2009 Dodge RAM 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
105 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
49,529 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 50 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 105 complaints (61.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 54 | 51.4% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 65 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Suspension | 11 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
Steering: 65; Air Bags: 12; Suspension: 11; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 5; Power Train: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 55 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 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 52 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 10; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 52; 2015: 17; 2016: 9; 2017: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10260808 · 2009-03-05 (March 5, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V005000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY). THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ON A MASSIVE BACK ORDER, CONSISTING OF 47,000 CONSUMERS. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10260808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341008 · 2010-07-01 (July 1, 2010)
DODGE 3500 RECALL #09V00500 STEERING LINKAGES/TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. SWIFT DODGE, 4318 CHILE ROAD, DAVIS CA INFORMED ME IN AUGUST 09 THAT MY TRUCK WAS SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. IN DECEMBER 09 THEY PURPORTED TO HAVE COMPLETED THE RECALL WORK AS SPECIFIED IN INVOICE #25289. THIS WAS VERBALLY DESCRIBED AS NECESSITATING COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY/REASSEMBLY OF THE FRONT END/STEERING. IN JUNE 2010 THE STEERING TRACK BAR BOLT FAILED AND LODGED BETWEEN THE DRAG LINK AND TIE ROD END CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING. THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND SPRING BL…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,916 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435216 · 2011-11-10 (November 10, 2011)
FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS A BUMP ENTERING AN OVERPASS. THE TRUCK WENT INTO A VIOLENT SHAKING AND BOUNCING AND WENT OFF THE ROAD ON RIGHT SHOULDER. I HAD TO HAVE IT NEARLY STOPPED FOR THE UNDAMPED SHAKING TO STOP. ON NOV 7, 2011 I WAS DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY SMOOTH PIECE OF HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK "EXPLODED" INTO A VIOLENT BOUNCING AND SHAKING. THE TRUCK WAS BOUNCING UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I FINALLY LOCKED THE BRAKES AND SKIDDED OFF THE SHOULDER AND INTO A BANK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF ANY VEHICLES HAD BE IN THE ADJACENT LANE, I WOUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458252 · 2012-05-13 (May 13, 2012)
THE DODGE 3500 WAS EAST BOUND IN INTERSTATE 40 WEST OF COOKVILLE, TN. THE DODGE WAS PULLING AN ENCLOSED CAR TRAILER LOADED WITH A 1955 CHEVY SHOW CAR. THE DODGE HAD JUST PASSED AN 18 WHEELED VEHICLE AND WAS IN THE LEFT LANE. WHEN THE PAVEMENT CHANGED, A SLIGHT BUMP, THE FRONT TIRES OF THE DODGE BEGAN TO BOUNCE OUT OF CONTROL, AKA "THE DEATH WOBBLE". OPERATOR WAS NOT ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE DODGE AND IT VEERED INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND OVER PASSING THE SHOULDER HALFWAY INTO THE GRASS. THE DODGE AND TRAILER WOULD HAVE GONE INTO A RAVINE OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395348 · 2011-04-09 (April 9, 2011)
I HAVE A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL THE GAUGES STARTED GOING CRAZY THEN SUDDENLY I SMELL SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING BY THIS POINT NOTHING IS WORKING IM JUST COASTING TO A STOP. THERE WAS NO SMOKE FROM THE DASH THAT WAS MY FIRST INSTINCT I THEN OPEN THE HOOD AND SMOKE IS ROLLING OUT OF THE FUSE BOX. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS THE SAME TRUCK BUT A YEAR OLDER AND THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON HIS VEHICLE TWO DIFFERENT TIMES I THEN DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT ON COPART WHICH IS A SALVAGE AUCTION AND THERE ARE…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745041 · 2015-07-30 (July 30, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 (NA) DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD A TRAILER CONNECTED TO THE LATCHING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT TRAILER OPTIONS, OF WHICH THE HEAVY ELECTRICAL OVERHYDRAULICS OPTION FAILED. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE VEHICLE WAS CONNECTED TO THE TRAILER. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT WERE INOPERABLE TO THE TRAILER. THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT REGISTER TO THE TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MODULE NEEDED TO B…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10743861 · 2015-07-27 (July 27, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 (NA) DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE TRANSMISSION EMITTED A CLICKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE REVERSED WITH THE GEAR IN DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER CODES WERE RESET; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE DEALER ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10743861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221447 · 2019-06-20 (June 20, 2019)
MY 2011 MEGA CAB 3500 WAS PURCHASED IN NOV OF 2018 WITH ONLY APPROX. 110K MILES ON ODOMETER. AFTER A SHORT WHILE OF DRIVING, A VIBRATION STARTED GETTING WORSE UP UNTIL I TOOK TO A DEALER AT APPROX. 114K FOR A CHECK ON TOE & ALIGNMENT. IT ENDED UP BEING A TOTAL REPAIR OF UPPER & LOWER U-JOINTS & BALL JOINTS. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE DRIVER'S MIRROR-HAD SHORT, WIRING HARNESS ON PASSENGER HEADLIGHT-HAD SHORT, TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SEAL LEAKED, NEW PINION GEAR & SEAL, & FEW OTHER ITEMS ALSO. IT SEEMS LIKE A DIESEL THAT HAS JUST STARTED BREAKING IN WAS FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 114,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563834 · 2014-02-11 (February 11, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FUSE BLOCK HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787247 · 2015-10-30 (October 30, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES PREMATURELY HAD BEEN WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED AND THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THERE WAS PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE BALL JOINTS AND TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER LATER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN WORN AND THEY REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND BALL JOINTS AS WELL THEY PROVIDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIM…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11701009 · 2025-11-22 (November 22, 2025)
The frame is completely rotted from wheel well to wheel well on both sides of vehicle frame was completely rotted thru with judge holes completely rusted thru The vehicle was sold with no brakes sold to me and with dog chain holding the gas tank in place because fuel straps were rotted thru and bad wheel bearing that was ready to seize or will fall off vehicle purchased on 11/06 /25 and returned a couple days later within 7 days took it to repair shop to have brake lines repaired and they said they would put truck on lift because frame was rott…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11701009 at NHTSA ↗