2010 Dodge RAM 3500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the front steering and suspension, especially the tie rods: complaints describe tie rods fracturing or ball studs breaking at parking-lot speeds and, separately, violent front-end shaking after a bump at highway speed. A smaller but consistent group of reports covers the engine shutting off without warning, diesel fuel leaks from the high-pressure fuel system, and stalling or no-start conditions traced to the ignition switch. Reported mileages span a wide range, with many steering complaints appearing under about 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Left tie rod breaks or ball stud fails

   • 60 complaints (40%)
   • median 54,328 mi at 4.2 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2021

   Complaints describe the driver-side tie rod fracturing or its ball stud breaking, often while parking, backing out of a driveway or making a low-speed turn. Owners report a loud noise, loss of steering assist, and a wheel turned the wrong direction; several say the vehicle had to be towed and the tie rod replaced. Some note the failure returned after an earlier tie rod repair, and several mention long waits for recall parts. Reported from roughly 3,700 to 107,000 miles, with many under 50,000 miles and several at parking-lot speeds.

   Recall 13V529000Recall 11V350000

   What to check: Ask whether the tie rod recall work was completed and with which part number, and have a shop inspect both front tie rod ends and ball studs for play or cracks before driving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received my recall notice n49/NHTSA 13v-529 a few months ago. When I took my truck in for service I asked them to check the recall. They said it would be 4 to 6 months for parts. I called Dodge and they said there is a restriction on these parts. It is summer travel time and I wanted this done before my trips when hauling a 34 foot trailer. Why send out recalls when nothing can be done about it?”

   NHTSA complaint #10609254, filed 2014-07, 26,000 miles

   “Traveling at approx 40 down a straight street in town , apparently according to witnesses the truck sharply changed lanes into on coming traffic , side swiping one car went thru two residential fences and ended up stopping in shop/garage turned 90 degrees to the road we where traveling on . I was sited for neg 2 driving , because I couldn't recall what had happened . The truck was totaled . On the report we got from the ins. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10534806, filed 2013-08, 56,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Front-end shake ('death wobble') after bumps

   • 23 complaints (15%)
   • median 51,617 mi at 4.0 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2022

   Owners describe the front end shaking violently after hitting a bump, expansion joint or bridge seam at highway speed, sometimes with the steering wheel moving side to side and the truck hard to keep in its lane. Many say the shaking continues until the vehicle slows to a near stop. Dealers and shops reportedly replaced steering stabilizers, tie rods and ball joints, and in several cases the shaking came back. Reported from about 12,600 to 159,000 miles, typically at highway speeds after a road impact.

   Recall 13V529000Recall 11V3500001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive over broken pavement and bridge joints at highway speed, and ask for records of front-end work such as ball joints, tie rods and the steering stabilizer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving home from work one evening my truck started making the most awful grinding sound coming from the front passenger tire. Then my ABS light and serv 4wd light came on the dash. A few seconds later the tucked bobbled and weaved and I could no longer steer it. When I got out to look at the problem the wheel itself was resting on the hub assembly. Previous to this I've had to replace front end parts like crazy. New ball joints and I joints annually. Brakes twice a year, and it will eat up tires on the front. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10970837, filed 2017-04, 120,000 miles

   “While my dealership has taken care of my 3 issues here, I want to let folks know: front end steering. 2 yrs after purchase, I started to have front end steering shimmy. The first time, the tie rod became loose, and was replaced by the dealership. 2nd time, I was backing out of my driveway, (loose sand) and the tie rod end literally snapped in 2, rendering the steering useless. Reading the ladies story about her husband being ticketed for falling asleep when I have had it happen to my truck I thought I needed to speak out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11074613, filed 2018-02, 25,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine shuts off while driving

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 8.1 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2023

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at various speeds, sometimes with all power lost and steering and braking assist gone. Several owners say wiggling or bumping the ignition key brings the truck back or keeps it running, and some were told the ignition switch was faulty and needed replacement. Others report repeated stalls with no fault found. Mostly reported between about 100,000 and 270,000 miles, though a few appear earlier.

   Recall 17V821000

   What to check: Check whether the ignition switch has been replaced, and test that the engine keeps running when the key is wiggled and over rough roads.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at posted speed in houston traffic the engine quit running, causing a loss of steering,I was able to clear traffic and coast to the shoulder, after putting the vehicle in park the engine restarted and I continued on. I reported this incident to martin chrysler Dodge in cleveland tx. I asked the service rep. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10633667, filed 2014-09, 145,000 miles

   “Tl-the contact owns a 2010 Dodge RAM 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and resumed in operation. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was unavailable. Js”

   NHTSA complaint #10722405, filed 2015-05, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Have the front steering linkage inspected closely and check recall status by VIN before purchase, since tie rod and front-end complaints are the most common here. Also ask for service records on the ignition switch and the diesel fuel system, as both are recurring themes in owner reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.