2009 Ram 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
931 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Ram 1500, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 36/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 70,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2009 sits among all 1500 years
What owners report
“It seems that my truck is part of recall 13v-038 but i have never been notified by fca.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 1500
“The dealer says its a bad tipm, and that they go bad on ram trucks often. All the electrical system goes crazy, traction control, air bags, abs, blower for heat and air, wipers, door locks, windows and others. If they know this is faulty why not should they have to recall or pay us back”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 1500
“Valve stem nut cracked and came off resulting in flat tire, thankfully in garage, not on the road. Discovered nuts on two other tires were also cracked. (fourth valve stem apparently had been replaced prior to my purchasing the vehicle.)”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 1500
“The odometer on 4th generation dodge will not go over 621,369 miles. This is a none problem which they refuse to fix. This vehicle has a unlimited power train warranty. Dodge refuses to fix the problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 1500
“Bolts on exhaust manifold broke, allowing exhaust gases to vent to atmosphere bypassing the exhaust system.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 1500
“The contact owns a 2009 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the air conditioner, heater, and defogger were inoperable. The climate control warning light was not illuminated. The contact replaced the climate control module; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 1500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 732 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 67,149 miles. Half of those reports fall between 41,000 and 93,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks currently, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will bolt a bracket reinforcement to the frame, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact…
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,…
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…
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.
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.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 20V024.
Led to recall campaign 12V474000.
Technical service bulletins
203 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2009 Ram 1500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Ram 1500 reliable?
The 2009 Ram 1500 drew 931 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 36/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2009 Ram 1500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Ram 1500 are transmission & drivetrain (242 complaints), electrical (124), and wheels & tires (90).
At what mileage do 2009 Ram 1500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Ram 1500 problems around 67,149 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 41,000 and 93,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Ram 1500 have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Ram 1500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.