2008 DODGE RAM 4500 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
11
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
3
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500
The 2008 DODGE RAM 4500 has received a total of 11 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (7 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulic (1 complaint), and Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500, potentially affecting up to 8,761,590 vehicles.
Recall 16V352000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 4,648,270 vehicles affected
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012...
Consequence: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag...
View full details →Recall 15V313000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 4,077,169 vehicles affected
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage...
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator,...
View full details →Recall 13V527000 — STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
| 36,151 vehicles affected
Defect: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 4500 and 5500 trucks manufactured February 20, 2007, through December 22, 2012. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: On May 19, 2015 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would replace the tie rod assembly, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles:...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500
11 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfront | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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.
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 OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THE COMPANY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13V527000 (STEERING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE TOOL NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE NOTICE YEARS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME.
Safety Rating for the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SB-19-002-10 — STEERING
DODGE: STEERING WANDER. INVOLVES SELECTING THE PROPER REPAIR PROCEDURE BASED UPON VEHICLE BUILD DATES AND THEN ALIGNING THE VEHICLE WITH REVISED SPECS. *PE
TB 08-246 — EQUIPMENT
JERR-DAN: REVISED CARRIER MUD FLAP INSTALLATION ON 2008 FORD F550 AND DODGE RAM 4500/5000 CHASSIS CABS. *PE
07048 — STEERING
STEERING DAMPER BOLT THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. *NJ
NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 DODGE RAM 4500
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the DODGE RAM 4500
- 2006 DODGE RAM 4500 — 0 complaints
- 2007 DODGE RAM 4500 — 0 complaints
- 2008 DODGE RAM 4500 (current)
- 2009 DODGE RAM 4500 — 5 complaints
- 2011 DODGE RAM 4500 — 18 complaints
- 2012 DODGE RAM 4500 — 19 complaints
Other DODGE Models
- DODGE DURANGO — 19,139 total complaints
- DODGE GRAND CARAVAN — 18,729 total complaints
- DODGE RAM 1500 — 15,420 total complaints
- DODGE CARAVAN — 14,266 total complaints
- DODGE DAKOTA — 9,227 total complaints
- DODGE CHARGER — 8,114 total complaints
- DODGE RAM 2500 — 8,092 total complaints
- DODGE INTREPID — 8,078 total complaints