Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Dodge Ram 1500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 554 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V352000 Do Not Drive - Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V313000 Do Not Drive - Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V528000 Failure of the Left Tie Rod Assembly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V529000 Failure of the Left Tie Rod Assembly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V350000 OUTER TIE ROD FAILURE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E040000 WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E013000 AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E104000 CURVED TEMPERED AUTOMOTIVE REPLACEMENT GLASS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 165 complaints
- Steering 103 complaints
- Power Train 73 complaints
- Electrical System 52 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 50 complaints
- Suspension 49 complaints
Of the 554 complaints on file, 40 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 554 complaints, owners report 37 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 has a below-average reliability rating, as indicated by 554 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns. Frequent complaints about air bags and steering, especially tie rod assembly issues, highlight safety concerns. Multiple recalls on airbag inflators and steering components further emphasize potential risks. However, the data is limited regarding exact failure mileages and costs, making precise predictions challenging.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | Unknown | $500–$1,000 | very common |
| Steering system | Unknown | $400–$900 | very common |
| Power train | Unknown | $700–$2,500 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspection and replacement
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system service
- Battery check and replacement
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Steering wheel vibration
- Unusual noises during steering
- Transmission slipping
- Delayed gear shifting
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.