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2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 173 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500, most often about the steering (54% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles). It is 8th of 13 Ram 3500 model years by number of complaints and has 9 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 problems
Steering
94 complaints · 54%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, rack and pinion.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving, the vehicle would shake uncontrollably. The dealer made an attempt to repair the failure but the defect was not repaired. The manufacturer made the contact aware of the NHTSA campaign id number: 10e013000 (steering:gear box:shaft pitman) recall…
Was driving home going around a left curve when the passenger side tie rod broke at the stud. Had to get vehicle towed to Dodge dealer where I was informed it was my fault the tie rod broke on the truck due to my vehicle upkeep(3 yr old tie rods don't just break) I told them fine fix my tie rod and anything else they…
Engine
24 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
Driving on interstate in the middle of nowhere when truck began to surge. System information stated catalyst at 70% with in 5minutes catalyst at 100%. Went to Dodge dealer who was not a authorized service rep. They could not replace filter so they cleared the code and set the DPF to regenerate. This cost $80.00. Went…
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle shook violently and the exhaust system failure warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the center console monitor combustion able and need to be serviced warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not…
Suspension
22 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Turning steering. Right outer tierod joint failure. Joint ball came out of it's socket causing steering linkage to fall down on right side and jam against tire locking wheel also. Replace right outer tierod and align front end.
While driving down the road whether it is on the highway running 65-75 or on a side road running 45-60 if you hit a bump, come off a bridge, or drive over anything that is not smooth road the vehicle will go into an uncontrollable wobble/shake. In order to regain control of the truck you have to slow down slowly and…
Air bags
18 complaints · 10%Tl contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the track bar failed in the steering column. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into two trees. The vehicle was completely destroyed and none of the air bags deployed. He is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. A…
A car turned into our path which made the front end of that car hit the front end of our truck on the driver side of the front end. Causing the frame to bend in two places, bending the steering wheel. Seat belts were on. The air bags never came out. Bought this truck new. Fan blade and front had to be replaced front…
Electrical
18 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 140,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument panel.
Owner of 2008 Dodge 3500 dually was driving down road when fuse box caught fire. Windshield wipers started continuously squirting and smoke came out from underneath hood. Going 75mph with horsetrailer in tow, vehicle without warning, shut off leaving owner without power, lights, steering or brakes while windshield…
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. When the ignition key was turned to the on position, the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The contact mentioned that the failure only occurred in cold temperatures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The…
Transmission
10 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 53,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, driveline.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that there was an abnormal vibration in the clutch. The failure was recurring. The contact also stated that when shifting gears, it would feel as if the entire transmission had shifted. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic, where the contact was advised…
One of my tie rod ends just disintegrated while I was underway on smooth surface, resulting in loss of steering. I could have rolled the vehicle. This is the second tie rod end to go on this vehicle in less than 25k miles. The universal joint was making noises. The consumer requested the dealer replace it. Updated…
Wheels and tires
9 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: rim.
Tread separation on general ameritrac dot p5ab 7u9b. Tire indicates manufacture in mexico with an assembly year of 2007. The tire provided as OEM equipment on the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. Tire was found still inflated to proper pressure after incident. Catastrophic separation caused approximately $2800 of damage to the…
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 equipped with capitol h/t (na) tires, size: lt235/80r17 (na). The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact could feel a vibration in the front driver side tire. The contact inspected the vehicle and stated that the front driver side tire blew out. The…
Lights
5 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles.
After my son purchased his 08 mega cab 4x4 , his signal lights started crossing, in other words when you turn on left it signaled right and wipers don,t function exactly right when changing lanes traffic thought we were going right and they went left on the interstate and we almost collided both going to the left
I purchased headlights from carid for my 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 in december 2019. The headlights have shadows causing dark spots and a hazard. In the interim, I purchased LED bulbs from the same company to rectify the problem, but the LED bulbs will go dark periodically. Carid will not exchange the headlights for another…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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 replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the chrysler, dodge, jeep and ram owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on march 27, 2017. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is s43. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v-7700.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 ram 2500 trucks produced at the st. Louis north assembly plant. With this change, chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 ram 1500, 2005-2009 ram 2500, 2006-2009 ram 3500, 2007-2010 ram 3500 cab chassis, 2008-2010 ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis, 2004-2009 dodge durango, 2007-2009 chrysler aspen, 2007-2012 jeep wrangler, 2008-2012 dodge challenger, 2005-2008 dodge magnum, 2005-2012 chrysler 300, 2006-2012 dodge charger, 2005-2011 dodge dakota, and 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 ram 1500, 2005-2009 ram 2500, 2006-2009 r
Air bags: inflator module
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 occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected chrysler and dodge owners and mitsubishi will notify the affected raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for chrylser on june 8, 2015. The recall for mitsubishi started on june 24, 2015. Chrysler and dodge owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is r25. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v817 in its entirety.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 dodge ram 2500, 2004-2008 dodge ram 1500 and durango, 2006-2009 dodge ram 3500, 2008-2010 dodge ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 chrysler aspen, 2005-2010 chrysler 300, 300c, 300s, and srt8, 2006-2010 dodge charger, 2005-2008 magnum, 2005-2011 dodge dakota, and 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Steering: tie rod assembly
Risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler notified owners on january 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about february 27, 2014, chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about april 14, 2014. In july 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new dodge, je
Full defect summary
Chrysler group llc (chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 ram 2500 4x4 and 3500 4x4 trucks, 2008-2012 dodge ram 3500 4x2 cab chassis, and model year 2008 dodge ram 1500 mega cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Steering: tie rod assembly
Risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler notified owners and launched its recall campaign in january 2014. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is n62.
Full defect summary
Chrysler group llc (chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 dodge ram 2500 4x4 and 3500 4x4, model year 2007-2008 dodge ram 3500 4x2 cab chassis and model year 2006-2008 dodge ram 1500 mega cab 4x4 trucks manufactured february 12, 2002, through february 13, 2008. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Steering: tie rod assembly
Risk: This condition could result in the potential loss of directional stability in the left hand front wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tie rod ends for relative orientation and replace the left outer tie rod as required and perform a front end toe alignment as needed. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 3, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 dodge ram 2500/3500 4x4, manufactured from february 14, 2008, through march 28, 2011; model year 2008-2011 dodge ram 3500 cab chassis 4x2, manufactured from february 14, 2008, through march 28, 2011; and model year 2008 dodge ram 1500 mega cab 4x4, manufactured from february 14, 2008, through august 15, 2008, because the left tie rod ball stud may fracture. This condition tends to occur during low speed parking lot type maneuvers when the customer is making a tight turn. Additionally, model year 2003-2008 dodge ram 2500/3500 vehicles may have received the affected tie rod assembly as a replacement part during normal service.
Equipment: air conditioner
Risk: This defect could result in a fire.
Fix: E-n-g mobile system will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired by carrier free of charge. Please see carrier's defect report 09e-053. The safety recall is expected to begin during december 2009. Owners may contact carrier at 1-877-584-7059 or e-n-g mobile system at 1-925-798-4060.
Full defect summary
E-n-g mobile system is recalling certain model year 2008 chevrolet w5500, model year 2007-2009 dodge 3500, model year 2009 mighty mover, model year 2006-2009 ford e-250, e-350 and e-450, model year 2008-2009 gmc w4500, model year 2007 international 4300, model year 2009 toyota land cruiser vehicles equipped with carrier airv ceiling units, model nos. 68rv0010ba, 68rv0012ca, and 68rv0010ea. The heater element in these assemblies may be defective which could cause the unit to create smoke or sparks.
Steering: tie rod assembly
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering linkage drag link inner tie rod end assembly, and inspect the steering linkage damper bracket free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before february 16, 2009. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Chrysler is recalling 32,782 my 2008-2009 dodge ram 2500, 3500 and 3500 cab chassis pickup trucks equipped with powers and sons steering linkage. The steering linkage drag link inner tie rod to pitman arm ball stud may fracture. Also the steering linkage damper attaching the bracket may yield and shift on the linkage.
Engine: diesel
Risk: This could result in an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will add a bracket to support the engine compartment silencer pad adjacent to the EGR cooler. The recall is expected to begin during december 2008. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Chrysler is recalling 108,429 my 2007-2008 dodge ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with 6.7l diesel engines. A silencer pad can sag and contact the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler.
Equipment: trailer hitches
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.
Fix: Knapheide will offer two remedies to its customers: (1) for those customers who do not use the hitch, the hitch will be removed from the truck bed and replaced with an icc bumper; or (2) for those customers who need a hitch, a receiver hitch assembly will be added to the existing hitch assembly and all suspect weld joints will be re welded. The recall began on august 15, 2008. Owners may contact knapheide at 1-877-473-5763.
Full defect summary
Knapheide is recalling 108 my 2006-2008 pro series truck beds equipped with an icc bumper which included a provision for a ball hitch. There may be an insufficient weld attaching the hitch channel to the supporting structure.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Chrysler's execution of 13v-528 & 529
Summary
Rmd opened this audit query (aq) investigation in order to better understand and evaluate chrysler's process(es) for timely and efficient execution of its safety recall campaigns, including its oversight and management of its parts division mopar.prior to opening this investigation, rmd had raised concerns with the company related to its execution of two safety recalls, 13v-528 and 13v-529, both of which involved safety defects that could cause the involved vehicles, fca?s heavier dodge ram trucks, to lose steering control suddenly and without warning.specifically, rmd inquired about the availability of parts for recall repairs, by email and phone on january 15, 2014 and february 19, 2014, d
Outer tie rod failure
Summary
Odi received complaints regarding failing tie rod ball studs on model year 2008-2011 dodge ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles resulting in loss of steering control.chrysler concluded that misalignment of the left (driver side) ball stud on vehicles built with the cross car steering linkage system could allow contact between the bull stud and the ball housing which could weaken the stud and result in fracture.chrysler submitted a recall notice on august 15, 2011 involving certain my 2003-2011 ram 2500 and ram 3500 pickup trucks built or repaired with the cross car steering linkage.chrysler will inspect, repair or realign the front end of the subject vehicles as needed.chrysler's announcement of a saf
Questions about the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (94 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); engine (24 complaints, typically around 36,000 miles); suspension (22 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 24, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Dodge Ram 3500?
- It is 8th of 13 Ram 3500 model years by number of complaints, with 173 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.