Total Complaints
5 filings
DODGE RAM 4500 · model year
2009 DODGE RAM 4500
5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009DODGERAM 4500 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 RAM 4500 is steering with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and exterior lighting (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2009 RAM 4500, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recalls (3)
15V31300027/05/2015
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2
16V35200024/05/2016
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2
13V52700006/11/2013
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 4500 and 5500 trucks manufactured February 20, 2007, through December 22, 2012. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Recent Complaints
20160706FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 4500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALSO, THE WIRES BURNED A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND PLUG HEAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Mileage: 30,000
20160705ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1ST TIME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED WAS UNDER 36 THOUSAND MILES,, TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START OR MAKE A SOUND,, HAD IT TOWED TO BOB WILLIAMS DODGE IN ROME GA.,,WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS IN MAIN WIRING HARNESS PLUG. THE SECOND TIME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED I WAS SITTING STILL WITH TRUCK IDILING IN A PARKING LOT FOR 3 OR 4 MINUTES THEN THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF AND I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND BURNT PLASTIC,,, HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO ED VOYLES IN MARIETTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS PLUG THAT SHORTED OUT AGAIN AND CAUSED THE TIPM AND THE FUSE BOX AND THE CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE THE FUSEBOX TO BURN A HOLE THRU THEM THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL,, THIS HAPPENED AT 96,000 MILES,,,, SO THEY PUT A BAND AID ON IT TO GET ME OUT THE DOOR ,,,I ASKED THEM IF THEY FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND THE MAIN HARNESS PLUG SHORTED OUT BUT THATS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM...
Mileage: 30,000
20160705EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1ST TIME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED WAS UNDER 36 THOUSAND MILES,, TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START OR MAKE A SOUND,, HAD IT TOWED TO BOB WILLIAMS DODGE IN ROME GA.,,WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS IN MAIN WIRING HARNESS PLUG. THE SECOND TIME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED I WAS SITTING STILL WITH TRUCK IDILING IN A PARKING LOT FOR 3 OR 4 MINUTES THEN THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF AND I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND BURNT PLASTIC,,, HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO ED VOYLES IN MARIETTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS PLUG THAT SHORTED OUT AGAIN AND CAUSED THE TIPM AND THE FUSE BOX AND THE CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE THE FUSEBOX TO BURN A HOLE THRU THEM THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL,, THIS HAPPENED AT 96,000 MILES,,,, SO THEY PUT A BAND AID ON IT TO GET ME OUT THE DOOR ,,,I ASKED THEM IF THEY FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND THE MAIN HARNESS PLUG SHORTED OUT BUT THATS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM...
Mileage: 30,000
20160112CrashSTEERING
MY SUSPENSION/STEERING SNAPPED AND THE DEALER WILL NOT RELEASES THE VEHICLE TO ME AND TOLD ME TO CALL DODGE SINCE THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON IT. I HAVE CALLED 3 TIMES AND NOBODY CALLS BACK. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE SEPTEMBER 2015.
20120814STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 4 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED WAS TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT A RECALL APPLIED TO THE CONTACT'S VIN UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:10V657000(STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS REPAIRED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO MAKE THE RECALL REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Mileage: 73,000
Compare 2009DODGERAM 4500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 DODGE RAM 4500 have?▼
The 2009 DODGE RAM 4500 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 DODGE RAM 4500?▼
Yes, the 2009 DODGE RAM 4500 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 DODGE RAM 4500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 DODGE RAM 4500 is STEERING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Is the 2009 DODGE RAM 4500 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.