2008 Dodge 1500 Powertrain (other) Problems

Vehicle diagnosed September 5, 2025 with failed front driver-side CV axle. Covered under factory lifetime powertrain warranty. Manufacturer (Stellantis) has been unable to supply replacement part for over seven months due to “tooling issue” and no ETA. Vehicle continues to operate with worsening vibration and noise from front axle. Concerned about potential driveline failure while driving. Warranty repair delay exceeds reasonable timeframe for safety-related component.

NHTSA ID

11721336

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

Was driving home going 35 the rear end spider gears decided to lock up completely cause loss of control of my vehicle

NHTSA ID

11707309

Incident

Dec 28, 2025

My rear driveline separated from the rear differential causing the rear differential to seize up. It is available for inspection. This occurred while driving down a highway at 45 MPH, there was some humming noise then it shook for a second and then load pop sound and send me fish tailing down the highway and then sliding sideways being stuck blocking the lane of traffic. I just contacted the dealership, and they cannot look at it under a recall situation because my vin is not listed on the preexisting recall. I was told to contact the manufacturer directly. As of today 11/26/25, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps or messages. Symptoms were only morning of the incident 11/24/25 after leaving my house halfway down the road approximately half a mile I started to hear a slight humming came to a stop sign didn't hear anything drove forward a block and a half to a stop light did not hear any humming in that time, as I took a right to head north on highway 9 I noticed the humming again and right as I was trying to pull off on the shoulder I hear a loud pop sound and temporarily lose control of the truck fish tailing I was able to get it back under control enough to steer a little and come sliding sideways to a stop stuck halfway on the shoulder and halfway into the oncoming traffic lane.

NHTSA ID

11701693

Incident

Nov 24, 2025

missing 2 bolts on drive shaft almost had a accident

NHTSA ID

11620909

Incident

Oct 20, 2024

The cv axle on the passenger side has gone out 3 times in the last 6 months. That's not just coincidence. And there is no extreme driving conditions or unnecessary turning going on.

NHTSA ID

11513901

Incident

Mar 27, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND DESCENDING DOWN A HILL A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE REAR WHEELS SUDDENLY LOCKED UP CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A DITCH. DURING THE CRASH NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PINION NUT HAD FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11342394

Incident

Jun 17, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE PINION FELL INTO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TACOMA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (253-475-7300, LOCATED AT 4101 S TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, WA 98409) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V474000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000. *TP

NHTSA ID

11268977

Incident

Oct 5, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

REAR END MADE LOUD WHINING NOISE AND KNOCKING BEFORE THE DRIVESHAFT BECAME COMPLETE DISCONNECTED AND THE REAR END SEIZED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED-EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE COVERED UNDER NHSTA RECALL # 13V-038.

NHTSA ID

11149520

Incident

Nov 5, 2018

Mileage

106,000 mi

WE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE SHAFT ALONG WITH THE EVAPORATOR BOX ON THE GAS TANK WENT FLYING OUT THE [XXX] OF THE TRUCK. IT LIFTED US OFF THE GROUND PUT A WHOLE IN THE GAS TANK AND THE TRUCK COULD HAVE EXPLODED IF WE DIDN'T GET IT STOPED IN TIME SO IT DIDN'T SPARK. OUR HOLE FAMILY COULD HAVE DIED THAT DAY! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11111758

Incident

Jul 7, 2018

Mileage

250,000 mi

REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS NOISY AFTER BEING REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11057525

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO ALL WHEEL DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11057404

Incident

Dec 25, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN, LEFT THE ROADWAY, AND LANDED IN A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INSPECTOR FROM THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT HAD DETACHED FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT, CAUSING THE FAILURE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V474000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

11011947

Incident

Jul 28, 2017

Mileage

136,000 mi

08 RAM 1500 DRIVE SHAFT SEPARATED FORM DIFFERENTIAL CAUSING REAR END TO LOCK UP AT 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE FORCING ME TO THE CURB SECOND TIME HAD REAREND REPAIRED THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED VEHICLE IS NO A A WRECKER YARD FOR ANYONE TO INSPECT WILL NOT REPAIR TILL IT IS CHECKED BY NHTSA

NHTSA ID

11003875

Incident

Jul 8, 2017

Mileage

191,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS GIVEN ME MANY PROBLEMS AND MOST RECENTLY VERY DANGEROUS ONES. A FEW MONTHS AGO ON MY WAY TO WORK AROUND 4AM THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE OFF AND FLEW OUT AT 75 MPH. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC DURING THAT TIME AND THE BACK PART OF THE DRIVE SHAFT IS THE ONE THAT BROKE OFF NOT THE FRONT SO THE TRUCK DIDN'T FLIP OVER. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN REPAIRED SINCE THEN. NOW A FEW DAYS AGO MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND IT TURNED OFF ON HER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS WORKING OUT OF TOWN. ON MY RETURN I FOUND THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ON AT THE DASHBOARD. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS TYPICALLY IN RELATION TO A BAD FUEL PUMP RELAY. I FOUND THIS TO BE MORE THAN COMMON ON MANY DODGE VEHICLES AND OBVIOUSLY A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO HAVE. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY ON MY VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE TIPM AND NOT SERVICEABLE. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO NOT BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT NOW APPEARS I AM BEING FORCED TO SPEND $1200 ON A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS VEHICLE HAS GONE FROM BEING MY DAILY COMMUTER TO A HUGE LIABILITY BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.

NHTSA ID

10971515

Incident

Apr 5, 2017

Mileage

125,000 mi

REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH NEARLY WENT OFF ROAD

NHTSA ID

10907016

Incident

Sep 15, 2016

Mileage

244,000 mi

DRIVING STRAIGHT IN TOWN AT 30 MPH WHEN REAR-END LOCKED UP. WITH NO WARNING, NO SOUNDS, NO GRINDING, SQUEALING, OR SHIMMYING, THE TRUCK SKIDDED ABOUT 20 YDS BEFORE THE DRIVESHAFT LITERALLY RIPPED IN HALF, WITH BOTH HALVES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. PINION BEARING ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR AFTER FEELING SOME GRINDING AND HEARING SOUNDS, BUT HAS RUN SMOOTH AS BUTTER SINCE. I HAD MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION AT TAKE TEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO. REAR END REMAINED LOCKED UP WITH DRIVESHAFT REMOVED (OBLITERATED) WHEN THE TOW TRUCK GOT THERE. GLAD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, OR MYSELF AND 7 YEAR OLD SON MAY HAVE NOT SURVIVED.

NHTSA ID

10897184

Incident

Aug 18, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE DRIVE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, DUE TO THE PINION NUT LOOSENING, AND THE REAR AXLE LOCKED UP. THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A TOWN ROAD, WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID

10894918

Incident

Jul 27, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

I WAS PULLING MY 19FT. BOAT, AND I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, AND I HIT THE GAS. THERE WAS A KNOCK IN THE REAR END AND A LOUD POP. I LOOKED UNDER THE REAR END, AND I NOTICED THAT THE REAR END WAS LEAKING AT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED THE REAR WHEELS WOULD NOT ROLL. THE REAR END LOCKED UP. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS WENT OUT. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 34,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME THE REAR END WAS MAKING GROUNDING SOUNDS BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT UNDER THE ORIGINAL SERVICE WARRANTY. WHEN THEY TOOK THE REAR END APART, THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THIS TIME THE TRUCK NOW HAS 94,000 MILES. BOTH DIFFERENTIALS ARE CURRENTLY AVERAGING 45,000 MILES EACH.

NHTSA ID

10850532

Incident

Mar 18, 2016

Mileage

94,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND I STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND THE TRUCK DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. SO I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY REAR END WAS MESSED UP. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PINION BEARINGS, REAR WHEEL SEALS AND ALL THE BEARINGS IN THE REAR END. THEN AFTER ALL THAT WAS FINALLY FIXED I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I START TO HEAR THE SAME NOISE AGAIN SO YET AGAIN I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND YET AGIAN THEY TELL ME THAT THE REAR END IS MESSED UP. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT MY TRUCK WAS UNDER RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM . MY ENTIRE REAR END IS MESSED UP BECAUSE OF THIS AND I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THE MECHANICS HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS UNDER RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10845665

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

Mileage

168,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE REAR END LOCKED UP CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO TWIST IN HALF AND THE TRANSFER CASE TO BUST INTO PIECES. THE TRUCK SPUN OUT OF CONTROL INTO A DITCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THERE ARE RECALLS ONLINE FOR OTHER YEAR MODELS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR 2008. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PINION GEAR.

NHTSA ID

10824666

Incident

Feb 6, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN MULTIPLE DODGE CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUV'S THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE BREAKS EASILY, AND THE PARTS FOR REPAIR ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE USA. THE CABLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REDESIGNED FCA/RAM FOR THE 5TH TIME, WITH A ONE MONTH OR GREATER TIME FRAME UNTIL THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEALERS.

NHTSA ID

10823865

Incident

Jan 23, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE LOCK-UP AND THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS CAUSE MY TRUCK TO LOCK UP THE REAR TIRES NEARLY CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. I WAS ON THE RAMP TO THE FREEWAY. 20 MORE FT AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

10786758

Incident

Oct 27, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR TIRES SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10763004

Incident

Sep 9, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE TRUCK STARTED TO MAKE SCRAPING NOISE AND INTENSIFIED IN ABOUT 2 MILES OF DRIVING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WITH VIBRATION SOUNDING LIKE A ECO INSIDE THE CABIN FASTER YOU GO LOUDER IT GETS THEN WHILE IN MOTION THE TRUCK MADE A LOUDER SOUND AND FELT LIKE THE TRUCK MOVE BACK FOR 2 SECONDS AND KEEP THEN MOVING FOWARD STILL THE LOUD NOISE I TOKE IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP TO BE CHECK AND THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL OIL HAS METAL ON IT LIKE A METAL WAS LOOSE INSIDE I TOLD HIM TO STOP SO I CAN CHECK FOR RECALLS AND CALL THE DEALER ONLINE THEY SHOW THAT THIS KIND OF ISSUES HAPPEN BEFORE AND THAT THE TIRES CAN LOCK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR PUT SOMEONE IN DANGER PEDESTRIAN PASSENGER OR DRIVER IS A RECALL FROM CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT I WILL CONTACT THE DEALER FOR MORE INFORMATION I BEEN INSIDE THE FORUMS ONLINE AND IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM I HOPE THIS RECALL COME THRU TO ALL THOSE DODGE RAM 1500 BUYERS LIKE ME

NHTSA ID

10761436

Incident

Sep 2, 2015

REAR PINION NUT CAME LOOSE AND DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF AND TRUCK MADE ABRUPT STOP REAR END LOCKED UP

NHTSA ID

10760186

Incident

Aug 28, 2015

Mileage

104,000 mi