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2008 Dodge RAM 3500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 173 owner complaints about the 2008 Dodge RAM 3500, most often about the steering. It is covered by 9 safety recalls, and for recall 13V-528 the manufacturer reports only 32% of affected cars repaired.

2008 Dodge RAM 3500
43
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.3× the RAM 3500 median · #8 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls9Lowest repair rate 32%Owner complaints17327 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage65kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 17, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Dodge RAM 3500 has problems

173 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
Steering946
Suspension221
Air bags184
Electrical system1810
Engine and engine cooling133
Engine114
Power train101
Tires60
Exterior lighting51
12 other systems213

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

9 recalls

2008 Dodge RAM 3500 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 5 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 →

–no report yet

Trailer hitches

Recall 08V-344 · Jul 28, 2008 · 108 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN BENDING OF THE HITCH CHANNEL OR THE HITCH COULD BE PULLED OFF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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?

65kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 53 steering complaints. 75% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
9under 30k miles40under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other RAM 3500 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 3500 median. How we score

'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
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Dodge RAM 3500, 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 3500 owners report

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

.The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse in the driveway, the steering wheel made an abnormal cracking sound and became significantly loosened. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the tie rod had fractured. The…
Complaint 11596367 · Jun 25, 2024 · 162,020 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DEATH WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING AND THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING…
Complaint 11187468 · Mar 18, 2019 · 160,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESUMED DRIVING TO HIS RESIDENCE. IN ADDITION, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP, THE FRONT END SHOOK…
Complaint 11076672 · Mar 7, 2018 · 122,000 miles

Own a 2008 RAM 3500?

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