Vehicle safety record

2009 Ram 2500 Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2009 Ram 2500 with NHTSA, most often about the steering (4) and the suspension (4). It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in January 2018 for the inflator module. For comparison, the 2010 has 0.

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NHTSA data checked 21 hours ago

100/100Safety Index

AFar fewer problems than a typical 2500 year, for its age

#261 most complained-about 2009 vehicle

Complaints: 5
Recalls: 1
Crashes: 0
Fires: 0
Injuries: 0
Deaths: 0

Most common 2009 Ram 2500 problems

Share of all 5 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2009 Ram 2500 recalls 1

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Air bags: inflator module

18V021000Jan 9, 2018328,177 vehicles affected

Do not drive

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

What owners say

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5 complaints about the 2009 Ram 2500

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.

SteeringSuspensionWheels & tires

We have experienced the "death wobble" twice now in our 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. It is a documented issue with Dodge trucks and associated with multiple prior recalls. At highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly begins shaking violently and uncontrollably, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. It feels like the front axle just broke in half, but the problem is difficult to diagnose. The first time it happened, the truck was almost due for inspection, so we took it for an inspection hoping that the cause would...

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be discovered/repaired. The shop replaced a ball joint (left upper); we were hoping that was the cause. After it passed the state safety inspection, I took it out on the same stretch of road where I had trouble earlier and it seemed fine. Then, a few weeks later, the death wobble struck back - this time with my wife driving and our six-month-old daughter in the back seat. It was my worst nightmare that it happened with my daughter in the truck. Young children are so fragile and their brains are still developing. It's a miracle she survived; hopefully she didn't suffer any brain damage that will manifest itself in the future. I found NHTSA Recall ID 11V350000, which pertains to 2003-11 Dodge Ram 2500 trucks. I called Dodge multiple times and spoke with our local dealer. They won't do anything, because "Your VIN doesn't show in our system." To me, this is a documented safety problem that nearly killed my daughter, and Dodge needs to make it right (our truck fit the recall description). I do not feel safe driving this vehicle. Please investigate and use your authorities to persuade Dodge to do the right thing.

SteeringSuspension

My steering shakes violently and my front end feels like he's going in a different direction than the back end. I've owned this 2009 since 2010. I've paid for at least 3 front end rebuilds. Surely there is an aftermarket or fix for this? Its the Cummins 6.7L, 2500. I want to fix this only ONE more time. We have only 30 mi of road here but speeds of up to 55 are allowed. I rarely drive over 50. If I were to take this on a ferry to the mainland, I would be afraid to drive the freeways. It happens here in Ketchikan, pot hole capital of the world. I only need to hit a bump and the front end goes wonkers. Help me fix this.

SteeringSuspensionBrakes

Dodge death wobble. Hit a bridge gap almost lost control. Definitely in the front end suspension or linkage? Recall other vins not mine in the same year? Not confirmed yet. Needs to have same recalls as the others 2009 dodge ram 2500 5.7 Hemi big horn.

Engine & cooling

My truck was running fine then started to skip and lost power. It was dangerous because i was on the interstate and the truck would not go. People were honking and flying ar0und me was very disturbing. Seems this has been a problem for awhile talking to other Dodge owners a valve spring or lifter breaks and destroys the can shaft in the Hemi engines certain years.

SteeringSuspension

I have a 2009 ram 2500 4wheel drive. I can not use the vehicle due to the following; at speeds over 35 mph the front suspension tends to experience a severe shaking that is caused by a rapid lateral oscillation of the entire axle and suspension assembly. This condition occurs when crossing an uneven, rough spot in the road, or when crossing a bridge with a grade break that is not "square" with the direction of travel, (diagonal). I am not the only owner of this type of vehicle experiencing this phenomena. There...

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is a term that has emerged out here in the real world that best describes this condition, which is "the death wobble". ( See you tube for some good examples). There is also one remedy for this that seems to address the root cause of the problem,(you tube/ big'ol bushing) that being said it should not be the job of the general public to re-engineer their vehicles in order to use them on the public right-of-way. This ram and others have been re-called for failure of steering components,mainly tie-rod ends, no doubt. Take notice of this fact! The problem never was the tie-rod ends, but this incredible oscillation that occurs when the track bar mounting bolts wear out the mounting holes in the brackets to an oblong,non concentric state. This will be an on-going problem for as long as this this design is in service. These bolts are wearing out the brackets which are welded to the frame, making a remedy impossible. I must point out that even after a crash involving one of these units, this can easily be overlooked ,or completely missed as a contributing factor or direct cause of the accident! These vehicles are a danger to the traveling public and should be recalled and retrofitted by the manufacturer or be condemned and placed out of service immediately!

Ram 2500: every year compared

5'09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 '25 '26

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Crashes	Fires	Top problem	Grade
2013	178	16	7	7	Engine & cooling	C
2012	283	5	8	12	Steering	C
2011	298	4	3	7	Steering	C
2010	0	4	0	0	-	A
2009	5	1	0	0	Steering	A

All 2500 years

2009 Ram 2500 vs rivals

Vehicle	Complaints	Recalls	Crashes	Grade
2009 Ram 2500	5	1	0	A
2009 Dodge Ram 2500	223	5	6	C	Compare
2009 Ram 3500	3	2	0	A	Compare
2009 Dodge Ram 3500	0	5	0	A	Compare
2009 Ford F-250	0	1	0	A	Compare
2009 Ford F-350	0	3	0	C	Compare
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500	0	5	0	D	Compare
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500	0	6	0	C	Compare
2009 GMC Sierra 2500	0	5	0	C	Compare

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

Questions about the 2009 Ram 2500

Does the 2009 Ram 2500 have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 Ram 2500: inflator module (January 2018). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ram 2500?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the steering (4), suspension (4), wheels & tires (1).

How many complaints has the 2009 Ram 2500 had?

5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on July 14, 2019 and the latest on January 21, 2024. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2009 Ram 2500 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 100 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Ram 2500 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Ram 2500 years have the most complaints?

2018 (2,614), 2017 (699), 2014 (345). See every Ram 2500 year compared.

What should I do if my 2009 Ram 2500 has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked 21 hours ago. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data