2010 Ram 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Ram 1500 has 629 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.9x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 19 crash reports 6 injuries

629

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

229 complaints

36%

• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 12 crashes

“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

ENGINE

74 complaints

12%

• 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
• 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
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE ROCKER ARM BROKE IN THE HEMI ENGINE. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND HE DROVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROCKER ARM AND A PUSH ROD WHICH WE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

71 complaints

11%

• 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
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PCM AND TIFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RESTARTED AND ACCELERATED.
• HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN DRIVING. DASH LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THEY WILL COME BACK ON IN A FEW MILES AND ALSO IF I STOP THE TRUCK AND RESTART. PLAYING WITH THE SWITCH DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE CHRYSLER REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES TO SEARCH FOR AN ERROR BUT NONE ARE SHOWN. CH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

40 complaints

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE
• THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A GRINDING SOUND, THEN STARTED JERKING RIGHT BEFORE IT ABRUPTLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. UPON GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRUCK AND HANGING DOWN ON THE ROAD. WE THEN TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

38 complaints

• TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE FILLED THE FUEL TANK, THE FILLER NECK POPPED OUT THE VEHICLE. HE WOULD JUST PUSH IT BACK IN AND HOLD THE NOZZLE TO CONTINUE FILLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE
• I ALSO HAD THE FUEL FILLER NECK POP OUT WHEN REFUELING. IT STILL POPS OUT A BIT BUT I JUST PUSH IT BACK IN AND CLOSE THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK DID NOT FIT PROPERLY ON THE BRACKET THAT WAS DESIGNED TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IT COULD CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO DROP AND CAUSE A FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE FILLED THE FUEL TANK, THE FILLER NECK POPPED OUT THE VEHICLE. HE WOULD JUST PUSH IT BACK IN AND HOLD THE NOZZLE TO CONTINUE FILLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)