Dodge Ram Complaints (2009)

1,009 consumer complaints on file.

#10454728April 10, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE ABS LIGHT, LIMITED SLIP LIGHT, ESP LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL CAME ON. I WENT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE COMPUTER SCANNED FOR THE CODE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTICS FEE. I LOOKED UP AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM DUE TO BAD SOFTWARE LOADED INTO 125,000+ VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. IN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, I HAVE SPOKEN TO 4 OTHER 2009 RAM 1500 OWNERS WHO HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN BY DODGE TO HAVE AN ABS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY ADMIT THEY NEED TO FIX IT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454109April 2, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 RAM AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT LIT UP, INDICATING A PROBLEM. BEFORE I HAD TIME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (KEEP IN MIND I WAS ONLY MOVING AT 35MPH), THE LEFT REAR TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FLAT TIRE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS MISSING. AFTER TAKING THE TIRE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WE LEARNED THAT THE ALUMINUM NUT ON THE VALVE STEM APPARENTLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE VALVE STEM TO FALL INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, THUS ALLOWING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT, VIRTUALLY INSTANTLY. WHILE PURCHASING A REPLACEMENT TPS (TIRE PRESSURE SENSING) VALVE AT NAPA, I WAS TOLD BY THE EMPLOYEES THERE, THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS DESIGN, CAUSED BY THE CORROSION OF THE NUT DUE TO THE SALT USED ON HIGHWAYS HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THIS EVENT, I HAD THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE REMAINING 3 VALVE STEMS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY FAIL ALSO. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY FOUND ONLY ONE ADDITIONAL VALVE THAT APPEARED TO HAVE A "CRACKED" NUT. THEY REPLACED ONLY THAT VALVE. (BY THE WAY.. THE NEW VALVE DESIGN IS ALL RUBBER. NO MORE ALUM NUT). I ROTATED THE TIRES TO PLACE THE POTENTIAL "TIME BOMB" VALVES ON THE REAR, IN ORDER TO PREVENT A LOSS OF STEERING WHEN THESE VALVES FAIL, AND THEY WILL. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. I ONLY HOPE THE TIRES DON'T GO FLAT WHILE I'M TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH. AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE METAL VALVES. I'M GOING TO CONTACT CHRYSLER (DODGE) TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453476March 29, 2012
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVE SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE OTHER REPAIRS PERFORMED TO THE VEHICLE BUT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,585. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453252March 27, 2012
WHEELS, TIRES
ALUMINUM VALVE STEM/TPMS SENSORS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS CORRODED AND FAILED AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING TWO FLAT FRONT TIRES AND LOSS OF STEERING. PROCEEDED TO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE ALL (4) VALVE STEMS AND (2) FRONT TIRES REPLACED. REPAIR PERSONNEL INFORMED US THAT THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC. ACCORDING TO THEM, IN 2010, MANUFACTURERS BECAME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND BEGAN USING RUBBER VALVE STEM/TPMS SENSORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450443March 6, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449706February 29, 2012
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HEAT WOULD NOT BLOW FROM THE VENTS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V158000 (EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446968February 7, 2012
STEERING
DRIVERS SIDE (SHORT) TIE ROD END FRACTURED WHILE PLOWING 1" SNOW IN PARKING LOT. GOING STRAIGHT FORWARD, HEARD A CLUNK, THEN LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND STOPPED WITH PLOW IN SNOW PILE. IN HINDSIGHT, THIS IS A VERY SCARY FAILURE AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE A BETTER OUTCOME. DEALER FIXED AS A WARRANTY CLAIM AND CLAIMS THAT THE TRUCK IS NOT PART OF YOUR INVESTIGATION/RECALL FOR A VERY SIMILAR FAILURE, MAKING ME WONDER IF THERE IS A BROADER PROBLEM HERE. I TRIED TO GET THE BROKEN PART, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE, BUT EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT REPAIR THAT COST ME TIME, MONEY AND EFFORT TO HAND SHOVEL. PLUS MY WIFE'S TIME OFF WORK. BEST WISHES, HOPE THIS HELPS MAKE A SAFER VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445824January 30, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING AND CAVING IN. LARGE AND SMALL PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DASH AREA. SOON AFTER, I NOTICED THAT SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE TRIED USING MY HIGH BEAMS, AND WILL LOSE MY HEADLAMPS, AND THE HIGH BEAMS DON'T COME ON EITHER. DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE RELATED BUT RECENTLY HAVE HEARD AND READ OF SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR DODGE RAMS THAT HAVE BROKEN DASHBOARDS. SOME HAVE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASH TOO. I ALSO NOW HAVE SIGNIFICANT WIND WHISTLE COMING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD UNLESS I LEAVE A WINDOW CRACKED OR VENT OPEN WHEN TRAVELLING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SUSPECT IT IS FROM LOSS OF STRUCTURAL RIGIDITY DUE TO COLLAPSED DASH. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445208January 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I STARTED HEARING A WHINING/GRINDING NOISE FROM UNDER THE TRUCK IT CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 2 MILES GROWING LOUDER AND LOUDER. I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG WITH THE TRUCK SO I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED INTO THE TURNING LANE, JUST AS I DID THE REAR END LOCKED UP AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG, I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK A FOUND THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD FALLEN OFF ONTO THE GROUND. