2009 Dodge Ram 4500 Problems & Complaints

Better than average50% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ram 4500 at the same age

Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2009 Dodge Ram 4500 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 50% fewer than a typical Ram 4500 model year at the same age, making the 2009 one of the better Ram 4500 years. The most reported problem area is the steering (2 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles). 3 recalls cover this model year, including 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.

4complaints
3recalls
1crashes
1fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2009 Dodge Ram 4500 problems

  • Steering~73,000 miles
    250%
  • Electrical system~30,000 miles
    250%
  • Lights~30,000 miles
    125%

Share of the 4 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Dodge Ram 4500 complaints by model year

20082009201120121041410
Owner complaints per model year, Dodge Ram 4500. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Ram 4500 years: 2009. Compare all years →

2009 Dodge Ram 4500 recalls (3)

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-352 · May 24, 2016 · 4,648,270 vehiclesDo not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 15V-313 · May 26, 2015 · 4,077,169 vehiclesDo not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and…

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners.

Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly

NHTSA recall 13V-527 · Nov 6, 2013 · 36,151 vehicles

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 4500 and 5500 trucks manufactured February 20, 2007, through December 22, 2012. The left tie rod assembly may break.

Remedy: On May 19, 2015 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would replace the tie rod assembly, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for…

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Dodge Ram 4500:

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Dodge Ram 4500 a good car?

Based on 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Ram 4500 rates better than average: 50% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ram 4500 at the same age. It is one of the best Ram 4500 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Dodge Ram 4500?

The steering — 2 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (2) and lights (1).

How many recalls does the 2009 Dodge Ram 4500 have?

There are 3 recalls for the 2009 Dodge Ram 4500, the most recent from May 24, 2016 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram 4500?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009. See the full Dodge Ram 4500 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2009 Dodge Ram 4500 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 30,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.