2009 RAM 2500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 RAM 2500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering436.4%
- Suspension436.4%
- Brakes19.1%
- Engine19.1%
- Other / unspecified19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
We have experienced the "death wobble" twice now in our 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. It is a documented issue with Dodge trucks and associated with multiple prior recalls. At highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly begins shaking violently and uncontrollably, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. It feels like the front axle just broke in half, but the problem is difficult to diagnose. The first time it happened, the truck was almost due for inspection, so we took it for an inspection hoping that the cause would be discovered/repaired. The shop replaced a ball joint (left upper); we were hoping that was the cause. After it passed the state safety inspection, I took it out on the same stretch of road where I had trouble earlier and it seemed fine. Then, a few weeks later, the death wobble struck back - this time with my wife driving and our six-month-old daughter in the back seat. It was my worst nightmare that it happened with my daughter in the truck. Young children are so fragile and their brains are still developing. It's a miracle she survived; hopefully she didn't suffer any brain damage that will manifest itself in the future. I found NHTSA Recall ID 11V350000, which pertains to 2003-11 Dodge Ram 2500 trucks. I called Dodge multiple times and spoke with our local dealer. They won't do anything, because "Your VIN doesn't show in our system." To me, this is a documented safety problem that nearly killed my daughter, and Dodge needs to make it right (our truck fit the recall description). I do not feel safe driving this vehicle. Please investigate and use your authorities to persuade Dodge to do the right thing.
My steering shakes violently and my front end feels like he's going in a different direction than the back end. I've owned this 2009 since 2010. I've paid for at least 3 front end rebuilds. Surely there is an aftermarket or fix for this? Its the Cummins 6.7L, 2500. I want to fix this only ONE more time. We have only 30 mi of road here but speeds of up to 55 are allowed. I rarely drive over 50. If I were to take this on a ferry to the mainland, I would be afraid to drive the freeways. It happens here in Ketchikan, pot hole capital of the world. I only need to hit a bump and the front end goes wonkers. Help me fix this.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
We have experienced the "death wobble" twice now in our 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. It is a documented issue with Dodge trucks and associated with multiple prior recalls. At highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly begins shaking violently and uncontrollably, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. It feels like the front axle just broke in half, but the problem is difficult to diagnose. The first time it happened, the truck was almost due for inspection, so we took it for an inspection hoping that the cause would be discovered/repaired. The shop replaced a ball joint (left upper); we were hoping that was the cause. After it passed the state safety inspection, I took it out on the same stretch of road where I had trouble earlier and it seemed fine. Then, a few weeks later, the death wobble struck back - this time with my wife driving and our six-month-old daughter in the back seat. It was my worst nightmare that it happened with my daughter in the truck. Young children are so fragile and their brains are still developing. It's a miracle she survived; hopefully she didn't suffer any brain damage that will manifest itself in the future. I found NHTSA Recall ID 11V350000, which pertains to 2003-11 Dodge Ram 2500 trucks. I called Dodge multiple times and spoke with our local dealer. They won't do anything, because "Your VIN doesn't show in our system." To me, this is a documented safety problem that nearly killed my daughter, and Dodge needs to make it right (our truck fit the recall description). I do not feel safe driving this vehicle. Please investigate and use your authorities to persuade Dodge to do the right thing.
My steering shakes violently and my front end feels like he's going in a different direction than the back end. I've owned this 2009 since 2010. I've paid for at least 3 front end rebuilds. Surely there is an aftermarket or fix for this? Its the Cummins 6.7L, 2500. I want to fix this only ONE more time. We have only 30 mi of road here but speeds of up to 55 are allowed. I rarely drive over 50. If I were to take this on a ferry to the mainland, I would be afraid to drive the freeways. It happens here in Ketchikan, pot hole capital of the world. I only need to hit a bump and the front end goes wonkers. Help me fix this.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Dodge death wobble. Hit a bridge gap almost lost control. Definitely in the front end suspension or linkage? Recall other vins not mine in the same year? Not confirmed yet. Needs to have same recalls as the others 2009 dodge ram 2500 5.7 Hemi big horn.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
My truck was running fine then started to skip and lost power. It was dangerous because i was on the interstate and the truck would not go. People were honking and flying ar0und me was very disturbing. Seems this has been a problem for awhile talking to other Dodge owners a valve spring or lifter breaks and destroys the can shaft in the Hemi engines certain years.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
We have experienced the "death wobble" twice now in our 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. It is a documented issue with Dodge trucks and associated with multiple prior recalls. At highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly begins shaking violently and uncontrollably, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. It feels like the front axle just broke in half, but the problem is difficult to diagnose. The first time it happened, the truck was almost due for inspection, so we took it for an inspection hoping that the cause would be discovered/repaired. The shop replaced a ball joint (left upper); we were hoping that was the cause. After it passed the state safety inspection, I took it out on the same stretch of road where I had trouble earlier and it seemed fine. Then, a few weeks later, the death wobble struck back - this time with my wife driving and our six-month-old daughter in the back seat. It was my worst nightmare that it happened with my daughter in the truck. Young children are so fragile and their brains are still developing. It's a miracle she survived; hopefully she didn't suffer any brain damage that will manifest itself in the future. I found NHTSA Recall ID 11V350000, which pertains to 2003-11 Dodge Ram 2500 trucks. I called Dodge multiple times and spoke with our local dealer. They won't do anything, because "Your VIN doesn't show in our system." To me, this is a documented safety problem that nearly killed my daughter, and Dodge needs to make it right (our truck fit the recall description). I do not feel safe driving this vehicle. Please investigate and use your authorities to persuade Dodge to do the right thing.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .