Skip to content
Body and structurePart report

2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Body and structure Problems

Complaints
11about this part
Share
2%of 554 total for the year
Median mileage
92,556miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the body and structure of the 2008 Dodge RAM 1500, 2% of the 554 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,556 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

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

“Takata recall replacement not available per dealer; I requested passenger side air bag be disconnected and dealer refused; NHTSA should require dealers to disconnect when it is known these bags can kill you until replacements are provided; also I have 3 spots of rust on my hood and one where rusted all the way threw metal”

NHTSA complaint #10927449, filed 2016-11, 111,111 miles

“There is corrosion on the lower doors and over the rear wheels the truck is only eight years old and has been washed regularly but I have noticed this problem with more than just my truck”

NHTSA complaint #10915719, filed 2016-10, 150,000 miles

“Major rusting issue with 2003-2008 Dodge ram trucks. The design of the bed traps water between the truck bed body panels, causing them to rust from the inside out. This is a widely know problem with these trucks. A vehicle that is well maintained should not rust like this. I've been told by every body shop I've gone to visit that Dodge knows about the problem and is doing nothing to fix. Dodge has had issues like this in the past with their 2nd generation trucks. The Dodge ram cracked dash, and bad transmission are just two examples. …”

NHTSA complaint #10521759, filed 2013-06, 74,000 miles

“My 16 year old daughter was driving down a dirt road and a deer ran out in front of her and she swerved to miss it and over corrected and the back end of the truck spun around and flipped the truck side over side and totaled the truck but neither air bag ever deployed.”

NHTSA complaint #10483969, filed 2012-11, 140,000 miles

“In extreme cold weather, the vehicle does not start. When turning the key to the start position, the engine will crank and stop, crank and stop. Even when allowing the key to snap back to the run position, it continues to crank and stop, crank and stop. This condition stops when turning the key to the off position. After 7 or 8 tries, the engine will eventually start and when the vehicle is warm, the condition cannot be duplicated. …”

NHTSA complaint #10257504, filed 2009-02, 11,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Body and structure: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2012243%
2011233%
2010265%
2009416%
2008112%
2007102%
2006172%
2005242%
2004505%
200323720%
200227834%
200154849%
200024848%
199924039%
199810220%
19977019%
19963512%
19953617%
199487%
1993117%

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
Brakes
27 complaints
Other or unknown
27 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
26 complaints
Wheels
19 complaints
Exterior lighting
17 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Dodge RAM 1500

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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