Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. 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. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
The ESP/BAS warning lights came on. I had the truck diagnosed and the Automatic Braking System has failed. Chrysler/Fiat has discontinued the parts necessary to repair the vehicle and they don't appear to be available in the US anymore. If it cannot be repaired, this poses a dire crash/accident risk to me and my family. I can't imagine a manufacturer not providing parts for such a significant safety risk. Thanks for your time.
On interstate whole hub assembly with tier flew off and it’s been very hard I just payed for car I worked for and lost it please help
The brake pedal goes to floor spongy break pedal
I WAS GETTING OFF WORK AND GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ON THE STREET WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, I HAD SEEN THE LIGHT CHANGE WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HEARD A CRUNCHING NOISE AND NO BRAKES. ALL I COULD DO WAS HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WITH ME ENDING UP HITTING THE STEERING. WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE IG BURTON DODGE DEALER LOCATED AT 19 S. DUPONT BLVD, SMYRNA, DE 19977, WHERE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ROTORS, BRAKE CALPERS AND HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,601.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND POLICE REPORT NUMBER: SP19360029 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP AND DECLARED TOTALED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,573.*DT*JB
MY REAR RIGHT BRAKES HAVE FALLEN OFF TWICE .
ON 1/19/17 I MADE A 7 MILE ROUND TRIP DRIVE, RETURNED TO OUR HOUSE AND PARKED ON THE STREET. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AFTER MAKING MY LUNCH I OPENED FACEBOOK TO SEE A NOTIFICATION THAT A TRUCK WAS ON FIRE ON MY STREET. I WALKED OUT MY FRONT DOOR TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON ONLY TO FIND THE LEANDER FIRE DEPARTMENT PUTTING OUT THE FIRE INVOLVING MY DODGE RAM. THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF BELIEVES IT STARTED BY THE MASTER CYLINDER. *TR
IN APRIL 2016 WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK STARTED TO VIBRATE BADLY IN THE REAR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. AS I SLOWED DOWN TO PULL OVER, THE TRUCK STARTED TO JERK LIKE I WAS PUMPING THE BRAKES. AS IT STOPPED, YOU COULD HEAR A TIRE SKIDDING. NOT STEADY, BUT LIKE I WAS TRYING TO BREAK HARD.I DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS SMOKING AND EXTREMELY HOT. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A DODGE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A STICKING CALIPER. THEY REPLACED BOTH REAR CALIPERS AND BLEED THE BRAKES. THE TRUCK DROVE FINE AFTER THE $570.00 REPAIR BILL. IN JULY 2016 WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE COUNTY HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK STARTED PULLING STRONGLY TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I STOPPED AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HOT. YOU COULD NOT TOUCH IT. I LET IT COOL AND IDLED HOME ON THE SHOULDER. MY TRUCK HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT.I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I PROBABLY NEEDED FRONT CALIPERS ALSO. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE TRUCKS. I DRIVE MOSTLY ON TWO LANE COUNTRY ROADS IN THE MOUNTAINS. A SKID OR LOSS OF CONTROL CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IN BOTH CASES THERE WAS NO WARNING. WITH THE FRONT WHEEL IT JUST STARTED PULLING LEFT. IF I HADN'T HAD A FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD HAVE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE. THE BREAK PADS HAVE 70 PERCENT LIFE LEFT ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THEM.
THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 FAILED ON 2/5/2016. AS I WAS IN MOTION HEADED STRAIGHT WHEN THE TRUCK'S BRAKES FAILED AND I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET ABOUT 20-30 MPH WHEN I LOST THE USE OF THE BRAKES. THE TRUCK KEPT TRAVELING FORWARD ABOUT 50 YARDS AFTER I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE AND I WASN'T SURE HOW I WAS GOING TO STOP THE MOVING TRUCK WHEN I REMEMBERED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THAT IN THE CENTER TURN LANE AND I REMAINED THERE UNTIL THE POLICE ARRIVED. WHEN THE OFFICER ARRIVED I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK FAILED EVEN AFTER I HAD BEEN RUNNING ERRANDS AND PICKED UP LUNCH JUST MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE AND I TOOK PICTURES OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND INTERNAL BRAKE COMPONENTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE BRAKES WERE SHOWN TO THE RESPONDING POLICE OFFICER AND THE PERSON IN THE OTHER VEHICLE I HAD HIT. I ALSO REPORTED THE FAULTY BRAKES TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. I CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT ONCE IT'S AVAILABLE IN 24-48 BUSINESS HOURS. I BELIEVE THE 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK WAS BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY FORMED OR FAULTY BRAKE BOOSTER INPUT ROD RETAINING CLIP WHICH CAUSED IMPROPER SERVICE BRAKES AND/OR HYDRAULICS.
