Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Ram 3500 problems

Owners filed 3 complaints about the 2009 Ram 3500 with NHTSA between Sep 2017 and Jun 2019. The most-cited component is power train (1).

Complaints
3
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train1
  2. Service brakes1
  3. Steering1
  4. Suspension1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20172
20180
20191

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED FROM SIXTH TO FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR AS THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO FARM PRICE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (354 UT-55, PRICE, UT 84501, (435) 637-3360) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER (FLETCHER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, 3099 N MORTON ST, FRANKLIN, IN 46131, (317) 738-4170) WHERE A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS PRESENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOWNSHIFTING WAS NORMAL WHEN TRAVELING DOWN A HILL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2019Power trainODI 11219681

Service brakes

1 report
“BREAKS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. EMERGENCY STOP LUCKY NOT MANY CARS ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME. THE HYDRO BREAK BOOSTER WENT OUT. THIS WAS RECALLED ON TRUCKS MANUFACTURED EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND WAS NOT RECALLED FOR THE PRODUCTION DATE OF MY TRUCK. NEARLY CRASHED AT HIGHWAY SPENDS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2017Service brakesODI 11043241

Steering

1 report
“IT HAS A DEATH WOBBLE SO BAD MY WIFE JUST ABOUT LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AS WE WHERE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES A HOUR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2017Steering, SuspensionODI 11024039

Suspension

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.