Most common 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 problems
Share of the 317 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram 2500 complaints by model year
Best Ram 2500 years: 2002, 2000, 1998. Years to avoid: 2006, 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
2008 Dodge Ram 2500 recalls (7)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
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.
Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary.
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
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…
Remedy: 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.
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Show 1 more recall
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500:
Outer Tie Rod Failure
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…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529
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…
What 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 owners say
Steering all 175 →
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 went into a ditch and no damage was done. The vehicle turned right back on. The next day I recreated the problem on some friends property. I gave the keys in the ignition a small tug and the engine would stop and the steering column would lock. The ignition never rotated out of the on position and the key remained in the ignition. I recreated this probably 5 times and it did the same thing every time. I then brought it to the dealer but they didn't have the parts to repair it so I didn't have them look at it. …
The right (passenger) lower control arm ball joint failed while traveling approximately 30 miles per hour. The failure was a separation of the ball and bolt from the cup that is pressed into the cup. Total control of the truck was lost and a minor accident occurred when the truck ended up on a median with the left (driver's) tire on the median and the other tires on the road. The median is approximately 16 inches above the road bed. The ball joint is part of the steering mechanism. The steering arm ended up pushing the right tire out at 45 degree angle outside or to the right. The left front tire was at a 45 degree angle to the left. The vehicle was on a city street nearing an intersection to a 55 mile an hour highway that the vehicle was about to turn left on. …
Suspension all 48 →
I own a 2005 and a 2008 Dodge diesel 4x4,automatic trans. I've had to replace both stabilizer bars and links as well as all the other bars running across the front of the trucks. I've already replaced the linkage and steering box on the 08 due to loss of steering involving an accident. I now have the steering gear and linkage going out on the 05. The dealership says there's no recall on my problems. Funny how its happening w.both trucks. The 05 had about 50,000 when the problems stared occurring and the 08 started at approx. 2,000 mi, my shop had told me my wheel bearings were already getting worn and needed replacing soon in the 08, and its still new!! The tranny has been rebuilt in the 05 at 50,000. The 08 has been in the shop at least 5 times already and now has 14,000 on it. …
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. This is dangerous to my family it could kill somebody and I think Dodge should be responsible for taking action on repairing this or figure out the problem . I have called Dodge and they have told me it is not a recall so they cannot help me out. I had bought brand new tires a brand new drive line along with replacing the front suspension 3 times now and I still cannot drive my truck without it causing violent shaking. …
Engine & cooling all 38 →
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving various speeds, he started to smell exhaust fumes inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, a strong burning odor of coolant emitted inside the vehicle. The temperature gauge increased rapidly as the engine overheated. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where coolant was dispensed into the reservoir. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where the head gasket was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,577. Updated 02/10/16
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 a good car?
Based on 317 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Ram 2500 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ram 2500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500?
The steering — 175 complaints, 55% of all complaints for this model year, most often about linkages › tie rod assembly. Next are the suspension (48) and engine & cooling (38).
How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500, the most recent from May 24, 2016 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram 2500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2000 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2003 and 2004. See the full Dodge Ram 2500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 42% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.