RoadVitals

2008 Dodge 1500 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Mar 16, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 553 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Mar 16, 2017
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IN ADDITION, THE MIDDLE SEATBELT HAD MOLD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OVERHEAD PASSENGER'S HANDLE ON THE VEHICLE THAT ASSISTED ENTERING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE, FRACTURED AND STRUCK THE CONTACT'S WIFE IN THE HEAD. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA ID
10966283
Incident
Mar 16, 2014
Mileage
141,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Nov 22, 2016

TAKATA RECALL REPLACEMENT NOT AVAILABLE PER DEALER; I REQUESTED PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BE DISCONNECTED AND DEALER REFUSED; NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE DEALERS TO DISCONNECT WHEN IT IS KNOWN THESE BAGS CAN KILL YOU UNTIL REPLACEMENTS ARE PROVIDED; ALSO I HAVE 3 SPOTS OF RUST ON MY HOOD AND ONE WHERE RUSTED ALL THE WAY THREW METAL

NHTSA ID
10927449
Incident
Nov 1, 2016
Mileage
111,111 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 13, 2016

THERE IS CORROSION ON THE LOWER DOORS AND OVER THE REAR WHEELS THE TRUCK IS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN WASHED REGULARLY BUT I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WITH MORE THAN JUST MY TRUCK

NHTSA ID
10915719
Incident
Oct 10, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lightingSteering
Filed Jul 18, 2016

TRUCKS ALL OVER ROAD WHEN HITTING ROUGH PATCH. THE BED IS RUSTING BAD NO EXCUSE

NHTSA ID
10885591
Incident
Mar 11, 2012
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Feb 5, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SMOKE WAS VISIBLE FROM THE FLOOR AND VENTS. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS VISIBLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AREA. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED AND A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ID
10681434
Incident
Jan 29, 2015
Mileage
158,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 25, 2013

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10521759
Incident
Jun 24, 2013
Mileage
74,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Nov 11, 2012
Crash reported

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN A DIRT ROAD AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF HER AND SHE SWERVED TO MISS IT AND OVER CORRECTED AND THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK SPUN AROUND AND FLIPPED THE TRUCK SIDE OVER SIDE AND TOTALED THE TRUCK BUT NEITHER AIR BAG EVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10483969
Incident
Nov 10, 2012
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed May 8, 2012
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SLIDING WINDOW WAS ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS INFESTED WITH MOLD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUFFERED SEVERAL HEALTH ISSUES AS A RESULT OF THE EXPOSURE TO THE MOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW AND THE INTERIOR MATERIAL NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000. UPDATED 06/21/12*LJ THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/22/12

NHTSA ID
10457785
Incident
Dec 9, 2011
Mileage
69,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Feb 4, 2009

IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION, THE ENGINE WILL CRANK AND STOP, CRANK AND STOP. EVEN WHEN ALLOWING THE KEY TO SNAP BACK TO THE RUN POSITION, IT CONTINUES TO CRANK AND STOP, CRANK AND STOP. THIS CONDITION STOPS WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. AFTER 7 OR 8 TRIES, THE ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY START AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARM, THE CONDITION CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. ONE NOTE, AFTER THE CRANKING AND STOPPING, IF I TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND BACK TO THE RUN POSITION, I HEAR CLICKING COMING FROM THE DASH EVEN BEFORE TRYING TO START IT AGAIN. ANOTHER ISSUE IS WIND NOISE. UNDER WINDY CONDITIONS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS, I CAN HEAR WIND ESCAPING PAST THE WEATHERSTRIP IN BOTH FRONT DOORS. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION. AS FOR THE COLD STARTING CONDITION, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10257504
Incident
Jan 3, 2009
Mileage
11,000 mi
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Sep 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE BRAKED SLOWLY. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SWAYS TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS SHORTER THAN THE LEFT. AFTERWARDS, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON MORE THAN THREE OCCASIONS. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE THIRD TIME, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND THE ALIGNMENT WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MUST CONSTANTLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THEM TO WORK AND THE ALIGNMENT IS STILL OFF. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36.

NHTSA ID
10241443
Incident
Feb 28, 2008
Mileage
36 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jul 2, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT FOUND SEVERAL DEFECTS WITH HER VEHICLE, SUCH AS SCRATCHES IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR, A PLUGGED TIRE, A HOLE DRILLED IN THE PASSENGER DOOR, THE HOOD IS OFF CENTER, THE FRAME AND INSULATION CAN BE SEEN FROM THE REAR WINDOW, AND THE MOLDING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS MISSING. SHE STATED THAT ALL THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED, EXCEPT THE DRILL HOLE AND THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT SHE WILL HAVE MAJOR MECHANICAL FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE AFTER A YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,025 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71.

NHTSA ID
10233009
Incident
Jun 10, 2008
Mileage
71 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .