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2009 Ram 3500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 3 owner complaints about the 2009 Ram 3500, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-021 the manufacturer reports only 49% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 49%Owner complaints30 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage8kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 13, 2019. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2009 Ram 3500 has problems

3 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train10
Service brakes10
Steering10
Suspension10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2009 Ram 3500 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

49%repaired · 2019 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 18V-021 · Jan 9, 2018 · 328,177 vehicles · 160,051 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

63%repaired · 2018 Q2

Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator

Recall 16V-739 · Oct 13, 2016 · 74,811 vehicles · 47,157 repaired

Risk. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ram.

Best & worst years

2009 vs. every other 3500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 3500 median. How we score

'07'08'09'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2009 Ram 3500, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What 3500 owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED FROM SIXTH TO FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR AS THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO…
Complaint 11219681 · Jun 13, 2019 · 8,000 miles

Own a 2009 3500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.