Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Dodge Ram, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering6
- Power train4
- Engine3
- Electrical system3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Tires2
- Structure2
- Suspension1
- Equipment1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 208 2008 Ram vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 95 people died inside them, and 46 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Dodge Ram failed the safety check 1.83% of the time — 26% less often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 150,703 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
12 Transport Canada recalls for the 2008 Dodge Ram.
| 2016265 27 May 2016 | Airbag On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propella… |
| 2015228 27 May 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inf… |
| 2013396 7 Nov 2013 | Steering Certain Ram 4500 and 5500 four wheel drive vehicles may experience a fracture of the ball stud on the left outer tie rod assembly, potentially resulting in a lo… |
| 2013395 7 Nov 2013 | Steering A safety defect may exist in aftermarket steering linkage equipment sold as service replacement parts for 2500 and 3500 4x4 pickup trucks. If the drag link ass… |
| 2013397 7 Nov 2013 | Steering On certain 2008-2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 4x4, Ram 3500 cab chassis, and 2008 Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 vehicles, the left outer tie rod ball stud could fracture, pote… |
| 2011253 14 Jul 2011 | Steering On certain 2008-2011 Ram 2500 and 3500 4x4, Ram 3500 cab chassis 4x2 and 4x4, and 2008 Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 vehicles, the left outer tie rod ball stud could fr… |
| 2010465 24 Dec 2010 | Steering Certain Ram 4500 and 5500 vehicles may experience a weakening and fracture of the ball stud on the left outer tie rod assembly. A loss of steering control coul… |
| 2009081 11 Mar 2009 | Electrical Certain aftermarket replacement windshield wiper motor assemblies, sold during the '08 and '09 calendar year for use as service equipment on 2002-2009 Dodge Ram… |
| 2009080 11 Mar 2009 | Electrical On certain 2008 Dodge Ram light duty and 2008-2009 heavy duty pickup trucks, the windshield wiper motor may be susceptible to water intrusion that could result … |
| 2009019 21 Jan 2009 | Steering Defective aftermarket steering drag links many have been sold as service replacement parts for 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. The drag link assemblies in questio… |
| 2009010 12 Jan 2009 | Steering On certain 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, the drag link inner tie rod attachment to the pitman arm ball stud may fracture. A loss of steering control could resul… |
| 2008446 16 Dec 2008 | Other On certain Ram 2500/3500 pickup trucks equipped with a 6.7L diesel engine, a silencer pad may sag and contact the exhaust gas recirculation cooler, which could … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 2008 Dodge Ram: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10033546 | DODGE: ELECTRONIC FUEL CONTROL ACTUATOR (FCA) AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE/NEW DIAGNOSTICS AVAILABLE FOR DTC P0251. ENGINE SURGES AT IDLE OR MIL ILLUMINATION. FURTHER INVESTIGATION MAY IDENTIFY DTC P0251-CP3 PUMP REGULATOR CONTROL-DIESEL. IF P0251 IS PRESENT, FOLLOW THE DIAGNOSTICS IN THIS SB. IF OTHER DTC'S ARE PRESENT, REPAIR AS NECESSARY BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER. MODEL RAM TRUCK. *PE |
| 10031004 | DODGE: REVISED DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR DTC P2262-TURBOCHARGER BOOST PRESSURE NOT DETECTED-MECHANICAL. RECENT PCM CALIBRATION UPDATES HAVE IMPROVED THE ROBUSTNESS TO THIS DTC THROUGH UPDATED DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES. *PE |
| 10028388 | CHRYSLER:DODGE: APPROXIMATELY 2969 VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, MAY HAVE BEEN SHIPPED WITH A GEARSHIFT CABLE THAT MAY SLIP OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AND NOT ALLOW LOW GEAR SELECTION. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Outer Tie Rod Failure
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation