DODGE RAM · model year

2008 DODGE RAM

33 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008DODGERAM carries 33 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 RAM is steering with 3 filings, followed by steering:linkages (3) and engine (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2008 RAM, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

33
Complaints
7
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

33 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING3
STEERING:LINKAGES3
ENGINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
POWER TRAIN2
TIRES:VALVE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
STRUCTURE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)1
AIR BAGS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL1

Recalls (4)

10V65700024/12/2010

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 4500 AND 5500 VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A WEAKENING AND FRACTURE OF THE LEFT BALL STUD ON THE TIE ROD RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING.

09V08400013/03/2009

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 65,896 MY 2008-2009 LIGHT AND HEAVY DUTY DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.

09E00900013/03/2009

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 1,364 WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULES, P/N 55077098AJ, SOLD DURING THE 2008 AND 2009 CALENDAR YEAR FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MY 2002-2009 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS. THESE WIPER MODULE ASSEMBLIES MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD RESULT IN PARTIAL OR

09E00100013/01/2009

STEERING:LINKAGES

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 18,000 AFTERMARKET STEERING LINKAGES USED FOR SERVICE ON SOME MY 2003 THROUGH 2008 DODGE RAM HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE SUBJECT LINKAGES MAY EXPERIENCE DRAG LINK INNER TIE ROD TO PITMAN ARM BALL STUD FRACTURE, ALSO, THE STEERING LINKAGE DAMPER ATTACHING BRACKET MAY YEILD AN

Recent Complaints

20230215CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that he heard an abnormal noise in the front driver’s side wheel. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wheel bearing failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30-35 MPH making a left turn, the front driver’s side wheel detached from the wheel bearing. As a result, the vehicle started to spark and dragged into the concrete of the street. No injuries were sustained. No medical assistance was required. The contact was unsure if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the driver’s side brake line and wheel bearing failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not i

Mileage: 186,000

20220819STEERING

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V529000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

20220815ENGINE

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated the engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who stated the sensor needed to be replaced as well as the harness. The vehicle had not been repaired due to the parts being on back order. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000

Mileage: 70,000

20220531POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

The contact owns a 2008 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, a loud booming noise suddenly occurred from the rear of the vehicle and the rear wheels locked up. The vehicle was towed to the residence and inspected by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear differential was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

Mileage: 86,000

20210713STRUCTURE:BODY

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that the rocker panels, subframe, truck bed, and oil pan were severely rusted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.

Mileage: 116,000

20210713ENGINE

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that the rocker panels, subframe, truck bed, and oil pan were severely rusted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.

Mileage: 116,000

20120612ENGINE

2 THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. AT A NORMAL IDLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE HAS SURGES (A QUICK HIGH REV) THEN ONCE THE REV STOPS THE TRUCK ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL. IN ANOTHER CASE, WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT THE TRUCK HAS A ROUGH IDLE THAT CAUSES THE TRUCK TO SHAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER FOR FEAR THAT IT WOULD COST ALOT OF MONEY TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

20120412TIRES:VALVE

2008 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TIRE ISSUES ON VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CONTINUOUSLY HAD TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRES OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS. A FEW DAYS AGO, HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND ONE OF THE TIRES WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT TIRE, BUT WITH THE VALVE STEM. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THE CONSUMER TWO OTHER VALVE STEMS ON THE VEHICLE WERE BAD AS WELL AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

20111101STEERING

TOOK MY 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 4WD IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT OUTER TIE RODS WERE SEVERELY WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS AT 35,500 MILES, TRUCK IS ONLY USED ON ROAD AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD. SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON EARLY WEAROUT ITEM ON THESE TRUCKS. WHY? *TR

Mileage: 35,500

20111006VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

2008 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPAIRS FOR A DEFECTIVE WINDOW LEAKING IN THE BACK BUCKET SEAT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INSTALLED AND SEALED CORRECTLY.

20110915SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

AT 39,000 MILES RIGHT ROTOR BECAME WARPED BEHIND TURNING HAD TO REPLACE. A FRIEND HAD SAME THEN HAPPEN ON SAME KIND OF VEHICLE. DEALER CLAIMS MAINTENANCE ITEM. NEVER HAD TO HAVE ROTOR REPLACED ON NEW VEHICLE BEFORE. BRAKE PADS WE FINE. VEHICLE ABOUT 4OMPH WOULD PULSATE WHILE BRAKING AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. *KB

20110915SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

AT 39,000 MILES RIGHT ROTOR BECAME WARPED BEHIND TURNING HAD TO REPLACE. A FRIEND HAD SAME THEN HAPPEN ON SAME KIND OF VEHICLE. DEALER CLAIMS MAINTENANCE ITEM. NEVER HAD TO HAVE ROTOR REPLACED ON NEW VEHICLE BEFORE. BRAKE PADS WE FINE. VEHICLE ABOUT 4OMPH WOULD PULSATE WHILE BRAKING AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. *KB

20110907POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, ALMOST FILLIPING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

20110829EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE TO THE AIR CONDITION BURST CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO MALFUNCTION AND FREON TO LEAK ON THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ORDERED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED SINCE THE AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DURING THE HOT WEATHER . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Mileage: 82,000

20110602EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TRYING TO SIGNAL A TURN LEFT AND THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL COMES. ALSO WHEN ITS RAINING OUTSIDE MY WIPERS ONLY RUN AT INTERMITTENT SPEED AND IF I SIGNAL RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE WIPERS ARE RUNNING THE WIPERS WILL STOP UNTIL SIGNAL HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN RAINING OUT ARE WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND TRYING TO CHANGE LANES AND I CAN NOT CHANGE CAUSE THE SIGNAL SAYS IM GOING RIGHT AND IM REALLY TRYING TO GO LEFT. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE I CAN NOT BELIE IT HASN'T BEEN ALREADY. *TR

Mileage: 33,459

20110509TIRES:VALVE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S VALVE STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE VALVE STEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,242.

Mileage: 16,242

20101121ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER PANEL THE WARNING LIGHTS BLEED THROUGH WHEN THERE IS NOTHING TO WARNED ABOUT. *TR

20100804ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

2008 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE U-JOINT, TIE ROD, STEERING LINKAGE AND AXLE ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED MOST RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

20100804POWER TRAIN

2008 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE U-JOINT, TIE ROD, STEERING LINKAGE AND AXLE ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED MOST RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

20100804STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

2008 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE U-JOINT, TIE ROD, STEERING LINKAGE AND AXLE ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED MOST RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

Compare 2008DODGERAM to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 DODGE RAM have?
The 2008 DODGE RAM has 33 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 DODGE RAM?
Yes, the 2008 DODGE RAM has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 DODGE RAM?
The most-complained component for the 2008 DODGE RAM is STEERING with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:LINKAGES and ENGINE.
Is the 2008 DODGE RAM safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.