2009 Dodge RAM 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
670 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
67,149 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 541 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 217 of 670 complaints (32.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 68 | 10.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 42 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 41 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 33 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 30 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 25 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 217 |
| Electrical System | 95 |
| Unknown Or Other | 52 |
| Engine | 50 |
| Wheels | 49 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 33 |
| Air Bags | 32 |
| Structure:Body | 30 |
Power Train: 217; Electrical System: 95; Unknown Or Other: 52; Engine: 50; Wheels: 49; Fuel/Propulsion System: 33; Air Bags: 32; Structure:Body: 30
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 74 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 107 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 131 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 104 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 94 |
| 150,000 and above | 31 |
Under 25,000: 74; 25,000 to 49,999: 107; 50,000 to 74,999: 131; 75,000 to 99,999: 104; 100,000 to 149,999: 94; 150,000 and above: 31
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (131). 129 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 56 |
| 2013 | 136 |
| 2014 | 79 |
| 2015 | 141 |
| 2016 | 75 |
| 2017 | 39 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2009: 12; 2010: 18; 2011: 12; 2012: 56; 2013: 136; 2014: 79; 2015: 141; 2016: 75; 2017: 39; 2018: 32; 2019: 32; 2020: 15; 2021: 10; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 68 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 42 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 41 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10268945 · 2009-05-17 (May 17, 2009)
WITHIN A SHORT TIME AFTER PURCHASING MY 2009 RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES PULLED HARD LEFT ON AGGRESSIVE BRAKING. DEALERSHIP FOUND PROBLEM WAS BRAKE PADS. THEY REPLACED THEM AND ALL IS FINE NOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296971 · 2009-12-26 (December 26, 2009)
2010 DODGE 1500 RAM WITH LESS THAN 9000 MILES SUDDEN DANGEROUS DECELERATION AND ABS,4WHEEL DRIVE SERVICE AND ESP LIGHTS ALARMING WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. FRIGHTENING! TRUCK SEEMING TO CUT OUT AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM DRIVER. COULD EASILY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. SPEEDOMETER ALSO SWINGING ACROSS FROM 0 TO 65MPH CONSTANTLY DURING EVENTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10312677 · 2010-02-22 (February 22, 2010)
SECOND INCIDENT-10/19/09. WHILE SITTING IN PARKING LOT WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, TRUCK IN DRIVE, ENGINE DIED OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO TOW TO LOCAL DEALER. TRUCK DID RESTART AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT AT DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP COULD FINALLY DUPLICATE PROBLEM. NO CODES STORED IN ANY MODULE. THEY CHECKED VOLTAGE AT THE FUEL PUMP AND PUMP PRESSURE, NO PRESSURE AT PUMP. AFTER LOWERING THE FUEL TANK AND CHECKING THE FUEL, THEY INSPECTED THE FUEL PUMP AND DISCOVERED A POWER LEAD AT THE PUMP WAS LOOSE AND DISCONNECTS WITH VIBRATION. INSTALLED NEW FUEL …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,335 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498166 · 2013-02-14 (February 14, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, THE FUEL TANK WOULD LEAK AROUND THE FUEL FILLER HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR 50% OF THE PART COSTS BUT NOT THE LABOR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316390 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)
DEFECT(S): CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM. APPARENTLY INFLUENCED BY HUMIDITY AND RAIN EVENTS. ALSO INVOLVED IS THE RANDOM SHIFTING OF THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION AS INDICATED BY THE INFORMATION CENTER READINGS DURING THE CRUISE CONTROL EVENT(S). THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND/OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES AFTER THREE (3) ATTEMPTS IT IS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE THUS NO REPAIR HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE. LITIGATION IS PENDING BUT THEY ARE DEMANDING AN ADDITIONAL REPAIR ATTEMPT UNDER THE GA LEMON LAW I …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,962 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445824 · 2012-01-30 (January 30, 2012)
DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING AND CAVING IN. LARGE AND SMALL PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DASH AREA. SOON AFTER, I NOTICED THAT SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE TRIED USING MY HIGH BEAMS, AND WILL LOSE MY HEADLAMPS, AND THE HIGH BEAMS DON'T COME ON EITHER. DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE RELATED BUT RECENTLY HAVE HEARD AND READ OF SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR DODGE RAMS THAT HAVE BROKEN DASHBOARDS. SOME HAVE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASH TOO. I ALSO NOW HAVE SIGNIFICANT WIND WHISTLE COMING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD UNLESS…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265727 · 2009-04-17 (April 17, 2009)
AT ABOUT 1200 MILES ON VEHICLE NOTICED A LOW SQUEAL SOUND FROM ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. AT PRESENT THERE IS 1500 MILES ON VEHICLE AND THE SQUEAL HAS GOTTEN WORST. THE NOISE BEGINS AFTER ABOUT ONE OR TWO MINUTES OF STARTING, AND IS CONTUMELY SQUEALING. THE DEALER SHIP RAN TEST AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I DROVE ANOTHER 2009 1500 RAM AND THE NOISE WAS NOT THERE, OR IN THE NEXT 1500 RAM FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO GO ANY FURTHER WITH THE PROBLEM, QUOTE: WE CAN'T FIGURE WHERE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM, SO IT MUST BE NORMAL UNQUOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10269654 · 2009-05-21 (May 21, 2009)
THE CHROME TRIM RING AROUND THE SHIFTER ON THE CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFTER REFLECTS THE SUN RIGHT BACK INTO YOUR EYES DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THIS GLARE IN YOUR VISION. I MUST COVER THAT AREA WITH MY HAND TO BLOCK THE REFLECTION. I CANNOT HAVE BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I CANNOT LEGALLY TINT MY FRONT SIDE WINDOWS OR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO LESSEN THE LIGHT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376550 · 2011-01-13 (January 13, 2011)
AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED AFTER A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLISION. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, INSTEAD THE ENTIRE AIRBAG HOUSING UNIT CAME UNBOLTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, BECAME A PROJECTILE, STRUCK DRIVER AND DAMAGED STEERING WHEEL. AIRBAG UNIT, STEERING WHEEL, SPRING, AND CRUISE CONTROL ARM WERE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP KEPT FAULTY PARTS FOR INSPECTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,791 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390175 · 2011-03-14 (March 14, 2011)
THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH OUR 2009 DODGE SLT 1500 IS 1...THE RECALL ON HEAT AND AIR...DEALER FIXED! GREAT! 2....YALL READY FOR THIS! OUR TRUCK STARTED SMOKING AND STALLING OUT WITH NO POWER YES SMOKING OUT THE TAIL PIPE SOLID WHITE SMOKE AND YOU COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU! HOW EMBARRASSING IS THAT....SOOOO THE DEALER LEAD US ON FOR 6 MONTHS THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG AND THEY WHERE DOING THIS AND THAT AND FINALLY THEY BROKE DOWN AND PUT...REBUILT HEADS, BRAND NEW SHORT BLOCK(IS WHAT THEY SAID) AND EVERYTHING …
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501190 · 2013-03-04 (March 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE STARTER AND THE BATTERY TERMINAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE MECHANIC STATED THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501190 at NHTSA ↗