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2008 Dodge RAM 2500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 317 owner complaints about the 2008 Dodge RAM 2500, most often about the steering. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 13V-528 the manufacturer reports only 32% of affected cars repaired.

2008 Dodge RAM 2500
47
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.1× the RAM 2500 median · #8 of 21 years by complaints
Safety recalls7Lowest repair rate 32%Owner complaints31727 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage60kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 11, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Dodge RAM 2500 has problems

317 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering1757
Suspension481
Air bags303
Engine and engine cooling232
Power train205
Engine164
Electrical system164
Visibility/wiper90
Vehicle speed control91
14 other systems431

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

7 recalls

2008 Dodge RAM 2500 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

34%repaired · 2018 Q3

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 16V-352 · May 24, 2016 · 4,648,270 vehicles · 1,599,545 repaired

Risk. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

41%repaired · 2017 Q3

Driver side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 15V-313 · May 26, 2015 · 4,077,169 vehicles · 1,644,105 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

32%repaired · 2015 Q1

Linkages: tie rod assembly

Recall 13V-528 · Nov 6, 2013 · 706,664 vehicles · 224,931 repaired

Risk. A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

58%repaired · 2015 Q1

Linkages: tie rod assembly

Recall 13V-529 · Nov 6, 2013 · 271,733 vehicles · 153,429 repaired

Risk. A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 3 more recalls
–no report yet

Linkages: tie rod assembly

Recall 11V-350 · Jul 6, 2011 · 242,780 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Linkages: tie rod assembly

Recall 09V-005 · Jan 9, 2009 · 32,782 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE RESTRICTED ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN ONE DIRECTION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.

Mileage at failure

When do steering problems start?

60kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 114 steering complaints. 79% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
18under 30k miles90under 100k miles24100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other RAM 2500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RAM 2500 median. How we score

'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2008 Dodge RAM 2500 safety ratings

2008 Dodge Ram 2500 4-DR. Mega Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Dodge RAM 2500, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529AQ14003 · closed May 16, 2016
    No recall
  2. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
  3. Outer Tie Rod FailurePE11009 · closed Feb 6, 2012
    Led to recall 11V-350
In owners' words

What RAM 2500 owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

While driving the vehicle suddenly lost engine power and turned off. When this happened the steering column locked. It did not just loose power steering. The column itself entirely locked up. At this point the vehicle had no steering and limited breaking and went off the road. Thankfully it just…
Complaint 11446616 · Jan 7, 2022
TL* 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…
Complaint 11413495 · Apr 23, 2021 · 289,000 miles
DEATH WOBBLES: I HAVE REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WITH PROBLEM SOLVERS. REPLACED THE TIE RODS AND ENDS. REPLACED THE STABILIZER SHOCK, REPLACED THE TRACK BAR RUBBER BUSHINGS, REPLACED THE OTTER UNIVERSAL JOINTS ON THE AAM 9.50 14 BOLT ELECTRIC HUBS. NEW SHOCKS ALL AROUND. DROVE TO SALT…
Complaint 11222935 · Jun 27, 2019 · 163,000 miles

Own a 2008 RAM 2500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.