Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
POWER LOSS OCCURS AT ANYTIME. ALL THE TIME. TRUCK SLOWS DOWN TO IDLE SPEED. REALLY BAD WHEN DOING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE. MUST SHUT ENGINE OFF, PRESS ACCELERATOR SLOWLY FOR 5 TIMES THEN RESTART ENGINE. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROLLER HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES NOW. THEY ALL FAILED AGAIN BETWEEN 7 AND 40 MILES. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED.
TL* THE CONTACT STATED EMPLOYED BY A COMPANY THAT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AN EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS DETECTED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD FIRE WAS SEEN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE INVESTIGATION REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,216.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED BRIGHTLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIPM WAS SMOKING AND CAUSED SIX UNKNOWN FUSES TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND RESTARTED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 08V641000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 09E001000 (STEERING), 13V528000 (STEERING), 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V352000 (AIR BAGS. THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
ETC (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL) WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON FLASHING IT GOES INTO LIMP MODE (IDLE) THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC WHEN TOWING A TRAILER. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW FROM CITY AUTO PLAZA, CANON CITY, CO. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO CITY AUTO PLAZA JUNE 4TH 2014 WHEN THE ETC LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THEY REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL THE FOLLOWING DAY THE ETC LIGHT CAME ON. JUNE 11TH 2014 THEY RE-CRIMPED THE PLUG ON THE PEDAL SENSOR AND THE C130 CONNECTOR UNDER THE HOOD. THAT LASTED ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF. ON JULY 29TH 2014 THEY HARDWIRED AROUND THE C130 CONNECTOR. THAT LASTED ABOUT 8 MONTHS BROUGHT TRUCK IN ON MARCH 9TH 2015, THE ETC LIGHT HAD GONE OFF BY THE TIME I GOT TO CITY AUTO PLAZA BUT IT WAS THE SAME CODE IN STORAGE P2121. THE ETC LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN IN MAY 12TH 2015 BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY RE-CRIMPED THE PEDAL SENSOR PUT SOME LUBE AND PULLED THE PLUGS OFF THE PCM AND BLEW THEY OUT AND PUT SOME LUBE IN THE PLUGS. JULY 8TH 2015 THE ETC LIGHT CAME BACK ON FLASHING SO I BROUGHT IT DOWN TO CITY AUTO PLAZA AGAIN AND THEY HARDWIRED FROM THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE PCM. THAT LASTED 2 DAYS AND THE ETC LIGHT CAME BACK ON GOING INTO LIMP MODE. BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN ON JULY 16TH THE LIGHT WAS OFF. THEY TEST DROVE IT NUMEROUS TIME COULDN'T GET THE ETC LIGHT TO COME ON BUT IT STILL HAD THE SAME CODE IN STORAGE P2121. SO THE SWAPPED OUT ACCELERATOR PEDALS GOT THE TRUCK BACK ON THE JULY 21ST. ON JULY 29TH I BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN TO TROUBLESHOOT THE AC (AIR CONDITIONER) STARTED THE TRUCK IN THE PARKING LOT AND THE ETC LIGHT WAS FLASHING. TRAVIS THE TECH THAT WORKS ON MY TRUCK HAS BROUGHT IN TECH SUPPORT FROM CHRYSLER. TRAVIS ALSO GOOGLE'D IT AND THIS IS NOT JUST MY TRUCK. HE SAW TRUCKS FROM 2004 TO 2009 WITH THESE SAME PROBLEMS. WHY CAN'T CHRYSLER FIGURE THIS OUT? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET IN AND ACCIDENT OR DIE BEFORE THEY FIGURE IT OUT?
DIVING AT 60 MILES TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER TRUCK LOST ALL POWER OVERHEAD CONSOLE READ SEE DEALER NOW. PROBLEM WAS DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER WAS TOTALLY CLOGGED. AFTER BEING TOWED TO DEALER WAS TOLD THE COST WOULD BE $5000.00 EGR VALVE AND DPF NEEDED REPLACED. EMISSIONS SYSTEM WAS CLEANED AT 68,000 MILES. OVERHEAD CONSOLE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT REGENERATION MODE OR WORKED AT ALL REPORTING ANY EMISSIONS PROBLEM. HAD TRUCK TO NUMEROUS DEALERS WANTED COMPUTER UPDATED TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER CONSOLE MONITOR COMBUSTION ABLE AND NEED TO BE SERVICED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD RESERVOIR EMITTED WASHER FLUID ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND EMITTED A BURNING ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTAL INTERGRADED POWER MODULE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FRACTURED AND LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
I WAS TURNING ONTO ANOTHER STREET I SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE. TRUCK STARTED TO RUN ROUGH THEN STALLED. ELECTRICAL SMOKE FILLED THE CAB. EVERYTHING THAT WAS ELECTRICAL TURNED ON AND WAS EITHER FLASHING BLINKING OR RUNNING. I PUT TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND PULLED THE IGNITION KEY. THE STARTER ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. I HAD TO PULL BATTERY CABLES OFF TO KILL POWER TO THE TRUCK BY HAND NO TOOLS. THE TIPM MODULE BURNED INTERNALLY. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE BURNED. IF THE TRUCK WAS IN GEAR IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN OFF BY ITSELF. *TR
VEHICLE HAS A DEATH WOBBLE, DEALERSHIPS KEEP REPLACING STEERING DAMPER, THREE TIMES SINCE 2009, IT COMES ON UNEXPECTEDLY, THE PROBLEM IS IN THE FRONT END, JUST TURNED 40,000 MILES, I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK, IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN, DODGE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE CORRECTLY. THUS WHY IT HAS ONLY 40K ON IT. I DO NOT WANT TO EVEN DRIVE IT OVER 45 MPH. IT HAS THE PROBLEM AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO TRADE IT IN, BUT DO NOT WANT TO GIVE SOMEONE THIS HEADACHE. I WILL NOT EVEN DRIVE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THIS TRUCK. ALSO HAVE HAD EGR VALVE ISSUES. PLEASE FORCE DODGE TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE THAT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE VEHICLES LIKE THIS GET BEHIND THE WHEELS AND KILLS A FAMILY. THANK YOU. *TR
THE DATE GIVEN ABOVE IS THE DATE WE HAVE ACTUAL PAPERWORK FOR PROOF. PROBLEM REALLY STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK BRAND NEW FROM DEALER. I HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKE TO THE SAME DEALER FOR ON TIME MAINTENANCE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. IT IS A VERY BAD EXHAUST ISSUE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT SHOWS THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE FIRES. NO ONE WILL HELP. THERE MANY OTHERS WITH SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTING AT FULL POWER AND ABNORMALLY ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WANTED THE CONTACT TO RUN AN ENGINE RETARDER ON THE VEHICLE. THIS WOULD HOLD THE VEHICLE BACK USING THE ENGINE, IT WOULD COMPRESS AND RELEASE FROM THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL FOR THE THROTTLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 30,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY, THERE WAS SMOKE NEAR THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD PRIOR RECALL REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V641000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE: DIESEL). THE FAILURE SIGNIFICANTLY PROGRESSED AFTER THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS REVIEWED RELATED COMPLAINTS WITH THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WHEN TRUCK BEGAN TO SURGE. SYSTEM INFORMATION STATED CATALYST AT 70% WITH IN 5MINUTES CATALYST AT 100%. WENT TO DODGE DEALER WHO WAS NOT A AUTHORIZED SERVICE REP. THEY COULD NOT REPLACE FILTER SO THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND SET THE DPF TO REGENERATE. THIS COST $80.00. WENT TO LOCAL DEALER NEXT DAY AND BECAUSE CODE WOULD NOT APPEAR AGAIN THE SET THE DPF TO REGENERATE. THIS COST $80.00. ON 1-12-2010 WHILE PULLING A 32 FOOT FLAT BED TRAILER IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AGAIN, THE SYSTEM INFO WENT TO CATALYST 70%. THE LOCAL DEALER HAD INFORMED US IN ORDER TO GET THE DPF TO GO INTO REGENERATE MODE NEED TO GET THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE UP TO 215. PUT THE TRUCK IN 4TH GEAR AND DROVE 85MPH FOR 50 MILES BEFORE THE REGENERATE MODE KICKED IN. REST OF 500 MILE TRIP WENT FINE. ON 1-27-2010 WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE EVERYTHING HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED DEALER SINCE WAS ONLY 50 MILES AWAY. DROVE STRAIGHT TO DEALER AND THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE DPF FILTER. IT IS JUST MARCH SO WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. NEW FILTER WOULD HAVE COST US $2000.00. IF NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANT. WISH I COULD GET BACK THE $160.00. *TR
