Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
- 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 dealer for updates for weeks on December 22nd 2025 I informed Stellantis Customer Service US. - Customer service looked into and gave me the same delayed responses for weeks now "I hope you're doing well. I'm following up regarding your case. There is no definite ETA for the part. Our parts team is working to get it expedited. I will receive another update in 5-6 business days and will follow up with you then. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me." - Still today Stellantis cannot give me a date when my truck will be repaired. Near 4months later...
the shifter began changing gears on its own. Before the recall came out my mechanic checked and there was no recall for this until 2018. I was never notified of the recall. Then on rear axle pinion nut. The nuts were installed without the proper amount of adhesive. Consequently, the nuts can loosen, and cause the rear axle to lock up, causing a loss of vehicle control. I was never notified of and the rear end came down while on the freeway. The fuel tank began leaking I repaired this before the recall came out. I submitted a reimbursement request they denied me stating my car was over 7 years old.
The vehicle was parked in my drive way. I was in the house with the keys in my pocket. I instructed my children to get in the truck. As they climbed in, one child lost her balance and hit the gear shift. The gear shift interlock failed, allowing the vehicle to change gears from park to neutral. The truck then proceeded to roll down my driveway, with two of my kids in the cab, and my third child hanging on the door being drug across the ground. Fortunately, no one was injured, but my truck plowed through my ditch, destroyed my mailbox causing $7,800 damage to the truck. I contacted Chrysler, who performed a special investigation. However, even though they concluded the gear shift interlock did indeed fail, they refused responsibility stating that "maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the owner." I did not know that the shift interlock was failed. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 (na) Dodge Ram 1500. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact was unable to regain control and crashed into a wooded area. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
On August 4 2015 I was driving to work doing about 20-25 MPH on a clear sunny day when my truck started shaking causing me to lose control. As a result my truck was hit on the back right rear. After looking at the car at the body shop I was notified that the axel snapped in half. The vehicle is a 2010 Dodge Ram pickup 1500
Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab, v6 engine. Dial gear shifter goes out of park while stopped and placed in park. Will move forward. I was stopped(stationary), vehicle was in park. On a highway and the vehicle moved forward, the striking vehicle in front. Police report completed, case #18-101657
At approx 1 pm on jan 22nd I was driving north along a secondary road in my 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. I was traveling at approx 40 MPH with my seatbelt on when I began to hear a whistling noise from the truck. As I slowed to figure out what it was, a loud bang was heard and the truck spun violently in a counterclockwise motion. As it did, the truck went airborne and crossed over the southbound side of the highway. It chromed off the bottom of some low hanging tree branches and came to a rest in the ditch to the right of the southbound side of the road. Initially I did not feel any pain but called for a tow truck. Shortly afterwards I began to have some significant pain in my left shoulder/neck and my right ribcage area. Fire and ems were dispatched and arrived approx 5-10 minutes later. I was taken to a local er, evaluated and released with cracked cartilage in my lower right ribcage area. …
Driving on 390n in rochester n.y. At approx. 5 pm heavy traffic .loud bang and rear tires locked up,, both granddaughters began to scream" whats happening". I had no clue. Looked to right to try to get out of traffic and saw what I thought was my driveshaft spit out from under r r tire.. We were lifted up in air at back of truck and I lost all propulsion, mind you my 5 and 6 year old are screaming as the other half of the drive shaft pounds on the pavement and bottom of truck .I still have no idea what is happening. Somehow and that's what I told the sheriff I got the truck which was now freewheeling off to the side of the road approx. 75-100 ft from my driveshaft that hit the bridge guardrail and stopped from hitting anyone in traffic. I collected myself ,calmed the girls whos big concern was now,, someone is going to smash us and called 911 and my daughter. Then I looked. …
Defroster does not work, blower emits air (cold) but only to floor. Loud popping noise from air box, found actuators were malfunctioning. Nearly caused collision with oncoming traffic. Contacted Chrysler for recall status and they claimed truck was under this recall, however truck had been inspected and found to have no problems with regards to air box actuators. I subsequently found out from a nameless Dodge technician that they were instructed to engage air systems for the inspection and if no apparent malfunction is found they were to pass the recall and write it off. I am outraged that yet another corporate entity is preying on American consumers and getting by with it, while claiming to stand behind their product and it's engineering. I asked Chrysler what repair was needed. They replied" air box circulation doors bad. Would need box removed and replace 5 actuators and doors. …
I have a recall #12v-474 on my 2009 Dodge Ram that states, " the rear axle pinion nut May have been built without an adhesive patch on the pinion nut threads. The lack of this adhesive patch could allow the rear axle pinion nut to loosen and/or the rear driveshaft to separate from the rear axle. A loose pinion nut could cause the rear axle to seize and a separated driveshaft could cause a loss of motive power. Either situation could cause a crash without warning". The Chrysler recall assistance center told me that I do not qualify for the buyback program because my recall number does not match any listed in the consent order issued by the NHTSA. However, there is a recall # 13v-038 on the consent order that states, "Chrysler announced a recall of 278,229 vehicles on February 6, 2013, to correct a defect that May cause the axle to lock. …
Related recalls
Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
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,…
Remedy: 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…
Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Rear Differential Failure
In a letter dated October 2, 2012, Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA identifying a safety defect in approximately 48,058 vehicles built with an axle pinion nut that can loosen, which could result in lock-up of the rear axle and/or separation of the rear drive shaft from the rear axle (NHTSA Recall No.
Transmission complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 231 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, 34% of the model year's 670 complaints. The component named most often is driveline › differential unit (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 13V-038 (differential unit, Feb 6, 2013); NHTSA recall 12V-474 (differential unit, Oct 2, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.