2009 Dodge RAM recalls and problems

The 2009 Dodge RAM has 5 recalls and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is steering.

How the 2009 compares

Lowest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Lowest complaint count among 11 RAM model years — 11th most.

5recalls

9complaints

0crashes

1fires

0injuries

47,985median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

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5 recalls

Steering

Dec 24, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V657000 · 15,271 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 vehicles. These vehicles May experience a weakening and fracture of the left ball stud on the tie rod resulting in the potential loss of steering.

Original NHTSA wording

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 4500 AND 5500 VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A WEAKENING AND FRACTURE OF THE LEFT BALL STUD ON THE TIE ROD RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING.

Risk: Loss of steering control of the vehicle could increase the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Chrysler will notify owners and replace the left outer tie rod free of charge. The safety recall began on March 7, 2011. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Chrysler safety recall no. K28.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Service Brakes

Jan 11, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V009000 · 20,045 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 Chrysler sebring; Dodge avenger and nitro; Jeep liberty, commander and grand cherokee; and model year 2009-2010 Dodge Ram truck. These vehicles May have been built with an improperly formed or missing brake booster input rod retaining clip.

Original NHTSA wording

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING; DODGE AVENGER AND NITRO; JEEP LIBERTY, COMMANDER AND GRAND CHEROKEE; AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 DODGE RAM TRUCK. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY FORMED OR MISSING BRAKE BOOSTER INPUT ROD RETAINING CLIP.

Risk: This could result in brake failure without warning which could cause a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Chrysler will replace the brake booster input rod retaining clip free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during February 2010. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Chrysler's safety campaign number is J37.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Equipment

May 8, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V158000 · 36,793 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler is recalling 36,793 my 2009 Dodge Ram light duty pickup trucks equipped with manual temperature control (mtc) only. The software programmed into the heating ventilation and air conditioning module May cause the windshield defrosting and defogging functions to become inoperative.

Original NHTSA wording

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 36,793 MY 2009 DODGE RAM LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL (MTC) ONLY. THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE HEATING VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING MODULE MAY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING FUNCTIONS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Risk: This can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions and result in a crash without warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CAN DECREASE THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will reprogram the HVAC module free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before August 3, 2009. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-835-1403.

Chrysler recall no. J12. Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Visibility

Mar 13, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V084000 · 65,896 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler is recalling 65,896 my 2008-2009 light and heavy duty Dodge Ram pickup trucks. The windshield wiper module motor assembly May be susceptible to water intrusion that could result in partial or complete loss of windshield wiping capability.

Original NHTSA wording

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 65,896 MY 2008-2009 LIGHT AND HEAVY DUTY DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.

Risk: When the wiper system fails, the operator will have reduced visibility which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

WHEN THE WIPER SYSTEM FAILS, THE OPERATOR WILL HAVE REDUCED VISIBILITY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the wiper module assemblies with vented wiper motor housings free of charge. The safety recall began on August 17, 2009. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Chrysler recall no. J10.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Power Train

Mar 10, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V078000 · 504 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler is recalling 504 my 2009 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 pickup trucks heavy duty cab chassis with manual transmission and power adjustable pedal package. The clutch pedal connecting rod to the clutch master cylinder May separate from the master cylinder. This May not allow disengagement of the clutch when the pedal is depressed, which could result in unintended vehicle movement.

Original NHTSA wording

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 504 MY 2009 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 PICKUP TRUCKS HEAVY DUTY CAB CHASSIS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDAL PACKAGE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL CONNECTING ROD TO THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER MAY SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS MAY NOT ALLOW DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT.

Risk: Increased stopping distance and engine stalling May occur increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND ENGINE STALLING MAY OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the clutch master cylinder hydraulic system free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during April 2009. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Chrysler recall no. J08.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Latches/locks/linkages1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Outer Tie Rod Failure

PE11009 · opened Apr 4, 2011 · closed Feb 6, 2012 · led to recall 11V350000

Summary

ODI received complaints regarding failing tie rod ball studs on Model Year 2008-2011 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles resulting in loss of steering control.Chrysler concluded that misalignment of the left (driver side) ball stud on vehicles built with the Cross Car steering linkage system could allow contact between the bull stud and the ball housing which could weaken the stud and result in fracture.Chrysler submitted a recall notice on August 15, 2011 involving certain MY 2003-2011 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 pickup trucks built or repaired with the Cross Car steering linkage.Chrysler will inspect, repair or realign the front end of the subject vehicles as needed.Chrysler's announcement of a safety recall on this matter addresses ODI's concerns.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10332525, 10357937, 10366591, 10303744, 10377166, 10373240, 10343969, 10375403, 10324831, 10373546, 10370771.

2009 vs. other Dodge RAM years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2009. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2009 Dodge RAM have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2009 Dodge RAM, the latest from Dec 24, 2010 (steering). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Dodge RAM?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention steering (3), fuel system (2), power train (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.