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE HAD THIS HAD HAPPENED AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I DRIVE MY 3 YEAR DAUGHTER AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE AND NOW WORRY ABOUT HERS AND MY SAFETY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE PINION GEAR FAILED THROUGHOUT THE RING GEAR CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY AXLE AND DRIVE SHAFT. THE REAR AXLE AND DRIVE SHAFT WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. THE WORK IS COVERED UNDER MY LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440296December 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING, THEN THE BLINKERS AND THE HIGH AND LOW ON THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437497November 28, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OUTER TIE ROD END WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V350000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY) BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437552November 28, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATE 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWELVE TIMES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WOULD RESET THE EMISSION SENOR EACH TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CONSISTENT DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435216November 10, 2011
SUSPENSION, STEERING
FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS A BUMP ENTERING AN OVERPASS. THE TRUCK WENT INTO A VIOLENT SHAKING AND BOUNCING AND WENT OFF THE ROAD ON RIGHT SHOULDER. I HAD TO HAVE IT NEARLY STOPPED FOR THE UNDAMPED SHAKING TO STOP. ON NOV 7, 2011 I WAS DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY SMOOTH PIECE OF HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK "EXPLODED" INTO A VIOLENT BOUNCING AND SHAKING. THE TRUCK WAS BOUNCING UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I FINALLY LOCKED THE BRAKES AND SKIDDED OFF THE SHOULDER AND INTO A BANK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF ANY VEHICLES HAD BE IN THE ADJACENT LANE, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434412November 6, 2011
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN MY MILE LONG LANE THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD END FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I COULD ONLY STEER THE RIGHT SIDE, (PASSENGER) WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE SLOWLY TO THE END OF THE LANE, REVERSE MY DIRECTION, AND RETURN MY TRUCK TO MY SHOP FOR REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433931November 2, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXTREME WIND NOISE AROUND THE PASSENGE SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT FOAM BLOCKS WOULD HAVE TO BE INSERTED IN THE PASSENGER DOOR TO REDUCE THE WIND NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426613September 21, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DECREASING SPEED AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD FRACTURED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,220. I DID NOTIFIED DODGE AND SENT THEM THE BILLING ON THE REPAIR. THE TOTAL COST OF $455.39. UPDATED 10/18/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426273September 19, 2011
STEERING, SUSPENSION
WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH AND HIT A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO WRECK. THE TIE ROD HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THIS INITIAL INCIDENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU ARE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. WE THEN REPLACED THE STABILIZER SHOCK AND THOUGHT WE FIXED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO HAVE IT DO IT AGAIN. WE THEN WENT TO BIG O TIRES AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT REPLACING THE SHOCKS. WE TOOK THE MANAGER OUT TO SHOW HIM WHAT IT DOES AND ONCE AGAIN, WHEN WE GOT UP TO ABOUT 75 MPH IT HIT A HOLE IN THE ROAD AND BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, ALMOST CAUSING US TO GO OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! THE MANAGER FROM BIG O WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM BUT DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN 2500 AND 3500 DODGE TRUCKS BETWEEN 2006 - 2010. THE ARTICLE SAID THE PROBLEM IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. IN THE MEAN TIME, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CRASH AND/OR BE KILLED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS "BEING INVESTIGATED"?? WE PAID A GOOD PRICE FOR OUR TRUCK AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE IT AS IT WAS INTENDED. AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BECAUSE WE DON'T TRUST IT. WE CALLED OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALER, DALE WHITE MOTORS, AND VOICED OUR CONCERNS AND THEY SEEMED LIKE THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425587September 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, EXHAUST FUMES BEGAN TO EMIT THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED DEALERS, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND EGR GASKET, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425415September 14, 2011
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,613.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424295September 8, 2011
SUSPENSION, STEERING
AFTER BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, AT AN APPROX. SPEED OF 1 MPH, I TURNED THE WHEELS TO THE LEFT TO RUN AN ERRAND, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD END BROKE. THE DRAG LINK DROPPED AND THE WHEEL COCKED TO THE FULL LEFT. AT THIS POINT I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAUSED ANY OTHER DAMAGE. I SPOKE WITH THE NEAREST DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. UNFORTUNATELY I NEED THIS VEHICLE AND HAD TO ORDER A NEW TIE ROD END AT A COST OF $116.00. BEARING ANY OTHER DAMAGE, I WILL ALSO HAVE TO GET AN ALIGNMENT, AT AN UNKNOWN COST AT THIS TIME. THANK GOD THAT I HAD NOT BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS PART DECIDED TO FAIL, BECAUSE I AM SURE THE OUTCOME WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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