2009 RAM 4500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 17, 2021 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other 4500 years
Not enough data 9th of 18 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2009 RAM 4500. That ranks 9th out of 18 4500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (1 complaints, 100%). There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2009 RAM 4500 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Steering1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Steering1100%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

2009 RAM 4500 recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not driveJan 9, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V021000 · 328,177 vehicles

Problem: 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, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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 recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.

Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulatorOct 13, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V739000 · 74,811 vehicles

Problem: 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 may suddenly fail.

Risk: 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.

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 at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S68.

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

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ram 4500. While making turns, the steering wheel became difficult to control. The dealer stated that the parts were not available for the repair. The failure mileage was unknown.

Steering · received Oct 21, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10917729

Other RAM 4500 years

← 2008 4500 · 2011 4500 →

See all RAM 4500 problems by year, every RAM model, or the RAM VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 RAM 4500?

Owners most often report steering problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 2009 RAM 4500?

Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2009 RAM 4500 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 4500 model years, the 2009 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.