Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 670 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #13V038000 Rear Axle Pinion Nut May Loosen at Differential NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V474000 Rear Axle pinion Nut May Loosen at Differential NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 231 complaints
- Electrical System 97 complaints
- Unknown or Other 52 complaints
- Engine 50 complaints
- Wheels 50 complaints
- Structure 41 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$8,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Dodge RAM 1500 has reliability concerns with 670 owner complaints and two recalls primarily targeting the power train. The high number of power train-related complaints is significant. However, data on other failure patterns is relatively sparse.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 60,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $300–$1,000 | occasional |
| Engine | Unknown | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Replace air filter annually
- Rotate tires every 10,000 miles
- Transmission service every 50,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 5 years
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Grinding noise from rear
- Unexpected stalling
- Delayed gear engagement
- Battery drain issues
- Excessive oil consumption
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.