RoadVitals

2009 Dodge Ram 2500 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
214
Latest Mar 19, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
9
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 19, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 214 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 214 · page 1 of 9

Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2025

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor coming from the exhaust at start-up. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the exhaust manifold bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID
11649217
Incident
Jul 31, 2024
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, the headlights flashed off and on, and the battery failed to remain charged. The contact diagnosed an electrical ground short, a low voltage to the intake air heater relay, and the engine grid heater was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the Extended Warranty coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.

NHTSA ID
11615213
Incident
Oct 1, 2021
Mileage
162,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 13, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving 20-60 MPH, the front end of the vehicle, the steering column, and the steering wheel were shuddering significantly. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the death wobble. The contact stated that the failure increased significantly while driving on bumpy road surfaces. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, where the vehicle was diagnosed but the cause of the failure could not be determined; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the tires were replaced twice by two tire facilities; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was previously taken to an unknown dealer; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11544367
Incident
Sep 13, 2020
Electrical
Filed Mar 30, 2023
Fire reported

INITAL PROBLEM, FUSE BOX FIRE - 2020 REPEATED PROBLEM AGAIN IN 2020, 2021, 2023

NHTSA ID
11514671
Incident
Feb 26, 2020
Body & structure
Filed Sep 28, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was corroded. The vehicle was severely corroded at the rear passenger’s side door frame and a half of the subframe located at the rear passenger’s side was also severely corroded. The center of the main subframe exhibited had holes. The contact stated that the corrosion was not due to salt on the road. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was contacted. The failure mileage was 140,000.

NHTSA ID
11434700
Incident
Aug 1, 2021
Mileage
140,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 31, 2020

VEHICLE SWAYS BACK AND FORTH DUE TO STEERING LINKAGE

NHTSA ID
11352235
Incident
Jun 20, 2020
Mileage
96,000 mi
Filed Feb 26, 2020

WENT OUT TO START AND IT WOULD CRANK OVER BUT NOT START UP IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY ON FAIRLY LEVEL SURFACE THEN THIS MORNING IT STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY WITH NO TROUBLE. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID
11311577
Incident
Feb 26, 2020
Electrical
Filed Dec 18, 2019

IN MOTION THE BLINKERS WOULD TURN ON WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE SWITCH. WHEN I APPLIED THE LEFT BLINKER THE RIGHT ONE WOULD TURN ON AND VICE VERSA. FINALLY THE FLASHERS TURNED ON AND I COULDN'T TURN OFF. IT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH.

NHTSA ID
11289925
Incident
Nov 20, 2019
Mileage
81,500 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed May 1, 2019

UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING OR FRONT END WOBBLING. AKA DEATH WOBBLE, ACCORDING TO MY VEHICLE HISTORY THERE ARE RECALLS THAT ARE FOR STEERING AND THE DESCRIPTION OF ALL THOSE RECALLS SAY WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHICH IS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL RESULTING IN A CRASH. ALL THE RECALLS THAT I KNOW OF HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BUT I STILL HAVE INCIDENTS WHERE I LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING AND IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP, I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD MANY MANY CLOSE CALLS, AND HOPING THAT THIS DOESN'T RESULT IN A LOSS OF A VEHICLE OR EVEN DEATH. IT'S A VERY BIG CONCERN TO ME CONSIDERING THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR THE STEERING AND FRONT END. IT WILL OCCUR AS SOON AS I HIT A BUMP JUST RIGHT NOT EVEN AT HIGH SPEED IT HAPPENS AT 35-70 MPH NO MATTER IF IT'S FLAT GROUND OR NOT. THE ENTIRE TRUCK SHAKES AND FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE BOUNCING OFF THE GROUND. AT THAT POINT BEING ON THE FREEWAY HAVING NO CONTROL OF MY STEERING THE ONLY OPTION I HAVE IT TO SLAM ON MY BREAKS, IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENS

NHTSA ID
11204944
Incident
May 1, 2019
Mileage
77,215 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AT NIGHT, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WENT OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS CHANGED THREE OTHER TIMES BY BRYANT MOTORS (2901 S LIMIT AVE, SEDALIA, MO 65301), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID
11183131
Incident
Feb 14, 2019
Mileage
49,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 16, 2019

AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE TRUCK BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. REFERRED TO AS A DEATH WOBBLE. NEEDED TO SLOW TRUCK TO BRING IT BACK UNDER CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
11180559
Incident
Feb 15, 2019
Mileage
96,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 3, 2018

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A CORRODED BRAKE LINES AT THE MASTER CYLINDER. HAPPENED IN DRIVEWAY BEFORE I GOT TO THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11099436
Incident
Jun 3, 2018
Mileage
108,400 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Apr 9, 2018

DODGE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED ON THREE SEPERATE OCCASIONS, BUT THERE IS STILL A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11080528
Incident
Oct 30, 2017
Filed Apr 3, 2018

CPSC: THE TRUCK BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY ENDANGERING MY YOUNG CHILD AND MYSELF. DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IN POSSESSION OF THE DEALER UNTIL IT CAN BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JS

NHTSA ID
11083048
Incident
Mar 17, 2018
Steering
Filed Aug 30, 2017

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED TERRIBLE FRONT END WOBBLE, VERY SCARY. HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. HUSBAND NORMALLY DRIVES TRUCK THIS IS FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ID
11020540
Incident
Aug 22, 2017
Mileage
41,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 10, 2017

