10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 83,507 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. While the vehicle was parked in a residential driveway, the rear differential plug became detached from the vehicle. The failure caused lubricant to spill onto the driveway. The contact experienced difficulty on several occasions when shifting gears from park to drive. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact stated that the differential needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 95,000.
- Phoneix, AZ, USA
While driving at 75 mph, the issue became apparent as entry into a curve began. The steering of the vehicle (2008 Dodge Ram quad cab 1500) became less responsive with a great amount of vibration. As the curve in the road straightened out a loud pop came from driver side front and rear axle areas. Witch also created a large uncontrollable body roll and sway. Howling noise is greatly apparent at higher speeds. With this issue the vehicle feels un-solid and constant body roll feels as if you were traveling on a boat. Many items recalled on other Dodge vehicles during same year, but not on the vehicle in question, have the ability to case the same issues. This could create a tragic and catastrophic loss of life in the vehicle of failed parts or the family next to them on the road. "drive safe, because today could be the day you save your family's life".
- Slaton , TX, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the gear shifter would not properly shift. The contact had to continuously pump the brakes before the shifter would respond. The vehicle was not taken for inspection or diagnosis. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
Pinion nut on rear diff came off causing loss of driveshaft damaging transfer case and gas tank.
- West Wareham, MA, USA
Truck stalls out for no reason. Tends to happen when slowing down and at lower speeds. Loose power steering and control. I have since changed the throttle body. Truck still stalls.
- Watervliet, NY, USA
Started to drive and the rearend locked up luckily no speed this truck was manufactured on March 24th 2008 same time as the 2009 model recall.
- Fife, WA, USA
Major rusting issue with 2003-2008 Dodge Ram trucks. The design of the bed traps water between the truck bed body panels, causing them to rust from the inside out. This is a widely know problem with these trucks. A vehicle that is well maintained should not rust like this. I've been told by every body shop I've gone to visit that Dodge knows about the problem and is doing nothing to fix. Dodge has had issues like this in the past with their 2nd generation trucks. The Dodge Ram cracked dash, and bad transmission are just two examples. Although this is not a safety issue, in some states a vehicle with rust is not allowed on public roads. This forces owners to fix the rust themselves which can range from $500- $3,000.
- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, a popping noise was emitted as the rear wheels seized. The contact noticed that the rear differential became detached from the vehicle and that the bolts were missing. The vehicle was not inspected by the dealer or repaired. The failure was reported to the manufacturer. The failure and current mileage was 120,000.
- Brighton, CO, USA
Driving at a speed of 45 mph the truck--2008 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 hemi-- died. I had no power steering. I was able to shift into neutral and stop. Very thankful I was on a country lane and not on a freeway because there was no warning and I could have been in a horrible accident. The check gauges light icon was flashing as I tried to re-start it. It would crank but not start. After waiting for 15 minutes it did start up again. The engine icon light was showing and it said that an oil change was needed. The oil change wasn't due yet for another 1000 miles, or, two weeks on my three month schedule. I get the oil changed every three months. It tried to stall from then on as I accelerated from a stop, on my way to to the dealer. The diagnostic showed a code for the egr valve, which was replaced. This was fixed four days ago and so far so good, but am very anxious when I drive now, worrying that it might happen again, especially after seeing so many posts online with others experiencing the same problem with their Dodge Ram trucks.this truck has 35,300 miles on it. This truck was serviced six weeks before this incident with: A 16 cylinder hemi tune-up; a throttle body service, fuel induction flush and fuel system treatment; transmission service with filter change; machined front and rear rotors; and tire rotation.
- Richmond, TX, USA
Complete loss of power to vehicle, including powertrain, steering. Power loss occurred previously when driving and hitting a bump (pot hole). Last event happened during normal steering into driveway. Speeds varied during occurrences. Top speed was approximately 55 mph.
- Angleton, TX, USA
We were driving our Dodge Ram 1500 mega cab (51,000 miles) on interstate 25 just South of douglass Wyoming. We were going approximately 77 miles per hour and in an instant I lost all control of the steering and we ended up off the side of the road after a very frightening experience. I bought this truck just over a year ago from a dealer outside denver, co. When the tow driver arrived, he immediately told me that my tie rod probably broke as my right front tire went completely sideways and was now rendered useless. He mentioned that we were very lucky as most times he sees these types of things, the truck rolls over. He also mentioned there was a recall on these tie rods. We had it towed to a dealer in douglass and are waiting to hear what they have to say on Monday. I ran my VIN# on Dodge's web site to see if its a recall, but its telling me that my truck doesn't have any on it. Candidly, after talking to mechanics locally, they said a tie rod should never bust like that and with so little miles on the truck. To say this is dangerous is clearly an understatement. This type of "defect" is going to kill people as it almost did us. I sure hope Dodge does the right thing with our truck. I have had nothing but issues with this truck since the day we took it off the lot. Within a month, the transmission went out and once again, Dodge said it wasn't their fault - 40,000 miles and a transmission goes out? after fighting with them for another month, they did repair and pay for the fix...
