2008 Dodge RAM 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 most often describe steering problems: violent shaking over road bumps at highway speed, wandering, stiff or seized steering, and broken tie rods. Front-end and suspension wear, turbocharger/emissions problems on the 6.7L diesel, and airbag inflator recalls also come up repeatedly. Reports appear across a wide mileage range, from nearly new trucks to well over 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering shake and wandering ("death wobble")

   • 60 complaints (19%)
   • median 56,597 mi at 5.3 yrs old (56 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners describe the front end shaking violently after hitting a bump or seam in the road, usually at highway speed, forcing them to slow down or stop to regain control. Many also report the truck wandering or pulling without steering input. Complaints mention repeated replacement of shocks, stabilizer, ball joints, tie rods, track bar bushings and steering boxes, with the shaking often returning; dealers sometimes blamed tires or said they could not reproduce the problem. Reported from as little as a few hundred miles up to about 160,000 miles, most commonly at highway speeds over bumps or uneven pavement.

   Recall 13V529000Recall 13V528000Recall 11V350000Recall 09V0050002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the truck at highway speed over expansion joints and rough pavement, and have the front end inspected for play in the tie rods, ball joints, track bar and steering box. Ask whether the tie rod recalls have been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was going 65 miles per hour on the freeway when my truck violently shake back and forth so hard I had to come to a complete stop to get it to stop. I've had the front suspension replaced 3 times in the past year and still have what they call a death wobble. I have spent so much money on rentals and on shop repairs trying to repair this problem and still cannot go over 40 miles an hour without it violently shaking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11139320, filed 2018-10, 87,000 miles

   “My truck shakes violently when I hit imperfections in the road. It happens 3 or more times a week. I have to stop my truck to get the shaking to cease. I have had it to the dealer more than once for the problem. They could not replicate the problem the first two times. The third time I drove and the service man rode with me. They determined it was the tires that were causing the problem. They said tires were not covered in the warranty. So it looks like I get to fork over a grand for new tires.”

   NHTSA complaint #10293182, filed 2009-11, 10,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Tie rod separation or breakage

   • 66 complaints (21%)
   • median 58,750 mi at 4.6 yrs old (58 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $950 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2018

   Complaints describe a front tie rod fracturing or coming out of its ball joint, which left the steering unresponsive or the wheel hard to turn, sometimes at low speed in parking lots and sometimes at road speed. Several owners say a dealer told them their truck was not covered by the steering-linkage recalls, or that parts for the remedy were on back order, and some paid for repairs themselves. Reported from about 5,000 to roughly 107,000 miles, often when turning or reversing at low speed.

   Recall 13V529000Recall 13V528000Recall 11V350000Recall 09V0050001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the tie rod ends and drag link for looseness or rust and confirm by VIN with a dealer whether the tie rod recalls were performed. Ask for service records of any front-end linkage work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My front left tie rod in my truck broke causing extensive damage. It punctured a tire in the sidewalk which is not repairable , cracked a wheel which they do not make anymore so need to replace 4 to match and bent or broke every single component in the steering linkage setup. I have made numerous attempts for some help and have gotten none. I have sent multiple emails with no replies, tried the chat system on the mopar site and the person (alex av1129 employee number) was of no help either. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10980314, filed 2017-04, 108,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Dodge RAM 2500. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 09v005000 (steering:linkages:tie rod assembly) and immediately called the dealer. He was informed that the part for the remedy was on backorder. The failure has not been remedied properly. The current mileage was 10,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10273314, filed 2009-06, 10,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Diesel turbo sooting and emissions-related drivability

   • 20 complaints (6%)
   • median 13,795 mi at 1.4 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners of 6.7L diesel trucks describe carbon build-up sooting the turbocharger, check-engine lights, sluggish or inhibited acceleration when the emissions system loads up, and exhaust or burning smells in the cab during regeneration. Complaints mention dealers cleaning or replacing the turbo, wrapping exhaust components and reflashing the engine computer, with the problem recurring. Reported from under 5,000 miles up to about 100,000 miles, often in stop-and-go or short-trip use.

   Recall 08V6410003 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a diesel, ask for service records on turbo cleaning, EGR cooler and emissions-related computer updates, and check for stored engine codes. Confirm whether the silencer pad recall (08V641000) was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Multiple times every month obnoxious smell of burning chemicals in cab when dog filter on diesel goes through regen. Chrysler replaced turbo that was sooted shut. Then they wrapped exhaust. Still does it. Makes you sick.”

   NHTSA complaint #10261934, filed 2009-03, 14,590 miles

   “Epa driven DPF filter on cummins diesel 2008 2500 truck is always causing problems with check engine light. Dealers have had to put a port on turbo, clean exhaust, wrap exhaust, and claim that customers are idling too much. Pollution control devices are obviously bad design. They burn extra diesel in exhaust to burn soot and make mileage go down by 10mpg. 2006 to 2008 change lost significant mpg. The 6.7l engine needs addressing with final fixes that won't continue to make customers go to dealer over and over again for repairs.”

   NHTSA complaint #10251717, filed 2008-12, 10,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Stiff or seized steering and steering box failure

   • 23 complaints (7%)
   • median 41,500 mi at 4.1 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2022

   Owners report the steering wheel sticking or seizing at low speed, difficulty turning, and clunking or vibration in the steering column, sometimes with loss of power assist. Complaints describe hydroboost units, pitman arms and steering boxes being replaced, with the steering box failing again after replacement; some mention back-ordered parts. Mostly reported from a few thousand miles up to about 75,000 miles, often at low speed or while turning.

   Recall 09V0050001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while stationary and listen for clunks or binding, and ask whether the steering box, pitman arm or hydroboost unit has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2008 Dodge RAM 2500 mega cab 4x4. I had steering vibration and sticking steering at slow speeds since I drove it off the lot. I had shocks, all steering linkage, stabilizer, bushings, hydroboost unit and pitman arm replaced, due to slow speed sticking and death wobble. My warranty expired at 39,000 miles, so I replaced shocks and stabilizer with bilsteins at my own expense. Vibration and sticking wheel (power steering failure) still occurs. Severe death wobble at 60+ MPH. Nhtsa needs to get involved. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10356688, filed 2010-09, 14,645 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Dodge RAM 2500. The contact stated while driving 4 MPH, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he attempted to steer to the vehicle to the right however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was stopped in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to his residence. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11413495, filed 2021-04, 289,000 miles

Buying note. Inspect the front steering and suspension thoroughly or have a shop do it before buying, and confirm all open recalls were completed by VIN. On diesel trucks, ask for records of turbo, emissions-system and computer work, since those repairs tend to recur.

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.