TRACK BAR MOUNT CAME OFF OF THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK ......PULLING ONTO ROAD FROM DRIVEWAG

NHTSA ID
11014222
Incident
Aug 10, 2017
Mileage
146,029 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 9, 2017

2009 DODGE RAM 2500 HAS WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY MANY AS "DEATH WOBBLE". AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (70MPH HERE IN MI) IF SOME EVEN MINOR BUMPS, POT HOLES ARE RUN OVER THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. TO GET CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN YOU MUST SLOW TO BELOW 55MPH. MANY TIMES JUST THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE AS BOUNCING OR WOBBLING, RECENTLY THE ENTIRE FRONT END. VEHICLE HAS HAD BOTH PRIOR RECALLS FOR TIE-ROD ENDS COMPLETED. HAD FRONT SHOCKS CHANGED IN CASE THEY WERE THE ISSUE NO CHANGE, HAD TIRES CHANGED IN CASE THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH ANY OF THE TIRES, NO CHANGE. HAD BELLE TIRE TECHS LOOK FOR ISSUE WITH BOUNCING/WOBBLING TIRES THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS TIGHT AND IN WORKING ORDER. ALSO HAS ANOTHER GARAGE LOOK AT IT FOR THE SAME ISSUE THEY DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. THIS PROBLEM THAT LOOKS TO BE PRETTY WIDESPREAD WITH OWNERS OF 2009 RAM 2500S MAKES THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNTIL A FIX IS FOUND. I WILL ASK DEALER ABOUT BOUNCING/WOBBLING FRONT END AGAIN BUT IF THIS IS ON MANY OF THESE TRUCKS THE PROBLEM WILL END UP RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS SHOULD A DRIVER NOT BE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN QUICKLY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR ON AND OFF, I HAD AVOIDED DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY UNTIL THE LAST REPAIRS WHERE THE TIRES WERE CHANGED AND THE TECHS SAID EVERYTHING WAS GOOD WITH THE FRONT END. FIRST TIME ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN A FEW SMALL BUMPS WERE RUN OVER, THE ENTIRE CAB OF THE TRUCK WAS SHAKING, OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND AND AROUND ME SLOWED AS I AM GUESSING THEY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. I HAD TO SLOW BELOW 50MPH BEFORE THE SHAKING WAS UNDER CONTROL AND BECAUSE THE OTHER DRIVERS SLOWED IT ALLOWED ME TO GET TO THE RIGHT AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. SO I WILL NO LONGER USE THE TRUCK AT ANYTHING OVER 45MPH AND ONLY USE SPARINGLY UNTIL THE ISSUE IS IDENTIFIED AND REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
11003905
Incident
Jul 9, 2017
Mileage
121,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 9, 2017

MY 2009 DODGE RAM 2500 STARTED HOPPING AFTER I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50MPH WHEN THUS HAPPENED. I COULD DO NOTHING BUT TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN. IT LITERALLY HOPPED DOWN THE ROAD , IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN A PAINT MIXER BOUNCING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BUT WAS NEVER AS BAD AS THIS TIME. MY WIFE WAS WITH ME THIS TIME AND COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT IT WAS DOING. SHE TOLD ME IF SHE HAD BEEN DRIVING SHE WOULD HAVE PANICKED AND MOST LIKELY WRECKED THE TRUCK. EVERYTHING IN THE TRUCK WAS BEING TOSSED AROUND. THIS ISSUE MUST BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE.

NHTSA ID
11003856
Incident
Jul 5, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jan 23, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE SO THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10946988
Incident
May 16, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 3, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - WE RECEIVED NOTICE DATED 7/1/2016 REGARDING PASSENGER BAG RECALL. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RECALL. 6 MONTHS IS A LONG TIME, IS THERE A TIME FRAME LIMIT?

NHTSA ID
10939261
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
82,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 13, 2016
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING THE DODGE RAM 2500 2009 YEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60-65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER HITTING A JOINT IN THE ROAD BETWEEN THE ASPHALT AND A BRIDGE. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER DURING THIS TIME AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE CONNECTORS VIBRATED OFF OF THE BATTERY TERMINAL, BOTH BATTERIES, AT WHICH TIME I LOST ALL POWER. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN MY DRIVING OFF OF A BRIDGE. THE SHAKING WOULD ONLY STOP UPON COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES AT SLOWER SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-50 MPH. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK TO GET US TO OUR DESTINATION. THIS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY ROADS AND ALWAYS AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMPS. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS 89500. *TR

NHTSA ID
10934953
Incident
Dec 11, 2016
Mileage
89,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 20, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10908253
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 13, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10906145
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Steering
Filed Sep 12, 2016

WHILE HAVING OTHER RECALLS FIXED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING BOX WAS LEAKING AND MAKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THERE WERE NO REPAIR PARTS AVAILABLE. THE STEERING COULD FAIL ANYTIME. CHRYSLER /DODGE SHOULD BE FIXING THIS ISSUE AS I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT. VEHICLE HAS 80,000. MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID
10905923
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 13, 2016

SERIOUS SHIMMY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TRUCK HAS 61K MILES AND IS MAINTAINED VERY WELL.

NHTSA ID
10895569
Incident
Aug 12, 2016
Mileage
61,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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