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Dodge RAM 3500Model year report

2009 Dodge RAM 3500 Problems

Compared with other Dodge RAM 3500 years

Typical for this model

36/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
105filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
49,529miles, 50 complaints with mileage
Recalls
52 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year report front-end and steering problems most often, and the single largest theme in the sample is the left tie rod recall and the long waits many owners describe for getting the replacement part. A second, frequent theme is a violent front-end shake after hitting a bump at highway speed, usually called 'death wobble' by owners, which several say persists after stabilizer, shock and ball joint work. Airbag recall parts availability and intermittent wiper motor failures also appear in the sample.

  1. Steering

    Tie rod fracture and recall parts delays

    • 61 complaints (58%)
    • median 44,838 mi at 3.7 yrs old (20 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2016

    Complaints describe the left tie rod or tie rod ball stud fracturing, sometimes at low speed while turning or reversing and in some cases at highway speed, with a resulting loss of directional control. Many other complaints are about the recall itself: owners say the dealer had no parts, could not give a date, or told them the part was on a national backorder, and some report the failure returned after the recall repair was done. A few describe the dealer attributing front-end vibration to tires or alignment instead. Reported from roughly 10,000 to 250,000 miles, with many failures between about 25,000 and 80,000 miles, several while towing or at low parking-lot speeds.

    Recall 13V529000Recall 11V350000Recall 09V0050001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask for the recall repair invoice and confirm which tie rod was replaced and when; look with a flashlight at the tie rod ends for rust, cracks or a fresh joint, and note any vibration or wander on a test drive at low and highway speed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving slowly down my mile long lane the driver's side tie rod end fractured which caused partial loss of steering control. I could only steer the right side, (passenger) wheel. I was able to continue slowly to the end of the lane, reverse my direction, and return my truck to my shop for repair.”

    NHTSA complaint #10434412, filed 2011-11, 41,457 miles

    “I have received a recall notice from chrysler about our RAM 3500 for a left tie rod replacement. It has currently been over two months since I have been to the dealer to initiate the replacement. They are now telling me I have another 6 months of waiting due to chrysler not shipping the parts for the recall. Chrysler has also informed me I am operating the vehicle at our own risk in the event of a part failure, and a crash. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10594363, filed 2014-05, 33,000 miles
  2. Suspension

    Violent front-end shake after a bump ("death wobble")

    • 9 complaints (9%)
    • median 67,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2011–2019

    Owners describe the front end shaking or bouncing violently after hitting a bump, pothole or pavement seam, often at 50-70 mph, with the truck hard to hold in its lane until speed drops to roughly 30 mph. Complaints mention replacing stabilizer shocks, ball joints, control arms, hub assemblies and bushings, with some saying the shaking returned afterward. Dealers are described as replacing individual front-end parts rather than resolving the symptom. Mostly reported between about 10,000 and 75,000 miles, and again on some trucks past 100,000 miles, typically on highway bumps or pavement transitions.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Drive the truck over a highway expansion joint or uneven pavement at speed if you can; ask whether the steering stabilizer, ball joints, track bar and tie rods have been replaced, and when.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11221447, filed 2019-06, 114,215 miles

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10435216, filed 2011-11, 29,250 miles
  3. Air bags

    Driver and passenger airbag inflator recall; parts not

    • 12 complaints (11%)
    • median 58,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2020

    Complaints center on the airbag inflator recalls: owners say they received an interim notice and then waited without a firm date, or that the dealership kept them on a list and did not call back. Several describe crashes where the airbags did not deploy. These are mostly complaints about the recall process rather than reported inflator failures. Reported across a wide mileage range, mostly in complaints filed between 2014 and 2020.

    Recall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 15V313000 · DO NOT DRIVE

    What to check: Check with a dealer by VIN whether both the driver and passenger inflator recalls were completed, and get the repair record in writing.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Our son was driving a 2009 Dodge at approximately 60 MPH. He hit a vehicle that pulled in front of him with the front end of the Dodge. It continued to travel into a guardrail then flipped over on its top. During this accident the airbags did not deploy. Praise god our son was not injured during this. Shouldn't the airbags have deployed during this??????”

    NHTSA complaint #10759627, filed 2015-08, 116,500 miles

    “I was in a bad wreck on the freeway going freeway speed 60mph I hit a jersey barrier that caused me to roll my truck and not one of my airbags went off this accident happened in september 2018 I shattered my collarbone due to hitting the steering wheel and have had surgery's done and my collarbone will never be the same”

    NHTSA complaint #11338727, filed 2020-07, 68,000 miles
  4. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Windshield wiper and defroster intermittent failure

    • 5 complaints (5%)
    • median 69,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2011–2016

    Owners report wipers stopping intermittently at highway speed or the defroster and wiper functions both going dead during bad weather, with one complaint naming the wiper motor as the replaced part. Some describe the failures appearing without warning and being diagnosed at the dealer. Reported from roughly 26,000 to 70,000 miles, in ordinary driving and in wet or cold conditions.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Run the wipers through every speed setting, including intermittent, and try the defroster with the fan on; ask whether the wiper motor or multifunction switch has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When using the left turn signal, both signal lights would become active on the tail lights, but only show left turn on the dash. When using the right turn, no light would work at all. Turned out to be the turn signal multifunction switch, which after searching also can affect the head lights working or not, and windshield wipers. I have checked on the internet forums and have found this happening on many dodges, mostly 2006 and newer.”

    NHTSA complaint #10852338, filed 2016-03, 84,500 miles

    “The contact owns a 2009 Dodge RAM 3500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the window wiper motor failed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 26,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #10513317, filed 2013-05, 26,000 miles
  5. Electrical system

    Electrical faults: fuse block and lighting

    • 7 complaints (7%)
    • median 86,375 mi at 6.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2019

    Complaints describe the engine stalling with a burning smell traced to the fuse block, and headlights or low/high beams cutting out with the dealer pointing to the power distribution module (TIPM) as the cause. One owner describes gauges swinging and smoke coming from the fuse box. Scattered from about 35,000 to 130,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test all exterior lights including high beams, fog and daytime lamps, and ask whether the fuse block or power distribution module has been replaced or reflashed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10395348, filed 2011-04, 88,250 miles

    “High beam and or low beam lights quit or go off from time to time. Dealer said its a tipm computer. At a cost of over $800.00 to replace or $100.00 to flash the computer to repair? Can only be flashed 3 - 4 times before it has to be replaced. All the wiring and connections are good. Dealer said it was probably because of a faulty bulb and burned out the tipm ? I dont know, but sounds like a problem that Dodge needs to address. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10969506, filed 2017-03, 130,000 miles

Buying note. Give the steering linkage the most attention: confirm the tie rod recalls were completed and inspect the front end for wear before purchase. A test drive over rough pavement at highway speed is the most useful check for the front-end shake these trucks are known for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 105 consumer complaints for the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500. 50 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 49,529 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 39 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 4 Dodge RAM 3500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 36 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (2), Wheels (2), Engine (1), Engine cooling (1), Fuel system (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “While reverse parking in the driveway my Dodge RAM 3500, 2009 model, I heard a loud noise and I lost steering control. I inspected the vehicle and found that the tie rod on the driver's side had broken with the wheel at right angle to the truck.”

NHTSA complaint #10399689, filed 2011-05, 36,000 miles

Air bags: “I was e/b hwy 26 around manning, or at approximately 50-55 MPH (posted 55). As I was passing a fruit stand on my right, I heard a loud bang and the vehicle jerked to the right jumped the curb and I veered to the right to avoid the steel guard rail and drove into a drop off about 20 feet below the roadway and struck a pile of 4-6 logs in tall grass. None of the airbags deployed during the collision.”

NHTSA complaint #10722306, filed 2015-05, 30,000 miles

Suspension: “Death wobble while driving down the interstate going around 50/60 miles I hit a bump in the road and the truck shakes out of control. The truck doesn't stop shaking until you slow down til about 30. It's very dangerous, just today I hit a bump going across a bridge on the interstate and the truck started shaking dangerously and another truck was behind me and on the side of me. The vehile on the right side of me had to hit the shoulder because while my truck was shaking the truck was going in that persons lane. …”

NHTSA complaint #10925569, filed 2016-11, 170,000 miles

Electrical system: “On 11/25/19 about 3 am the horn got stuck in the on position and nothing was labeled in the fuse box or manual (book) what is the solution? My truck has only 40,012 miles, I'm totally surprised about this problem, and I was considering buying another Dodge ram truck!!!! Track was parked”

NHTSA complaint #11283045, filed 2019-11

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 50 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 33,000 and 84,500 miles.

2%0–108%10–2540%25–5018%50–7512%75–10016%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (50 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 49,529 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’09’11’1352’15’17’20’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 39 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 39 bulletins →

Other model years of the Dodge RAM 3500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201236646,8408——95 · MoreStable
201122546,3505——47 · TypicalStable
201015051,0009——50 · TypicalFalling
200910549,5295——36 · TypicalFalling
200817365,0009——57 · TypicalStable
200721075,00011——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200625879,0008——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200519682,2514——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200421461,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200328676,2586——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20024466,8500——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200113083,2381——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20005886,1421——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1999104112,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199810592,0900——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1997125108,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1996124115,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199510864,8701——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199470120,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19932050,0100———Stable
199210187,0000———Not enough data

All Dodge RAM 3500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500?

Owners of this model year report front-end and steering problems most often, and the single largest theme in the sample is the left tie rod recall and the long waits many owners describe for getting the replacement part. The issues reported most often: Tie rod fracture and recall parts delays; Violent front-end shake after a bump ("death wobble"); Driver and passenger airbag inflator recall; parts not.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 have?

NHTSA recorded 105 consumer complaints for the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 69 complaints (66% of the total), followed by air bags with 12.

Has the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 reported?

Among the 50 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 49,529 miles and the middle half falls between 33,000 and 84,500 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.