Vehicle safety record

2009 Ram 4500 Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2009 Ram 4500 with NHTSA, most often about the steering (1). It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in January 2018 for the inflator module. For comparison, the 2008 has 0 and the 2010 has 0.

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NHTSA data checked yesterday

90/100Safety Index

AFar fewer problems than a typical 4500 year, for its age

#399 most complained-about 2009 vehicle

Complaints: 1
Recalls: 2
Crashes: 0
Fires: 0
Injuries: 0
Deaths: 0

Most common 2009 Ram 4500 problems

Steering1100%

Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2009 Ram 4500 recalls 2

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.

Electrical system: alternator / generator / regulator

16V739000Oct 13, 201674,811 vehicles affected

The 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.
The 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.
The 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.

What owners say

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1 complaints about the 2009 Ram 4500

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.

Steering

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.

Ram 4500: every year compared

'08 1'09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 '25 '26

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Top problem	Grade
2013	3	9	Engine & cooling	C
2012	0	9	-	C
2011	0	4	-	A
2010	0	6	-	B
2009	1	2	Steering	A
2008	0	1	-	A

All 4500 years

2009 Ram 4500 vs rivals

Vehicle	Complaints	Recalls	Grade
2009 Ram 4500	1	2	A
2009 Ram 1500	37	2	A	Compare
2009 Ram 2500	5	1	A	Compare
2009 Ram 3500	3	2	A	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 4500

Does the 2009 Ram 4500 have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2009 Ram 4500: inflator module (January 2018); alternator / generator / regulator (October 2016). 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 4500?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the steering (1).

How many complaints has the 2009 Ram 4500 had?

1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 21, 2016 and the latest on October 21, 2016. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2009 Ram 4500 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 90 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Ram 4500 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 4500 years have the most complaints?

2018 (9), 2014 (8), 2015 (7). See every Ram 4500 year compared.

What should I do if my 2009 Ram 4500 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 yesterday. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data