2010 Ram 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

214 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2010 Ram 3500, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 22/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 50,000 miles.

214Complaints
22/100Trouble index
9Recalls
53,235Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2010 sits among all 3500 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Steering 95 complaints (44%) · typically ~50,000 miles
“While driving, the truck just shuts off. Resulting in loss of steering, lights and power breaks.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2010 3500
Engine 24 complaints (11%) · typically ~86,400 miles
Suspension 23 complaints (11%) · typically ~48,750 miles
Fuel system 19 complaints (9%)
Electrical 17 complaints (8%) · typically ~145,000 miles
Transmission & drivetrain 8 complaints (4%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 134 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 53,235 miles. Half of those reports fall between 27,000 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (9)

AIR BAGS 19V018000 2019 Do not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…

AIR BAGS 18V021000 2018 Do not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…

POWER TRAIN 17V821000 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…

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…

AIR BAGS 16V947000 2016 Do not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen vehicles manufactured January 17, 2007, to December 18, 2008, and 2010 RAM 3500 cab chassis manufactured September 25, 2009, to February 1, 2010. The affected…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16V739000 2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that…

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator with a revised alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service…

AIR BAGS 16V352000 2016 Do not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14V635000 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.

Fix: 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…

STEERING 13V529000 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.

Fix: 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…

STEERING 11V350000 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…

Fix: 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…

Federal defect investigations

Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened September 17, 2021 · still open

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade,…

Model years named: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Electrical overstress EA19001 opened 2019, closed 2024

Led to recall campaign 20V024.

Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529 AQ14003 opened 2014, closed 2016
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure DP14004 opened 2014, closed 2015
Outer Tie Rod Failure PE11009 opened 2011, closed 2012

Led to recall campaign 11V350000.

Technical service bulletins

223 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2010 Ram 3500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2010 3500 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2010peak 65 in 20142024

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2010 Ram 3500 reliable?

The 2010 Ram 3500 drew 214 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 22/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).

What are the most common 2010 Ram 3500 problems?

The top reported problems for the 2010 Ram 3500 are steering (95 complaints), engine (24), and suspension (23).

At what mileage do 2010 Ram 3500 problems show up?

Owners most often report 2010 Ram 3500 problems around 53,235 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 27,000 and 100,000 miles.

Does the 2010 Ram 3500 have recalls?

9 recall campaigns apply to the 2010 Ram 3500. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

← 2009 3500 All 3500 years 2011 3500 →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.