- Denver, CO, USA
Driving home from work down the highway I heard a loud whine coming from the rear end of the truck. I pulled over to the shoulder and was slowing down when the rear end locked up causing the truck to buck and skid to a stop. The drive shaft was lying on the ground having disconnected from the rear end. Once the truck was home I discovered nothing had broken. It looked like the pinion nut had loosened allowing the yoke to back off the pinion until they finally disconnected. Luckily for me, I had pulled over to the shoulder, so I was not actually doing highway speed when the drive shaft fell off, but the whine started at highway speeds and if I had not pulled over, or was not able to pull over, it very easily could have happened on the crowded highway during the rush hour with everyone trying to get home. I contacted Chrysler about this incident, but have heard nothing back from them regarding it. There is a NHTSA campaign (# PE12021) regarding this issue in 2009-2010 Ram 1500S. I hope that is expanded to include other years as mine is a 2008 Ram 1500 and had the exact issue as is described in that investigation. I have heard of others (granted from internet message boards, so no way of verifying it) with this problem as well, so this problem is not limited to the 2009-2010 model years.
- Stillwater, OK, USA
The transmission didn't want to shift into gear but did, carried to the local dealership, said the transmission gears are coming apart. Only 52000 miles on this truck can't believe this has happened $3100 to repair.
- Purvis, MS, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram. The contact was traveling 35 mph when the driveshaft detached and caused the rear wheels to seize. The vehicle then spun out of control, almost filliping. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the vehicle was being inspected. The failure mileage and current mileages were 40,000.
- Bonaire, GA, USA
2008 Dodge Ram. Consumer expresses discontent with several problems with vehicle the U-joint, tie rod, steering linkage and axle all had to be replaced. The consumer stated most recently, the check engine light illuminated.
- Ellsworth, ME, USA
Consumer stated 2008 Dodge Ram accelerated after removing foot from pedal. The consumer stated as she accelerated to pass a truck, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The RPM's reached 5000. She tried to place the vehicle in neutral, press the brake, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. Eventually, the vehicle started to slow down enough with her foot still on the brake. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, however they were unable to find a problem. The dealer stated they had never heard of an electronic control light, even though the light was on when the consumer arrived at the dealer. The shifting was erratic when first shifting out of park into reverse.
- Jupiter, FL, USA
2008 Dodge Ram 1500, the tipm module has burned up once already and after being replaced twice now we are smelling a burning smell again, when this happens the vehicle will not shift into or out of 4X4 (depending on what it is in when it occurs) it also causes loss of engine power, the windshield wipers quit, the air bag warning light goes on, the headlights dim way down, all the lights on the dash start flickering and all warning lights light up. This is very dangerous if this happens while driving down the highway at night and it is snowing or raining (which happens alot here in Washington in the winter) the "fixes" the dealerships have done (two different places) have never lasted a day, we just got the vehicle back from repairs and we are again smelling a burning smell nd it is doing it all over again.
- Colville, WA, USA
2008 Dodge Ram 1500, the tipm module has burned up once already and after being replaced twice now we are smelling a burning smell again, when this happens the vehicle will not shift into or out of 4X4 (depending on what it is in when it occurs) it also causes loss of engine power, the windshield wipers quit, the air bag warning light goes on, the headlights dim way down, all the lights on the dash start flickering and all warning lights light up. This is very dangerous if this happens while driving down the highway at night and it is snowing or raining (which happens alot here in Washington in the winter) the "fixes" the dealerships have done (two different places) have never lasted a day, we just got the vehicle back from repairs and we are again smelling a burning smell nd it is doing it all over again.
- Colville, WA, USA
While driving with truck in 4 wheel auto I heard a pop and had some warning lights on dash flash on and off. Also had a burnt wire smell. Truck continued to run but after it was shut down it would not start nor would it come out of 4 wheel auto. This happened on 23 Dec 2008. As the truck was repaired and troubleshooting was completed it was determined that the electronic portion of the 4 wheel drive had burnt out the "integrated power distribution module" under the hood. I was also told by the Dodge repair facility that Nissan and Chevrolet were also experiencing the same problems. My truck was finally repaired and returned to me on the 29th Jan 2009.
- Grand Forks Afb, ND, USA
- Desoto , KS, USA