2009 Ram 2500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Ram 2500 has only 5 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 0, but it carries a Do Not Drive airbag recall, which caps its verdict at Caution. Steering and suspension issues, including reports of the 'death wobble,' dominate the complaints, with a median failure mileage of 161,000.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #14 of 14 2500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 5
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- 1 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Steering
Top 2009 Ram 2500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering4 (80%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (80%)
- Brakes1 (20%)
- Engine1 (20%)
- Other1 (20%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering shakes violently at highway speeds, with the front end feeling disconnected from the rear.
- Owners describe a 'death wobble' in the front suspension or linkage, sometimes triggered by hitting a bump or bridge gap.
- One owner reported multiple front-end rebuilds without resolving the shaking.
- A Hemi engine reportedly lost power and began skipping while driving on the interstate, which the owner linked to a valve spring or lifter failure damaging the camshaft.
2009 Ram 2500 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V021000Jan 9, 2018Airbags328,177 vehiclesDo Not Drive
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, 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. 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.
2009 compared with other 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Ram 2500 reliable?
- NHTSA lists only 5 complaints for the 2009 Ram 2500, giving it a complaint index of 0, the lowest among all model years with data. However, it is rated Caution because of a Do Not Drive airbag recall.
- Does the 2009 Ram 2500 have a recall?
- Yes. It has 1 recall, campaign 18V021000, covering an airbag issue with a Do Not Drive advisory telling owners not to operate the vehicle until repaired.
- What problems does the 2009 Ram 2500 have?
- Owners most often report steering and suspension issues, including a 'death wobble' in the front end, with a median failure mileage of 161,000. Steering and suspension each account for 80% of reported problem areas.
- How does the 2009 Ram 2500 compare to other years?
- The 2009 model ranks 14th out of 14 model years on complaint index (lowest, meaning fewest complaints relative to other years), but its Do Not Drive recall keeps its verdict at Caution rather than Good or Best.