What's Wrong with the 4th Generation Ram 1500?

Front 3/4 view of a Dodge Ram 1500

The 4th generation Ram 1500 runs from 2009 to 2011. Owners have made 627 complaints about those model years. Most of the complaints are about electrical problems.

Considering those complaints, along with other data – such as average repair costs, age of the vehicle, and recall frequency – we've assigned this generation a PainRank™ score of 59.14.

It ranks 53rd out of 54 eligible generations in overall reliability.

The Worst 2009-2011 Ram 1500 Problems

TRW Crash Sensor Defect

Updated on

There's growing concern that some sort of electrical overstress is messing with airbag control units (ACU) in certain Dodge Ram trucks.

Read More

Stuck in Park

Updated on

Can't shift the car into reverse or drive! Now what? This is most commonly reported from Dodge Avenger owners, but there have also been similar complaints about other Dodge makes as well as other Chrysler and Jeep vehicles having a similar …

Read More

Ram Death Wobble

Updated on

Dodge Ram trucks are susceptible to a horrible front end vibration known as the death wobble, but what is it and how to FIX it?…

Read More

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

Worst Topics

Worst Years

By the Numbers

  1. 3 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 627 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 53rd in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 54 eligible generations.