2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report steering problems, especially a violent front-end shake after hitting a bump and broken or loose tie rods, along with incomplete or unavailable air bag recall repairs. Engine stalling and fuel spit-back during refueling also come up repeatedly, often at higher mileages.

1. 1
   Steering

   Front-end shimmy or "death wobble" and tie rod failures

   • 91 complaints (16%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (83 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2025

   Complaints describe a violent shaking of the front end and steering wheel after hitting a bump or at highway speed, sometimes severe enough that the truck changes lanes and the driver must slow to regain control. Several owners report the left or outer tie rod breaking or being found loose, and some say the dealer told them their truck was not covered by the tie rod recalls even though the symptom matched. Others describe steering box replacement, play in the wheel, and vibration that returned after repair. Reported from very low mileage up to well over 100,000 miles, most often at highway speeds or over bumps.

   Recall 13V529000Recall 13V528000Recall 11V3500003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the tie rod ends and steering linkage for play or cracks, and road-test at highway speed over uneven pavement. Ask whether the truck has had the tie rod recalls performed and whether the steering damper bolt was checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The entire front end of my truck has been going out. Tie rods, sway bar end links, cv axles, upper and lower ball joints. My back glass isn't sealed properly and pours water in the cab when it rains drenching my passengers or whatever I am carrying in the backseat, the water pools up under the seats and I routinely have to mask the smell from it”

   NHTSA complaint #11307943, filed 2020-02, 140,000 miles

   “No accident yet but forseen. The u-joint part of intermediate steering shaft is about to come apart. The truck has 110k mi. And if this comes apart I will lose all steering capability also have 2 ofplay in steering wheel causing difficulity in steering and weaving I believe this part should have much longer life than this and some sort of secondary mechanism to hold this together because if it comes apart while driving it will be a disaster.ive never seen anything like this in any other vehicle”

   NHTSA complaint #11318842, filed 2020-03, 110,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rear axle pinion failure and drive shaft separation

   • 47 complaints (8%)
   • median 103,005 mi at 7.5 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2026

   Complaints describe a loud bang, rear wheels locking, or the drive shaft dropping after the pinion nut loosened or the pinion bearing failed. Some owners report the rear end locking up at speed and losing control, and others say the rear differential was rebuilt more than once. Several owners note the pinion nut was diagnosed as the cause by a dealer or independent mechanic. Mostly reported between roughly 80,000 and 180,000 miles, often while driving at road or highway speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the rear differential fluid has been serviced and check for whine, clunk or metal on the drain plug magnet; have the pinion nut and drive shaft inspected before a long trip.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and I started to hear a loud noise and the truck didn't feel right. So I took it to have it checked out and they told me that my rear end was messed up. I had to replace the pinion bearings, rear wheel seals and all the bearings in the rear end. Then after all that was finally fixed I was on my way to work and I start to hear the same noise again so yet again I took it to have it checked out and yet agian they tell me that the rear end is messed up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10845665, filed 2016-03, 168,000 miles

   “Driving straight in town at 30 MPH when rear-end locked up. With no warning, no sounds, no grinding, squealing, or shimmying, the truck skidded about 20 yds before the driveshaft literally ripped in half, with both halves shooting out from under the truck in different directions. Pinion bearing already had been replaced about a year prior after feeling some grinding and hearing sounds, but has run smooth as butter since. I had my last oil change and inspection at take ten about a month ago. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10897184, filed 2016-08, 110,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Stalling after refueling or at speed

   • 85 complaints (15%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (77 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2025

   Owners report the engine shutting off shortly after filling the tank, sometimes at low speed and sometimes on the highway, with loss of power steering and brakes. Others describe the truck cutting out at random while driving, with no warning light, and shops unable to find a stored code. Some complaints also mention fuel gushing or spitting back from the filler neck during refueling. Reported from about 50,000 miles upward, frequently right after a fill-up or while driving at steady speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank fill tube has been replaced under the refueling bulletin, and test-drive right after a fill-up; check for any stored or pending codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving the truck gives no warning everything just shuts off and I loose all power. I can't steer the car or break very easy. This has happened to me now twice. It is very scary and my dealer who sold me the truck brand new said he has heard of this with the model I bought.”

   NHTSA complaint #10340497, filed 2010-06, 35,000 miles

   “Driving in heavy traffic the engine stopped. I coasted to the roadside and restarted after sitting about 15 minutes. This has happened about 5 times since then. I took it to an auto mechanic who could find nothing after 1 hour of road testing and truck engine computer readouts.”

   NHTSA complaint #10637706, filed 2014-09, 38,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag inflator recall, non-deployment and incomplete

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Many complaints concern the Takata driver and passenger inflator recalls, including long waits for parts and repairs owners describe as incomplete. Some owners report that air bags did not deploy in a front-end crash, and others say the dealer told them the recall work was finished when parts still appeared exposed. Spread across the mileage range, including crashes at moderate speeds and recall visits well past 100,000 miles.

   Recall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 15V313000 · DO NOT DRIVE

   What to check: Check the VIN with a dealer for open air bag recalls and confirm the inflator work was actually completed; ask for the repair order.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was getting off work and going about 25 MPH on the street when I was involved in a head on collision, I had seen the light change when I pushed on the brake pedal, I heard a crunching noise and no brakes. All I could do was hold on to the steering wheel. The seat belt did not lock up and the air bags did not deploy, with me ending up hitting the steering. Wheel.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353229, filed 2020-09, 147,000 miles

   “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Dodge RAM 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags) and was waiting for months to receive the part from the dealer. While driving various speeds, the driver side tie rod fractured and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was also experiencing a failure in which the front glass had poor visibility. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 13v529000 (steering), 13v528000 (steering), 11v350000 (steering), and 07e104000 (visibility). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10812034, filed 2015-12, 96,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Turn signals working in the wrong direction

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the opposite turn signal lighting up when the lever is moved, for example the right signal flashing when the left is selected. Owners report it happens repeatedly while driving and in most cases the truck was not taken in for diagnosis or repair. Reported from about 22,000 miles to over 100,000 miles, at normal driving speeds.

   What to check: Test both turn signals and the hazard lights before buying, and note whether the dash indicators match the selected direction.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2008 Dodge RAM 1500. While driving 35 MPH, the contact turned on the left signal; however, the right signal came on instead. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired when the complaint was filed. The contact wanted NHTSA to intervene as a third party mechanic. The VIN was unavailable. The current and failure mileages were approximately 22,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10328252, filed 2010-04, 22,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Dodge RAM 1500. The contact stated that when the left turn signal was engaged, the right turn signal would illuminate erroneously. The same failure would occur when the right turn signal was engaged and the left turn signal light would illuminate. The contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The failure mileage was 67,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10435035, filed 2011-11, 67,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic inspect the steering linkage, tie rods and rear axle before purchase, and confirm the air bag and tie rod recalls were completed for that VIN. A road test over rough pavement at highway speed and a check of the fuel filler area after refueling are worth the time on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.