VIBRATION AND BOUNCING- WOBBLE FEELING WITH LOOSE STEERING AT SPEEDS 55-70, FROM FRONT WHEELS THROUGH STEERING WHEEL. TIRES HAVE BEEN RE-BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES AS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE BUT TRUCK CONTINUES TO HAVE VIBRATIONS IN FRONT WHEELS AT SPEEDS 55 OR HIGHER. CONTINUAL BRAKE NOISE, RATTLING SOUNDS AT ALL SPEEDS AFTER BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED 2-3 TIMES UNDER NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.
BREAK CALIPER LEFT FRONT LOCKED UP ROTOR BECAME RED HOT STEERING STARTED SHAKING NOW I'M AFRAID TO USE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE DUE TO BREAKS AND AIR BAGS ISSUES MY 2008 RAM HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES WILL CHRYSLER BUY IT BACK I HOPE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WAS NEEDED WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE DISINTEGRATING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKING POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SALT IN THE WINTER. THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AFTER FILLING WITH GAS, TRUCK STALLS AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS....VEHICLE DIES HENCE NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES ETC.......HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES..... CAN THROW INTO NEUTRAL AND IGNITION FUNCTIONS....SUPER DANGEROUS AT ANY SPEED.
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
VEHICLE BOUGHT NEW IN 2008. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HAD TO: REPLACE BOTH BRAKE CALIPERS DUE TO DRAGGING AND OVERHEATING. REPLACE LF WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY - MAKING NOISE - FOUND TO HAVE WORN BEARING, WIPER MOTOR REPLACED FOR RECALL, NEVER HAD ISSUE. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY, IMPROPER CYCLING SPEEDS, WON'T TURN ON, OR WON'T TURN OFF AT TIMES. MILEAGE ~ 38,000. THIS IS DANGEROUS, JUST LIKE THE BRAKES AND BEARING. *TR
ON 6 NOV. I FILED THIS COMPLAINT (CASE #[XXX]) AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. ON 12 NOV., THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AGAIN DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN I HAD TO AGGRESSIVELY APPLY THE BRAKES FOR A CHANGING STOP LIGHT. IT'S IRONIC THAT I WAS ON MY WAY TO COURT FOR THE "FAILURE TO CONTROL SPEED" TICKET THAT I RECEIVED FOR THE ACCIDENT ON 6 NOV. AS I STATED BEFORE, THE INVESTIGATOR THAT CHRYSLER SENT TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SINCE MY BRAKES STILL DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN A PANIC STOP AND THE INVESTIGATOR WAS 3 HOURS LATE, I QUESTION THE QUALITY OF HIS INSPECTION? YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE ATTEMPTING A SUDDEN STOP FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME, THE BRAKES GOT FIRM AND THEN SOFT, NOT ALLOWING ME TO SLOW DOWN AND MISS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I BELIEVE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER (CASE # [XXX]) ABOUT THIS AND THEY PERFORMED STATIC INSPECTION AND FOUND NO DEFECTS. THE INSPECTION APPARENTLY DID NOT ATTEMPT TO DUPLICATE THE ACTUAL STOPPING CONDITIONS. THE ROAD WAS ASPHALT, AND THE WEATHER WAS APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES AND DRY. THE TIRES ARE FACTORY SIZE (275-60-R20) WITH 7/32 TREAD AND FAIRLY EVEN TREAD WEAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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. *TR
CALIPERS: 34000 MILES CALIPERS FAILED AND LOCKED UP. ROTORS: 34000 MILES ROTORS WARPED AND FAILED. *TR
2008 DODGE RAM 1500 . CONSUMER STATES CONTAMINATED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE MASTER CYLINDER, FRONT CALIPERS, AND FRONT BRAKE PADS ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 09/06/11*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE JOURNEY SXT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS FOUR TIMES. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,143 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,175.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. A PASSENGER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. NINE MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR, THE TRUCK WILL BEGIN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE STEERING BECOMES TIGHT AND ULTIMATELY THE TRUCK INVOLUNTARILY PULLS TO THE RIGHT, FORCING ME ONTO THE SHOULDER. HAS OCCURRED 2 TIMES, ONCE IN JULY 09 AND ALSO 9-5-09. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE AND IMPLIED THAT THE TIRES WERE UNDERINFLATED. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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