NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Ram 3500 Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Ram 3500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ram dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Ram 3500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2008 Ram 3500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Ram 3500, describing incidents dated March 15, 2014 to April 2, 2020.

Most-cited components

Steering 3 complaints
Suspension 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11323961 · Filed May 9, 2020
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE", REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR BOX STABILIZER/BRACE, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THIS HAPPENS WHEN GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOU ENCOUNTER BUMPS, THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SLOW DOWN TO STOP THE SHAKING, THE OTHER FIXES ARE VERY…
ODI #11187461 · Filed March 18, 2019
MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE FRONT END OF MY 2008 DODGE RAM 3500 QUAD CAB DUALLY DIESEL. I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE DEATH WOBBLE AFTER REPLACING EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END EXCEPT THE DRAG LINK STEERING LINK. I HAVE THE FACTORY "Y" TYPE AND WAS TOLD DODGE WAS REPLACING THEM WITH THE "T"STYLE. PLEASE ADVISE…
ODI #11141032 · Filed October 17, 2018
THE 4X4 ACTUATOR KEPT CLICKING IN AND OUT AND DAMAGED MY TRANSFER CASE WHERE I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ONE, NOW IT'S STARTING TO DO IT AGAIN. ALSO MY HEATER BLOWS COLD ON DIVER SIDE AND HOT ON PASSENGER SIDE. ALL SERVICES HAVE BEEN DONE BUT THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF, SAYING I NEED TO HAVE IT…

Read all 4 complaints

Alternator may Fail Resulting in Engine Stall/Fire

NHTSA #16V739000 · Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator · NHTSA notice

Reported October 13, 2016 · Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

Potentially affected: 74,811 vehicles

Repair completion: 66.7% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign S68 · Owners notified December 23, 2016 · Vehicles built January 30, 2007 – January 29, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may suddenly fail.

Safety consequence

If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator with a revised alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S68.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 Ram 3500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Ram 3500.

Steering; Suspension

ODI #11323961

Incident: April 2, 2020 · Filed: May 9, 2020

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE", REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR BOX STABILIZER/BRACE, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THIS HAPPENS WHEN GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOU ENCOUNTER BUMPS, THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SLOW DOWN TO STOP THE SHAKING, THE OTHER FIXES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES.

Steering

ODI #11187461

Incident: March 6, 2019 · Filed: March 18, 2019

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE FRONT END OF MY 2008 DODGE RAM 3500 QUAD CAB DUALLY DIESEL. I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE DEATH WOBBLE AFTER REPLACING EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END EXCEPT THE DRAG LINK STEERING LINK. I HAVE THE FACTORY "Y" TYPE AND WAS TOLD DODGE WAS REPLACING THEM WITH THE "T"STYLE. PLEASE ADVISE BEFORE I GET KILLED IN THIS THING. HIGHWAY BETWEEN 40 AND 65 I HIT A BUMP ANDTHE FRONT END STARTS JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I COME TO AN ALMOST STOP.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11141032

Incident: March 15, 2014 · Filed: October 17, 2018

THE 4X4 ACTUATOR KEPT CLICKING IN AND OUT AND DAMAGED MY TRANSFER CASE WHERE I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ONE, NOW IT'S STARTING TO DO IT AGAIN. ALSO MY HEATER BLOWS COLD ON DIVER SIDE AND HOT ON PASSENGER SIDE. ALL SERVICES HAVE BEEN DONE BUT THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF, SAYING I NEED TO HAVE IT SERVICED. HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS KEEP FLUCTUATING IN BRIGHT AND DEEMING.

Steering; Suspension

ODI #11061931

Incident: November 1, 2016 · Filed: January 10, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING, THE TIE ROD FELL OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO FREMONT MOTOR CODY (3127 BIG HORN AVE, CODY, WY 82414), BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIE ROD HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Other Ram 3500 model years

Check your 2008 Ram 3500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ram 3500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Ram VIN