2009 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RAM 1500 years
- About as many complaints as other years 9th of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 670 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Dodge RAM 1500. That ranks 9th out of 19 RAM 1500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (231 complaints, 34%), typically at around 69,000 miles. Complaints mention 29 crashes, 2 fires, 19 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 670owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 29complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2009 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 231 | 34% | 69,000 | “rear axle” (20%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 97 | 14% | 82,000 | “integrated power” (11%) | $860 |
| Unknown or Other | 52 | 8% | 66,963 | — | — |
| Engine problems | 50 | 7% | 80,000 | “exhaust manifold” (26%) | — |
| Wheels problems | 50 | 7% | 51,000 | “valve stem” (64%) | — |
| Structure | 41 | 6% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 36 | 5% | 44,723 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 34 | 5% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 34 | 5% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 33 | 5% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 30 | 4% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 28 | 4% | 59,568 | — | — |
| Steering | 28 | 4% | 68,575 | — | — |
| Visibility | 28 | 4% | 64,077 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 19 | 3% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 15 | 2% | 74,800 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 2% | 22,600 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 1% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 1% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 9 | 1% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 8 | 1% | 24,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 1% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 1% | 17,835 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 0% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 25,200 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2009 Dodge RAM 1500 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:driveline:differential unit
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008. The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.
Risk: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Fix: On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.
Power train:driveline:differential unit
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2010, Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota trucks, manufactured from July 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009, because the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to a lack of adhesive.
Risk: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Totally Integrated Power Module Failure (DP14004) — opened Sep 25, 2014, closed Jul 24, 2015.
- Rear Differential Failure (PE12021) — opened Jul 19, 2012, closed Mar 5, 2013, led to recall 12V474000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Involved in an accident 2/09/26. Air bag did not deploy. Fractured sternum as a result.
- Week of October 6th 2025 I experienced 4-wheel drive issues and lights. - October 13th 2025 dropped off to dealer for review - October 14th 2025 dealer deemed not safe to drive and ordered parts under warranty repair. - following weeks went on with parts being backordered. - after having to push…
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the MTC unit failed to function as intended. The contact stated that while the system was enabled, the system independently switched between the heating and cooling systems. In addition, the…
The left turn signal not working properly. When I put my left turn signal the amber light front of the truck not working instead the high bean works as turn signal also amber running light not working. Is so frustrating getting pulled over by a cop for that reason!!!
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 131,000 and at the time of…
Other Dodge RAM 1500 years
← 2008 RAM 1500 · 2010 RAM 1500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 RAM 1500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 RAM 1500 | 698 | 6 |
| 2011 RAM 1500 | 689 | 4 |
| 2010 RAM 1500 | 487 | 4 |
| 2009 | 670 | 2 |
| 2008 RAM 1500 | 554 | 5 |
| 2007 RAM 1500 | 517 | 4 |
| 2006 RAM 1500 | 792 | 9 |
| 2005 RAM 1500 | 1,170 | 4 |
| 2004 RAM 1500 | 1,099 | 5 |
| 2003 RAM 1500 | 1,171 | 1 |
| 2002 RAM 1500 | 815 | 3 |
| 2001 RAM 1500 | 1,112 | 2 |
| 2000 RAM 1500 | 513 | 2 |
| 1999 RAM 1500 | 610 | 0 |
| 1998 RAM 1500 | 520 | 0 |
| 1997 RAM 1500 | 361 | 0 |
| 1996 RAM 1500 | 298 | 0 |
| 1995 RAM 1500 | 213 | 0 |
See all Dodge RAM 1500 problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
Similar Dodge models
Embed this 2009 Dodge RAM 1500 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Dodge RAM 1500?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 231 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Dodge RAM 1500?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2009 Dodge RAM 1500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RAM 1500 model years, the 2009 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.