YearToAvoid

2009 Ram 5500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

No verdict The 2009 Ram 5500 has a complaint index of 29, no owner complaints on file, and 2 recalls, including a do-not-drive airbag recall. It ranks 11th out of 15 model years for this model based on NHTSA data.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
29/100
#11 of 15 5500 years
Verdict
No verdict
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
0
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
1 Do Not Drive
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
—
Best nearby year
2014
lowest-risk (no Good/Best year)

Top 2009 Ram 5500 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

No component data.

2009 Ram 5500 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 16V739000Oct 13, 2016Electrical System74,811 vehicles

    Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may suddenly fail.

    Risk: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator with a revised alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S68.

2009 compared with other 5500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’08’09’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008No verdict001—
2009No verdict2902 !—
2013No verdict2149—
2014Caution571110—

All Ram 5500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Ram 5500 reliable?
NHTSA lists zero owner complaints for the 2009 Ram 5500 and a complaint index of 29, which ranks 11th out of 15 model years tracked for this model.
Does the 2009 Ram 5500 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2009 Ram 5500, one of which is a do-not-drive airbag recall (campaign 18V021000) and the other an electrical system recall covering the alternator (campaign 16V739000).
What is the do-not-drive recall about?
Campaign 18V021000 covers an airbag issue affecting certain 2009-2013 model year vehicles including the Ram 5500; NHTSA advises owners not to drive the vehicle until the repair is complete.
How does the 2009 Ram 5500 compare to other years?
The 2009 model has a complaint index of 29, which is lower than years like 2018 (79), 2020 (93), 2022 (86), and 2025 (100), all of which carry an Avoid verdict.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.