2008 Dodge Ram 4500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Dodge Ram 4500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering872.7%
- Suspension218.2%
- Brakes19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER WAS TURNING THE TRUCK AROUND IN OUR LUMBERYARD WITH A PARTIAL LOAD ON THE BED AND THE LEFT STEERING TIE ROD BALL STUD SHEARED OFF CAUSING A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE HE WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH. THE ORIGINAL TIE ROD WAS REPLACED BY DODGE IN MAY 2011 WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THE PART REPLACED SOLVED THE SHEARING OR FRACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A 2008 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THE COMPANY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THEIR MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR ON FRONT STEERING LINKAGE- WAITED OVER 9 MONTHS FOR REPAIR PART TO BE AVAILABLE (DURING WHICH TIME I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE). DEALER REPLACED THE PART BUT INDICATED ADJACENT BALL JOINT WORN AT 20,XXX MILES. CLAIMED 2 PREVIOUS RECALLS REGARDING FRONT END HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PREMATURE WEAR. BALL JOINT FAILURE HAS DAMAGE TIRE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE READ MANY ONLINE FORUM REPORTS OF PREMATURE BALL JOINT FAILURE ON SAME MODEL VEHICLES.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 4500. WHILE DRIVING AT 3 MPH IN REVERSE, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FELL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
AT 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING PULLEY CAME OFF OF MY 2008 DODGE RAM 4500 CAUSING THE STEERING AND BRAKES TO FAIL. THANKFULLY,MY ARM STRENGTH AND TRAILER BRAKES SAVED ME THIS TIME. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER,THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY OR UNDER ANY RECALL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .