2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Linkages › Tie rod assembly
  10

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1416%
• 25k–50k
  1720%
• 50k–75k
  2529%
• 75k–100k
  1416%
• 100k–150k
  1214%
• 150k+
  45%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle was severely shaking and vibrating. The contact replaced the struts and tie rods; however, the failure persisted. The contact also stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel felt extremely loose, and the vehicle was pulling to one side. The contact also experienced the "Death Wobble" on several occasions while driving. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 222,700.

We purchased this vehichle and the steering wheel has a slit through it like its been deployed i would like to make sure it is safe also the side passenger seat the front seems like something is pocking you through the seat like it is not supposed to be there also the whole steering system seems off and not safe . I would like it to be noted and a recall should be made before injury to anyone.

My wife and 2 kids (4yr and 6yr) were driving over railroad tracks at about 25 miles per hour when suddenly the car turned off. Power steering and brakes were suddenly no longer available and my wife steered in the middle of an intersection before she came to a halt. Luckily nothing happened. She switched the transmission into p, the car started flawlessly and she parked it to call her mom to pick her up. I then got to the car and wondering what might have happened. Reading about ignition locks causing this symptom, I lightly tugged on the ignition key while idling. The car turned off easily. Knowing my wife puts whichever car key she needs on her key chain, I suspected that this May have been the problem. I tried it out and -sure enough- repeated the event. She normally drives her 2013 Jeep wrangler which has the identical type of ignition switch. …

Dodge Ram 2008 quad cab 1500 series. At the time I called into Dodge I had roughly 60 thousand miles on my truck. I contacted Dodge in 2014 and they told me although that was the model and series that was part of a recall that my particular VIN was not eligible for a recall . The problems I had endured were swaying of the truck almost to the extent where the tire felt like it was wobbling and the truck shaking when I excellerated over 50 mphs . It was at that time when I took a road trip for memorial day weekend 2014 when this started getting progressively worse and I pretty much had to drive 40 miles an hour the i75 freeway because the car felt like it was going to flip over when I was excellerating. It was right there after that I contacted Dodge to make a complaint and they told me although I had the year and make of the Ram but my particular VIN was not eligible for any recall. …

I just purchased this vehicle and within a week the key wouldn't go into the ignition and once in wouldn't come back out. The vehicle shuts off randomly locking the power steering and brakes. My right turn signal now doesn't go off and when I try to put it off my self the left turn signal activates! This went on back and forth a good eight times before both shut off. My front headlights (mostly right but cannot really see the left while driving) the lights shakes and bounces when I go over anything uneven. Upon coming to a sudden stop the truck pulled hard to the right causing me to swerve into the grass. This vehicle just doesn't drive right. The whole front end seems loose. I cannot drive over 50 or the rear end comes off the ground when I brake to make my turn. I'm taking it to the dealer this evening. My dealer 30 day warranty expires tomorrow. …

Steering became very loose and uneven tire wear at 35,900. The truck felt like the front end was going to fall off and was wandering and bouncing. I took the truck into the dealer (royal Dodge owego, ny) for evaluation in the summer of 2011 and was told the left tie rod end was defective and the truck was out of warranty. I obtained a quote of approximately $200 to replace the left front tie rod end and do an alignment. I ended up replacing the tie rod end myself ($50) and having the truck lined up ($80) at moore's tire sales in owego, ny. Upon evaluation of the defective tie rod, I noticed there wasn't any grease from the factory on the tie rod ball once I cut the boot open. I also ended up having to replace the tires due to the uneven tire wear. I am aware of the recalls on this truck but I have the extended cab version and the recall is only for the mega cab version???? …

While driving on the parkway I suddenly lost control of the steering. Thankfully I was able to safely maneuver the truck to the side of the road, with the help of a good samaritan and my evasive maneuver course required by my job, before anything tragic happened. I had the truck towed to the dealer where they confirmed my suspicion of a broken tie rod, specifically the left tie rod which has been recalled on every 2008 Ram except my 1500. I find this very suspect that all the other rams have been recalled and fixed except my model, yet I had to pay for the repair. I am grateful that I did not get hurt, or cause an accident and injure anyone else, however this issue needs to be looked in further by the government. All of these trucks are unsafe to drive until they are fixed. According to my normal mechanic, this can happen at anytime due to the defective tie rod. …

When operating the vehicle whether under a load or not, using sustained higher RPM's the steering wheel will freeze up and there is absolutely no steering available. This has happened in the mud pulling a trailer, in snow navigating a little hill and now on the interstate entrance ramp! Twice just changing lanes going around 30 MPH! The two little times I knew to lower the RPM's very quickly and observed a loud pop noise when the steering wheel let loose. On the entrance ramp to the interstate I came so close to a concrete wall before the steering came back. I took it in to the dealership and they kept it for 3 days. All they said was unable to duplicate. I duplicated it the very next week. Along with cold weather stalling at red lights. I do not think they looked at it or took it seriously. …

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V313000 (air bags) and was waiting for months to receive the part from the dealer. While driving various speeds, the driver side tie rod fractured and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was also experiencing a failure in which the front glass had poor visibility. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 13V529000 (steering), 13V528000 (steering), 11V350000 (steering), and 07e104000 (visibility). The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 2/4/16 updated 03/18/16

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. While moving the vehicle from the driveway and attempting to make a turn, a loud crunch sound was heard from the front end of the vehicle and the steering seized. The contact could not turn the steering wheel and the inner tie rod pulled out of the outer tie rod without warning. The contact called burnworth-zollars Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at [phone] (located at 2450 n main st, nappanee, in 46550) and was informed that they were aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Steering complaints in other Ram 1500 years