AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
2009 Dodge Ram 4500
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
NHTSA has issued a “do not drive” advisory affecting this model year.
Campaign 16V352000. Confirm whether your specific vehicle is covered using its VIN before acting on this.
Check your VIN on NHTSA.govOverview
Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Dodge Ram 4500, most frequently naming the electrical, steering and exterior lighting categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 27 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 3 months of data.
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical240.0%
- Steering240.0%
- Exterior lighting120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 4500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALSO, THE WIRES BURNED A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND PLUG HEAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10882929
- Incident
- Jul 6, 2011
- Mileage
- 30,000 mi
1ST TIME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED WAS UNDER 36 THOUSAND MILES,, TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START OR MAKE A SOUND,, HAD IT TOWED TO BOB WILLIAMS DODGE IN ROME GA.,,WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS IN MAIN WIRING HARNESS PLUG. THE SECOND TIME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED I WAS SITTING STILL WITH TRUCK IDILING IN A PARKING LOT FOR 3 OR 4 MINUTES THEN THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF AND I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND BURNT PLASTIC,,, HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO ED VOYLES IN MARIETTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS PLUG THAT SHORTED OUT AGAIN AND CAUSED THE TIPM AND THE FUSE BOX AND THE CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE THE FUSEBOX TO BURN A HOLE THRU THEM THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL,, THIS HAPPENED AT 96,000 MILES,,,, SO THEY PUT A BAND AID ON IT TO GET ME OUT THE DOOR ,,,I ASKED THEM IF THEY FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND THE MAIN HARNESS PLUG SHORTED OUT BUT THATS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM... THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME AT AROUND 130,000 MILES,,CRUISE CONTROL HAS QUIT WORKING ,,TAIL LIGHTS AND MARKER LIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING ON TRUCK,, TRAILER BRAKES AND TRAILER LIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING,,, FUEL GUAGE WILL QUIT WORKING AND DPF FULL LIGHT WILL COME ON BUT I CAN MOVE THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS PLUG HEAD AND THE FUEL GUAGE WILL START BACK TO WORK AND DPF FULL WARNING WILL GO OFF FOR A WHILE,,,I NEED HELP WITH THIS ONGOING ISSUE PLEASE
- NHTSA ID
- 10882821
- Incident
- Sep 15, 2011
- Mileage
- 30,000 mi
MY SUSPENSION/STEERING SNAPPED AND THE DEALER WILL NOT RELEASES THE VEHICLE TO ME AND TOLD ME TO CALL DODGE SINCE THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON IT. I HAVE CALLED 3 TIMES AND NOBODY CALLS BACK. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE SEPTEMBER 2015.
- NHTSA ID
- 10819748
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 4 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED WAS TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT A RECALL APPLIED TO THE CONTACT'S VIN UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:10V657000(STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS REPAIRED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO MAKE THE RECALL REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10470643
- Incident
- Aug 14, 2012
- Mileage
- 73,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SERVICE BRAKES
Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.
POWER TRAIN
Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (Part Number 06511385A$) are one-time usage. Vehicles built prior to 10/23/2015 requires Service Kit PN 68461214AA; includes Transmission Isolator PN 68264483AA, and Adaptation Bracket 68264479AA and Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA Vehicles built after on or after 10/23/2015 will require only the Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA. 2. All 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the vehicle you are repairing has a crack in the flex plate or failed pump bushing inspect and confirm that both (2) dowel pins are present in the engine block, which align the transmission center line to the crank shaft centerline and visually inspect the dowel alignment holes in the transmission case. If the holes are damaged or elongated the transmission should be replaced to prevent further damage to the transmission/flexplate or pump bushing due to the inability to properly align the engine to the transmission during the repair. 3. All 62TE equipped vehicles. If pump bushing is scored or damaged and the dowel pin alignment holes are ok, replace the pump assembly as opposed to complete transmission. 4. All 62TE equipped vehicles. If vehicle is jerking/slipping with MIL code(s) P0740 or P2764, check TCC Solenoid operation. If TCC Solenoid is ok, the codes are indicative of a torque converter failure. Replace the torque converter.
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.