Most common 2009 Ram 2500 problems
Share of the 5 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ram 2500 complaints by model year
Best 2500 years: 2023, 2021, 2013. Years to avoid: 2018, 2017, 2025, 2014. Compare all years →
2009 Ram 2500 recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Ram 2500:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
What 2009 Ram 2500 owners say
Steering
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.
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.
Suspension
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Ram 2500 a good car?
Based on 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 2500 rates better than average: 99% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 2500 at the same age. 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 Ram 2500?
The steering — 4 complaints, 80% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the suspension (4) and engine & cooling (1).
How many recalls does the 2009 Ram 2500 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2009 Ram 2500, the most recent from January 9, 2018 (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 Ram 2500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2021 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2017, 2025 and 2014. See the full Ram 2500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Ram 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 161,000 miles; 0% 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.