THE PARTICULATE FILTER CLOGGED AFTER A FAULTY SENSOR AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AFTER ONLY 1,300 MILES OF DRIVING AFTER PURCHASING THE NEW TRUCK. *TR
WARRANTIED EMISSIONS PROBLEM. DODGE COULDN'T GET PARTS AND KEPT TRUCK FOR JUST UNDER 6 WEEKS. GOT FIXED AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK PARTICULATE FAILED CAUSING CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO CRACK. *TR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. DRIVING THE PARTICULATE FILTER IS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY CAUSING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO CRACK. THIS CAUSED A BREAKDOWN WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 IN PHOENIX, AZ. *TR
VEHICLE IS 2008 DODGE RAM 3500 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK WITH 6.7L DIESEL ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN HILL ON SLIPPERY ROAD WITH FOOT OFF THROTTLE, WHEN APPLIED GENTLE THROTTLE PRESSURE, THE ENGINE JERKED VIOLENTLY SEVERAL TIMES, AND CAUSING THE REAR WHEELS TO BRAKE TRACTION AND THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL. THIS EVENT IS INTERMITTENT, MOST OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING WITH LIGHT THROTTLE, THEN LIFTING OFF THROTTLE TO SLOW DOWN, AND WHEN PRESS THROTTLE TO ACCELERATE, EXPERIENCE SEVERAL RAPID SHUDDERS OR JERKS FROM ENGINE BEFORE THE ENGINE PULL SMOOTHLY AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS CONDITION SINCE NEW. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TWO DODGE DEALERS, ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT IT, LOCAL DEALER SAID HE HAD SAME COMPLAINT FROM 6 OR 7 OTHER DODGE 6.7 L DIESEL OWNERS. *TR
ON 7-26-08, MY TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ACROSS COUNTRY WHEN THE TRUCK SHUT ITSELF DOWN, ALMOST CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE IN A WRECK. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK DELIVERED TO A DODGE SERVICE CENTER, THEY SAID THE TRUCKS FAULTY CATALYTIC SYSTEM WAS PLUGGED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. HE WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CATALYTIC SYSTEM, THE TURBO, EXHAUST BRAKE, AND EGR VALVE WOULD SUFFER CARBON DAMAGE AND WOULD NEED TO BE MAINTENANCE REGULARLY IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM FUNCTIONING. THE LABOR WOULD TAKE AROUND 6 HOURS EACH TIME MAINTENANCE AT $80/HR. ON 12-6-08, WHILE DRIVING, THE EXHAUST BRAKE LOCKED UP SHUT, CAUSING PRESSURE TO BUILD UP UNTIL THE TURBO BLEW OFF THE EXHAUST. AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK TO A SERVICE CENTER AND THE EXHAUST FUMES BEING FORCED INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT, DUE TO THE CARBON DAMAGE,THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER ORDERING THE $2200 DODGE SERVICE CENTER TURBO/EXHAUST, I RECOMMEND A RECALL OR LIFETIME WARRANTY ON ALL EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS FOR THESE FAULTY CATALYTIC SYSTEMS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED EACH TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
MY TRUCK HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST PLUGGING UP. IT ALMOST GOT ME IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN IT BASICALLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THIS IS A PROBLEM DODGE KNOWS ABOUT AND HAS EVEN BOUGHT A FEW TRUCKS BACK OVER BUT THEY MAKE YOU JUMP THROUGH ALOT OF HOOPS AT YOUR EXPENSE TO DO SO. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER ACTIVATES TO CLEAN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH RESULTS IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AFTER TRAVELING ONLY 8 MILES, THE EXHAUST VAPORS BURNED A HOLE IN THE TOW GUARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THE EPA WOULD FINE THEM $1,500 IF THEY REMOVED THE FAILED PART, AS IT MEETS THE EPA STANDARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,100.
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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