES AND STILL HAS PROBLEM BOUGHT NEW IN NOVEMBER 2009. *TR
“DROVE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WET, SLUSHY SNOW (ON PAVED ROADWAYS) FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. SNOW PACKED IN AROUND TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE CAUSING SHIFTER LINKAGE TO BE PHYSICALLY IMPEDED. COULD NOT PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. ENDED UP STUCK IN REVERSE WITH LEVER IN PARK, CAUSING A SITUATION WHERE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Recalls (4)
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Above-average theft risk
The Ram 1500 was the #15 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 6,900 thefts reported to law enforcement.
Notes: Full-size truck; catalytic converters
Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2010 Ram 1500
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Ram 1500 Service Intervals
5.7L HEMI: 8,000 mile oil intervals; EcoDiesel: shorter intervals for DEF and fuel filter. Towing usage requires severe service intervals.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Ram New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Ram. If you're buying a used 2010 1500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ram dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 629 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: DROVE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WET, SLUSHY SNOW (ON PAVED ROADWAYS) FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. SNOW PACKED IN AROUND TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE CAUSING SHIFTER LINKAGE TO BE PHYSICALLY IMPEDED. COULD NOT PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. ENDED UP STUCK IN REVERSE WITH LEVER IN PARK, CAUSING A SITUATION WHERE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TRUCK MAKES DRONE SOUND AND VIBRATIONS CAN BE FELT WHEN THE MDS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY-RELATED CONCERN BUT RATHER QUALITY/COMFORT. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY INDICATED IT WAS NORMAL AND DUE TO THE MDS TURNING ON. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: I PURCHASED A NEW 2010 DODGE 1500 RAM PICKUP THREE WEEKS AGO. SINCE THAT TIME INTERMEDIATE THE LIGHTS FOR THE ANTILOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL COME ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORKING OR WORKING OFF AND ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: AS I WAS APPROACHING TRUCK MOVING SAME DIRECTION IN OTHER LANE (4 LANE DIVIDED) IT HAD A RACK ON TOP WITH METAL SIDING ON IT NOT TIED DOWN CAUSE THE WIND CAUGHT IT A IT CAME RIGHT INTO MY PATH. I BRAKE AND STEERED RIGHT. AND IT WAS ALL OVER. I TOOK IT TO DEALER TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS NOT RIGHT THEY C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Ram dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ram 1500 — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 629
- Recalls
- 4
- Fire reports
- 7
- Crash reports
- 19
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 1093
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Ram 1500