Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Dodge Ram 2500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 317 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 #13V529000 Failure of the Left Tie Rod Assembly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V528000 Failure of the Left Tie Rod Assembly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V350000 OUTER TIE ROD FAILURE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E013000 AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V005000 STEERING LINKAGE/POWERS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V641000 ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E104000 CURVED TEMPERED AUTOMOTIVE REPLACEMENT GLASS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 175 complaints
- Suspension 48 complaints
- Air Bags 30 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 23 complaints
- Power Train 20 complaints
- Electrical System 16 complaints
Of the 317 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 317 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Dodge RAM 2500 has received numerous complaints, particularly concerning the steering system, leading to several recalls addressing tie rod and steering component failures. Complaints about suspension and air bags further affect confidence in its reliability. With 317 total complaints and 9 recall campaigns, the evidence suggests the vehicle has significant reliability issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Suspension | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | common |
| Air bag system | Unknown | $300–$900 | occasional |
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 every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Tire rotations every 7,500 miles
- Coolant flush every 100,000 miles
- Transmission service at 100,000 miles
- Fuel filter replacement every 30,000 miles
- Air filter replacement every 20,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering issues
- Air bag warning lights
- Uneven tire wear
- Noisy suspension
- Exhaust odor in cabin
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.