Is the 2010 Ram 3500 a bad year?
150 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 3500 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2010 Ram 3500 are in line with other 3500 years. Steering stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 3500 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 52,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 92 (61%) | 27k–76k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Suspension | 23 (15%) | 28k–88k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Engine | 22 (15%) | 52k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 17 (11%) | 44k–130k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 18 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 52,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 150 complaints: 3 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 4 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2010 Ram 3500: 9
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. 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.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may suddenly fail. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat. If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
The left tie rod assembly may break. A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. This condition could result in the potential loss of directional stability in the left hand front wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ram: 183
Repair instructions Ram sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Ram 3500. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ts may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire
Transfer Case Gear Motor/Actuator Installation Guidelines
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) Engineering is seeking information regarding OFA leaks
Service Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Electrical overstress
Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Outer Tie Rod Failure
Neighbouring years
2009 3500: 108 complaints, keep it · 2011 3500: 225 complaints, keep it.
Every Ram 3500 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All 3500 years side by side
Other Ram models: Ram 1500 · Ram 2500 · Ram 5500 · Ram Promaster. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2010 Ram 3500 a bad year?
150 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 3500 years. At 52,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ram 3500?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (92), suspension (23), engine (22), electrical system (17), fuel system (18).
How many recalls does the 2010 Ram 3500 have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-018), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-021), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 17V-821), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-947) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.