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Engine & cooling

2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Engine problems

Owners have filed 48 complaints about the 2008 Dodge Ram 1500's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 8% of all its complaints, most recently on February 9, 2023. They describe 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
48
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Acceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH and turning left at a traffic signal, while straightening the steering wheel and lightly depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated abruptly. The contact stated that the rear tires made an abnormal squealing noise and he observed smoke in the rear-view mirror. The contact stated that the vehicle then spun 180 degrees to the right. The contact turned the steering wheel to the left to compensate...

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and the vehicle spun 180 degrees to the left. The contact used the steering wheel to regain control of the vehicle and took his foot off the accelerator pedal and did not use the brake pedal to correct the vehicle. The contact stated he was not aware of any warning lights. The contact then drove to his residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,753.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 11506477
Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated the engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who stated the sensor needed to be replaced as well as the harness. The vehicle had not been repaired due to the parts being on back order. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11479325
Body, doors & structureEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that the rocker panels, subframe, truck bed, and oil pan were severely rusted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.

Filed Incident Structure · EngineNHTSA 11424590
Engine & cooling

Rocker arm came off lifter, broken lifter spring. Told it was a common valve seat failure issue for this vehicle. 147,000 Regular maintenance was performed. Shop said they have seen this many times. Poor design/material.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11361677
SteeringEngine & coolingFuel system

After filling up with fuel on serval different occasions the truck will shut off with no warning lights or service lights. This causes the power steering and everything to stop. When at a stop sign it can be started safely from park or neutral but when moving it has to be put in neutral to re start because the brake system does not work good either. It has happened at stop sign and stop light as well as driving down the road at 55 mph

Filed Incident Steering · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11308326
Engine & cooling

Engine died without warning going slow on bumpy road, turning left. Lost all steering and brakes. Had just filled tank. Started right back up. Very dangerous situation. I am now afraid to drive it. I see many other complaints of the same nature.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11218691
Engine & coolingFuel system

The truck stalls after filling with fuel. It can happen at any time; stalled in a turn causing the loss of power steering; stalled at stops; causes bucking. At no other time does the truck have these issues. I have heard of other having this issue with this model and others such as jeep, etc. Regarding the "when did this happen?" Question below, it happens at 95+% of fill-ups. The last time it happened was 6/1/19.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11217894
Engine & coolingFuel system

Engine shuts off after every fill up at the gas station if vehicle is placed in a moderately hard stop or making a right hand turn on a freeway on ramp or city street causing the engine to shut off completely and leaving vehicle in motion without power to steering and brakes. This has happened more time than I can remember.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11217120
SteeringEngine & cooling

The engine stalls and cuts off without any warning. I've had it at 4 different auto repair shops including 3 weeks at landmark dodge and no one can determine what is going on with it. I've had the fuel pump replaced and cylinders replaced. It's crazy andd very frustrating that dodge can't fix their own product.

Filed Incident Steering · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11170960
Engine & cooling

Several times now after starting the truck and running it 10-15 minutes it just shuts off. Today on a very busy 4 lane road it happened and nearly caused a crash due to no power steering. Shops have checked it and it does not show in code errors.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11163807
Engine & coolingFuel system

I have reported this same problem numerous times before. The engine just quits on the highway with a loss of steering and braking. It seems to happen after refueling and a strong odor of fuel is noticed. This happened within 2 or 3 minutes after refueling and while approaching interstate 35 in waco, tx, on 11/30/2018. An inquiry was made to the local dealership who said they were unaware of the problem and that no complaints have been filed with them. In reviewing other consumer websites that is not true, there are...

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numerous complaints about this same problem and it is definitely a critical safety issue. It is time for the government to investigate this issue before someone is killed or seriously injured.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11155310
Engine & cooling

For several months, while driving the truck, it would try and go into 4w drive low. We changed the actuator and it seemed to work for about a week. Then problems became worse. Again it would go into 4w drive low while driving. But also when we stopped at intersections it would move at all. We would shut the truck off then it would go. We would hear a whining sound after the truck was shut off about 30 minutes coming under the truck. The end of july we had to change the fuel pump. Then we had to change the...

