2008 Dodge RAM 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
554 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 380 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 164 of 554 complaints (29.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 109 | 19.7% |
| Braking behavior | 63 | 11.4% |
| Engine operation | 34 | 6.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 31 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 164 |
| Steering | 96 |
| Power Train | 63 |
| Electrical System | 51 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 50 |
| Suspension | 38 |
| Engine | 35 |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
Air Bags: 164; Steering: 96; Power Train: 63; Electrical System: 51; Fuel/Propulsion System: 50; Suspension: 38; Engine: 35; Unknown Or Other: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 77 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 65 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 80 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 53 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 75 |
| 150,000 and above | 30 |
Under 25,000: 77; 25,000 to 49,999: 65; 50,000 to 74,999: 80; 75,000 to 99,999: 53; 100,000 to 149,999: 75; 150,000 and above: 30
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (80). 174 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2014 | 48 |
| 2015 | 128 |
| 2016 | 98 |
| 2017 | 49 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 21 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2008: 16; 2009: 28; 2010: 23; 2011: 36; 2012: 22; 2013: 22; 2014: 48; 2015: 128; 2016: 98; 2017: 49; 2018: 27; 2019: 21; 2020: 14; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 6; 2024: 4; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 109 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 63 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 34 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10227614 · 2008-05-13 (May 13, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THEIR LOT THAT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THEREFORE, THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER HAVING A CONFERENCE CALL WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE HIM …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249717 · 2008-11-24 (November 24, 2008)
MY AIR BAGS DO NOT WORK, I HAD IT CHECKED AT AGENCY AND THEY SAID IT'S A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS NOW AND EVERY TIME I CALL THE AGENCY THEY SAY IT'S BACK ORDERED. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226787 · 2008-05-06 (May 6, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE 1500. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND THEN DECELERATED BACK TO NORMAL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HOOK A BOAT UP TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WERE NOT HOLDING; THEREFORE, HE RAMMED THE SHIFTER INTO PARK TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK UNDER CONTROL. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON EACH OCCASION. THE DEALER STATED THEY W…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,112 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239193 · 2008-08-21 (August 21, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP TIRES, SIZE P235/65R17. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HANDLING POORLY DURING ALL TYPES OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE TIRES JUST SKIDDED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED SOME NECK BRUISING AND PAIN. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE TIRES ARE TO BLAME FOR THE CRASH, NOT THE BRAKES. …
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478878 · 2012-10-06 (October 6, 2012)
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO VEHICLE, INCLUDING POWERTRAIN, STEERING. POWER LOSS OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY WHEN DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP (POT HOLE). LAST EVENT HAPPENED DURING NORMAL STEERING INTO DRIVEWAY. SPEEDS VARIED DURING OCCURRENCES. TOP SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504904 · 2013-03-28 (March 28, 2013)
DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH THE TRUCK--2008 DODGE RAM 1500 5.7 HEMI-- DIED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP. VERY THANKFUL I WAS ON A COUNTRY LANE AND NOT ON A FREEWAY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT ICON WAS FLASHING AS I TRIED TO RE-START IT. IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. AFTER WAITING FOR 15 MINUTES IT DID START UP AGAIN. THE ENGINE ICON LIGHT WAS SHOWING AND IT SAID THAT AN OIL CHANGE WAS NEEDED. THE OIL CHANGE WASN'T DUE YET FOR ANOTHER 10…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375077 · 2011-01-07 (January 7, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ADDING GASOLINE TO THE FUEL TANK SHE NOTICED THAT FUEL SPILLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THAT THE GASOLINE PUMP FAILED; THEREFORE, SHE ONLY FILLED THE GAS TANK TO HALF. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE GASOLINE TANK WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10384706 · 2011-02-28 (February 28, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THEY ADDED FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF STOPPED CAUSING GASOLINE TO SPILL OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 3/22/11 *CN UPDATED 03/31/11
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10384706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234707 · 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)
VEHICLE AFTER 1000 MILES BEGAN TO HESITATE IN SHIFTING FROM LOW TO HIGH, (5 SPEED TRANSMISSION). HAS GOTTEN WORSE WITH ADDITIONAL MILES, ALSO, ENGINE WILL REVIVE UP TO 3500 RPMS WITHOUT FOOT ON GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS. DODGE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT SOLUTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252249 · 2008-12-18 (December 18, 2008)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SWITCHED INTO 4WD AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLES LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER- THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF 4WD AND WOULDN'T RE-ENGAGE. THERE WAS AN APPARENT SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM- THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHERS WOULDN'T FUNCTION AFTERWARD EITHER. THE DEALER FIXED THE ISSUE BUT THE VERY DAY I GOT IT BACK THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I AM TOLD IT IS A TECHNICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND CHRYSLER IS SEARCHING FOR A FIX BUT THAT I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO TURN THE SWITCH BACK TO THE 4WD POSITION OR I'LL SHORT…
Owner-reported narrative. 980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409382 · 2011-06-29 (June 29, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS DECLARED TO BE THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO GET APPROVAL FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS STILL WAITING ON THE APPROVAL TO PROCEED WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 09/…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409382 at NHTSA ↗