2008 Dodge RAM 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
317 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 226 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 161 of 317 complaints (50.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 143 | 45.1% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 1.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 0.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 161 |
| Suspension | 37 |
| Air Bags | 29 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 16 |
| Suspension:Front | 10 |
Steering: 161; Suspension: 37; Air Bags: 29; Electrical System: 16; Engine: 16; Power Train: 16; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 16; Suspension:Front: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 39 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 56 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 43 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 56; 50,000 to 74,999: 43; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 25
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (56). 91 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 | 6 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2011 | 41 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 76 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 6; 2009: 25; 2010: 26; 2011: 41; 2012: 17; 2013: 13; 2014: 76; 2015: 44; 2016: 22; 2017: 20; 2018: 11; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 143 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 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 10221614 · 2008-03-18 (March 18, 2008)
VEHICLE 2003, DODGE RAM 2500, DIESEL, 4X4, 54,000 MILES STEERING BOX MALFUNCTION. DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL STABILITY. REPLACED STEERING BOX. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 54,343 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247919 · 2008-11-07 (November 7, 2008)
I OWN AN 08 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH APPROX 970 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER HITTING A SERIES OF ROAD BUMPS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY VIBRATE AND WOBBLE. I COULD BARELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE DUE TO A NEAR LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. AFTER COMPLETELY STOPPING THE VEHICLE, I RESUMED SPEED AND THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY. WHEN I GOT HOME I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ON MY VEHICLE SYMPTOMS AND FOUND THAT "DODGE DEATH WOBBLE" YIELDED OVER 35K HITS. THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH LARGE RAM TRUCKS THAT, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH IS NOT B…
Owner-reported narrative. 965 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291073 · 2009-11-05 (November 5, 2009)
WHEN THE TRUCK IS STARTED AND PUT INTO GEAR, THE TRUCK WILL ROLL ABOUT 10 FEET AND THEN TAKE OFF. THE DRIVER HAS TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO GET IT TO STOP. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND TENDS TO OCCUR AFTER IT SETS FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS. IT ONLY HAPPENS DURING THE FIRST 3 -5 MINUTES AFTER STARTUP. IF DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF PROBLEM IT COULD EASILY LEAD TO DAMAGE TO OTHERS AS IT REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP.*TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291077 · 2009-11-05 (November 5, 2009)
WENT TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOPLIGHT AND WHEN I ACCELERATED TO 1500 RPM THE EXHAUST BRAKE ENGAGED AND PREVENTED ME FROM INCREASING SPEED. I HAD TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND GENTLY ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO GET THE TRUCK MOVING. ONCE GOING, ANYTIME I TRIED TO INCREASE SPEED, THE EXHAUST BRAKE WOULD ENGAGE AND SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN RESTART. THIS SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.. IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE BUT IT WAS AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334270 · 2010-06-02 (June 2, 2010)
ON A 2008, 2500 RAM DIESEL WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, FAILED TO ENGAGE IN GEAR WHILE TOWING. FIRST TIME (JUNE 2008) THE TRANSMISSION FAILED THE VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 10,000 MILES AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO LOWER GEARS. I TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. TRUCK IS NOW AT DEALER WITH OVER 17000 MILES AND THEY SAY IT NOW NEEDS A NEW CLUTCH. YESTERDAY WHILE TOWING VEHICLE FAILED TO DOWNSHIFT AND EVERY STOP THE TRUCK HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN TO ENGAGE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE ALSO LAUNCHES FORWARD WHILE THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED AFTER I GET IT IN G…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359126 · 2010-10-04 (October 4, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT HAD NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,346.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,346 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328333 · 2010-05-01 (May 1, 2010)
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER NUMEROUS TIMES. CREATES A HAZARDOUS SAFETY SITUATION WHEN IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE INTO/WITH TRAFFIC. FIVE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE MARCH, 2009. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390545 · 2011-03-17 (March 17, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 2500 MEGA CAB. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CNUPDATED UPDATED 04/27/11
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809199 · 2015-12-09 (December 9, 2015)
THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER BLOWER IN MY TRUCK HAS BEEN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, BUT GETTING WORSE TO THE POINT THAT IT RARELY WORKS NOW. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT THE SYSTEM HAPPENED TO WORK THAT DAY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. HOWEVER, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WHICH ACTUALLY MELTS FROM THE HEAT CAUSED BY IMPROPER WIRE GAUGE/DESIGN. THIS INFORMATION CAN BE READILY FOUND ON DODGE TRUCK FORUM…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11000094 · 2017-06-19 (June 19, 2017)
ELECTRICAL FIRE IN DASH. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND SMELT SOMETHING BURNING. AS HE WENT TO PULL OVER FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING OUT THE VENTS. TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS PER INSURANCE.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10881571 · 2016-06-29 (June 29, 2016)
THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AT A GAS STATION. TANK IS LOW AND WHILE FILLING IT UP THE HOSE NOZZLE CLICKS OFF AND GAS SPEWS FROM AROUND NOZZLE WITH MUCH FORCE. I HAVE TRIED THIS AT SEVERAL STATIONS WITH THE SAME RESULT. I FOUND A WARRANTY EXTENSION THROUGH CHRYSLER THE NUMBER IS X49 EXTENDED WARRANTY- FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE 2007 - 2008 RAM 1500, BUT THEY SAY IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE AS VIN IS NOT COVERED. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL DESCRIPTIONS AND COMPLAINTS FROM PUBLIC ABOUT GAS SPILLING ON VEHICLES AND ONTO CUSTOMERS SO IT IS A KNOWN P…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,318 miles reported. Look up ODI 10881571 at NHTSA ↗