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radiator and thermostat. We had it at 3 different mechanics before finding the problem of it going into 4w drive low. It was the timp and the transfer case. We have had to replace the actuator 3 times.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11143049
Engine & cooling

Took my truck to a local dealership bc my engine light came on & started to blink & ding. Barely made it there & so they checked it & said the rocker arm needs replacing. So they ordered it & said its on back order & that there were 600 ahead of me. If it's so many that need this part, it should be a recall on it. I've been waiting for 3 1/2 weeks & still I don't have my truck.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11113241
SteeringEngine & cooling

Front wheel bearings went out and yhe egr valve went out also

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 11075557
AirbagsSeats & seat beltsEngine & cooling

Takata recall central valley dodge jeeo modesto,ca has failed to help me

Filed Incident Air bags · Seat belts · EngineNHTSA 11054624
Engine & cooling

Traveling approx 35 mph when engine suddenly just stopped running. No warning symptoms. Had to coast acoss 3 lanes of traffic to get off the road no power steering and on coming traffic, with 3 young children in the back seat. Timing chain tension "came apart" derailing timing chain. Catastrophic engine damage. Word is this is known to happen on the dodge 5.7 Hemi engines. 2008 With 90k miles. Seems this should be manufactures responsibility. Help me please.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11031432
BrakesEngine & coolingFire

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

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10947321
Engine & cooling

WHEN I START MY VEHICLEIT HAS A TICKING SOUND.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10946855
Engine & cooling

The engine randomly dies. At idle or driving, at all speeds. It starts right back up. I have had the truck worked on at 4 shops and two dealerships. I have spent over $10,000 string to get the problem fixed. It is a very dangerous situation. I have been trying to resolve this problem for 3 years. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10937633
Engine & cooling

While coasting to a stop light from 45mph, engine shut down loosing power steering, thus 100% control of vehicle. Truck stopped in the intersection blocking 3 lanes of traffic. No check engine light lit up, although did notice rpm fluctuated just prior to episode. Truck started up shortly thereafter, I continued on my way, no clue's on what occurred.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10840094
Engine & coolingFuel system

The truck has developed a habit of randomly stalling when coming to a stop. This is dangerous at intersections and railroad crossings. I have had the truck back to the dealer several times without success.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10836459
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

In september 2015 my truck engine shut off on i-20 w after a hard brake at highway speed while approaching a trailer with a wide load on a bridge overpass. I was the lead vehicle and had the left lane momentarily blocked until I could restart the engine. After shifting to park, it took two attempts to restart the engine. Then, in december 2015 the exact same thing happened in the city after a moderate stop at a red light, again holding up traffic until the engine was restarted. After traveling about one tenth mile...

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the engine quit again as I was approaching a red light. The first instance was a hard break situation to prevent an accident but the second two shutdowns happened with light breaking when approaching a red light. When the engine had to be restarted, it required a couple of attempts before it would engage and then ran rough for a short time before smoothing out. Each instance was while I was driving in a straight line. The first time at highway speed of 70mph and the last two at 30 or 40 city mph. I have not had a problem with this since the last time but I have been extremely careful to lightly apply the brakes when possible. I read on the internet that I am not the only one that has had this problem so that prompted me to file this report. I feel the problem is associated with a engine electronic control of some sort or other. The engine is the veriable 5.7L hemi. My wife has been so upset with this happening, she refuses to ride in my truck anymore. I have not reported this problem, mostly because I have been in the market for a new truck. But, I don't want to trade until I find out if this problem is subject to a recall. This all happened after I had my truck serviced for the air bag recall.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10819571
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge ram 1500. Upon turning the vehicle to the off position and removing the key, the engine continued to run. The contact removed the battery cables, but the engine still continued to run. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 215,845. Updated 02/26/16*lj *tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10780877
SteeringElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge ram 1500. While driving at approximately 35 to 40 mph, when the vehicle veered left or right, the steering wheel was difficult to turn and the rpm level decreased. The engine felt as if it would seize. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dodge dealer and was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10778838
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Rear pinion nut came loose and drive shaft fell off and truck made abrupt stop rear end locked up

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 10760186

Dodge Ram 1500 engine complaints by year

Ram 1500 engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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