Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Dodge Ram 4500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Dodge Ram 4500 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V352000 Do Not Drive - Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V313000 Do Not Drive - Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V527000 Failure of the Left Tie Rod Assembly NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 2 complaints
- Steering 2 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Of the 4 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$11,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Dodge RAM 4500 has an average reliability due to notable airbag recalls and occasional points of failure in the steering and electrical systems, though overall complaint volume is low.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| tie rod assembly | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| airbag inflator | any | No reliable estimate | very common |
| electrical system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $200–$600 | 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 6,000 miles
- replace air filter annually
- brake fluid change every 2 years
- coolant flush every 4 years
- inspect brakes every 6 months
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- steering wheel vibration
- unusual airbag warning light
- flickering exterior lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Dodge Ram 4500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.