BrakesPart report

2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Brakes Problems

Complaints: 27about this part
Share: 5%of 554 total for the year
Median mileage: 44,000miles
Trend: FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 27 complaints about the brakes of the 2008 Dodge RAM 1500, 5% of the 554 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,000 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“On 1/19/17 I made a 7 mile round trip drive, returned to our house and parked on the street. About 10 minutes later after making my lunch I opened facebook to see a notification that a truck was on fire on my street. I walked out my front door to see what was going on only to find the leander fire department putting out the fire involving my Dodge ram. The assistant fire chief believes it started by the master cylinder.”

NHTSA complaint #10947321, filed 2017-01, 180,000 miles

“Break caliper left front locked up rotor became red hot steering started shaking now I'm afraid to use vehicle with my children inside due to breaks and air bags issues my 2008 ram has less than 35,000 miles will chrysler buy it back I hope.”

NHTSA complaint #10745688, filed 2015-08, 20,000 miles

“The brakes on our 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 failed on 2/5/2016. As I was in motion headed straight when the truck's brakes failed and I hit the vehicle in front of me. I was traveling straight on a city street about 20-30 MPH when I lost the use of the brakes. The truck kept traveling forward about 50 yards after I hit the other vehicle and I wasn't sure how I was going to stop the moving truck when I remembered to use the emergency brake. The vehicle stopped after that in the center turn lane and I remained there until the police arrived. …”

NHTSA complaint #10824724, filed 2016-02, 80,000 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10504904, filed 2013-03, 35,300 miles

Brakes: other model years

Year	Complaints	Share of year
2012	51	7%
2011	26	4%
2010	16	3%
2009	34	5%
2008	27	5%
2007	21	4%
2006	39	5%
2005	40	3%
2004	53	5%
2003	73	6%
2002	36	4%
2001	59	5%
2000	31	6%
1999	56	9%
1998	64	12%
1997	53	15%
1996	46	15%
1995	27	13%
1994	11	9%
1993	3	50%

Other parts of the 2008 Dodge RAM 1500

Air bags
165 complaints Steering
103 complaints Transmission and drivetrain
73 complaints Fuel system
64 complaints Electrical system
52 complaints Suspension
49 complaints Engine
35 complaints Other or unknown
27 complaints Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
26 complaints Wheels
19 complaints Exterior lighting
17 complaints Vehicle speed control
13 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Dodge RAM 1500

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology