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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 670 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Dodge dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2009 Dodge Ram 1500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 670 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, describing incidents dated January 3, 2009 to February 9, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 231 complaints
  • Electrical System 97 complaints
  • Engine 58 complaints
  • Visibility/Wiper 56 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 52 complaints
  • Wheels 50 complaints

Of the 670 complaints on file, 29 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 670 complaints, owners report 19 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11717980 · Filed

    Involved in an accident 2/09/26. Air bag did not deploy. Fractured sternum as a result.

  • ODI #11716468 · Filed

    - Week of October 6th 2025 I experienced 4-wheel drive issues and lights. - October 13th 2025 dropped off to dealer for review - October 14th 2025 dealer deemed not safe to drive and ordered parts under warranty repair. - following weeks went on with parts being backordered. - after having to push…

  • ODI #11685690 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the MTC unit failed to function as intended. The contact stated that while the system was enabled, the system independently switched between the heating and cooling systems. In addition, the…

Read all 670 complaints

Owner-reported

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 mileage at failure

535 of the 670 complaints on file for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Power TrainMedian 70,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–95,000 milesBased on 146 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 80,000 milesMiddle half 55,000–100,000 milesBased on 89 complaints
EngineMedian 80,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–100,000 milesBased on 49 complaints
Visibility/WiperMedian 70,000 milesMiddle half 45,000–80,000 milesBased on 53 complaints
WheelsMedian 50,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–80,000 milesBased on 46 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Rear Axle Pinion Nut May Loosen at Differential

NHTSA #13V038000 · Power Train — Driveline — Differential Unit · NHTSA notice

Reported February 6, 2013 · Chrysler Group LLC

Potentially affected: 278,674 vehicles

Repair completion: 74.56% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign N08 · Owners notified November 7, 2013 · Vehicles built February 27, 2008 – June 30, 2009 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008. The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.

Safety consequence

If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.

Manufacturer remedy

On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.

Notes

This campaign is an expansion of a recall campaign 12V-474.Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Rear Axle pinion Nut May Loosen at Differential

NHTSA #12V474000 · Power Train — Driveline — Differential Unit · NHTSA notice

Reported October 2, 2012 · CHRYSLER GROUP LLC

Potentially affected: 44,300 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign M34 · Owners notified June 17, 2013 · Vehicles built July 1, 2009 – November 30, 2009 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2010, Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota trucks, manufactured from July 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009, because the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to a lack of adhesive.

Safety consequence

If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.

Manufacturer remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.

Notes

Chrysler's recall campaign number is M34. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Dodge Ram 1500 model years

Check your 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Ram 1500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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