10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
84,876 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Dodge Ram 1500 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #61

Mar 272023

Ram 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The cv axle on the passenger side has gone out 3 times in the last 6 months. That's not just coincidence. And there is no extreme driving conditions or unnecessary turning going on.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #60

Oct 052019

Ram 1500 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving approximately 60 mph, the driveshaft detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear axle pinion fell into the rear differential. The vehicle was taken to Tacoma Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (253-475-7300, located at 4101 S Tacoma way, Tacoma, wa 98409) where it was stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V474000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

- Jblm, WA, USA

problem #59

Nov 052018

Ram 1500

  • 106,000 miles
Rear end made loud whining noise and knocking before the driveshaft became complete disconnected and the rear end seized up. The vehicle was in motion on a highway when this happened-extremely dangerous. This appears to be the same issue covered under nhsta recall # 13V-038.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #58

Jul 072018

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 250,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

WE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE SHAFT ALONG WITH THE EVAPORATOR BOX ON THE GAS TANK WENT FLYING OUT THE [XXX] OF THE TRUCK. IT LIFTED US OFF THE GROUND PUT A WHOLE IN THE GAS TANK AND THE TRUCK COULD HAVE EXPLODED IF WE DIDN'T GET IT STOPED IN TIME SO IT DIDN'T SPARK. OUR HOLE FAMILY COULD HAVE DIED THAT DAY! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Eloise, FL, USA

problem #57

Dec 202017

Ram 1500

  • miles
Rear differential is noisy after being repaired several times. Vehicle has 73,000 miles.

- Kerhonkson, NY, USA

problem #56

Jul 282017

Ram 1500

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving 50 mph, the contact heard a clunking noise. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to slow down and the rear wheels seized. As a result, the vehicle spun, left the roadway, and landed in a ditch. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. An inspector from the contact's insurance company diagnosed that the rear axle pinion nut had detached from the drive shaft, causing the failure. A dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V474000 (power train). The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.

- Union City, PA, USA

problem #55

Jul 082017

Ram 1500

  • 191,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

08 Ram 1500 drive shaft separated form differential causing rear end to lock up at 60 mph on interstate forcing me to the curb second time had rearend repaired this is a safety hazard and needs to be addressed vehicle is no a a wrecker yard for anyone to inspect will not repair till it is checked by NHTSA

- Port Allen, LA, USA

problem #54

Apr 052017

Ram 1500

  • 125,000 miles
This vehicle has given me many problems and most recently very dangerous ones. A few months ago on my way to work around 4am the drive shaft broke off and flew out at 75 mph. Luckily there wasn't much traffic during that time and the back part of the drive shaft is the one that broke off not the front so the truck didn't flip over. The truck has been repaired since then. Now a few days ago my pregnant wife was driving the truck and it turned off on her in the middle of an intersection while I was working out of town. On my return I found the electric throttle control light on at the dashboard. In doing some research I found that this is typically in relation to a bad fuel pump relay. I found this to be more than common on many Dodge vehicles and obviously a very dangerous problem to have. The fuel pump relay on my vehicle seems to be integrated into the tipm and not serviceable. There also seems to not be a recall for this problem. It now appears I am being forced to spend $1200 on a manufacturer defect. This vehicle has gone from being my daily commuter to a huge liability because I am not sure what will happen next.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #53

Sep 152016

Ram 1500

  • 244,000 miles
Rear differential seized up while driving at 30 mph nearly went off road

- St Joseph, MO, USA

problem #52

Aug 182016

Ram 1500

  • 110,000 miles
Driving straight in town at 30 mph when rear-end locked up. With no warning, no sounds, no grinding, squealing, or shimmying, the truck skidded about 20 yds before the driveshaft literally ripped in half, with both halves shooting out from under the truck in different directions. Pinion bearing already had been replaced about a year prior after feeling some grinding and hearing sounds, but has run smooth as butter since. I had my last oil change and inspection at take ten about a month ago. Rear end remained locked up with driveshaft removed (obliterated) when the tow truck got there. Glad I was not on the highway, or myself and 7 year old son may have not survived.

- Ponca City, OK, USA

problem #51

Jul 272016

Ram 1500

  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The drive shaft separated from the rear differential, due to the pinion nut loosening, and the rear axle locked up. The truck was being driven on a town road, when this occurred.

- Fairfield, CT, USA

problem #50

Mar 182016

Ram 1500

  • 94,000 miles
I was pulling my 19ft. Boat, and I was stopped at a red light. The light turned green, and I hit the gas. There was a knock in the rear end and a loud pop. I looked under the rear end, and I noticed that the rear end was leaking at the rear differential. When the tow truck arrived the rear wheels would not roll. The rear end locked up. This will be the second time my rear differential has went out. The first time was at 34,000 miles. The first time the rear end was making grounding sounds before I took it in. The Dodge dealership replaced it under the original service warranty. When they took the rear end apart, they found metal shavings in the oil. This time the truck now has 94,000 miles. Both differentials are currently averaging 45,000 miles each.

- Iva, SC, USA

problem #49

Feb 162016

Ram 1500

  • 168,000 miles
I was driving and I started to hear a loud noise and the truck didn't feel right. So I took it to have it checked out and they told me that my rear end was messed up. I had to replace the pinion bearings, rear wheel seals and all the bearings in the rear end. Then after all that was finally fixed I was on my way to work and I start to hear the same noise again so yet again I took it to have it checked out and yet agian they tell me that the rear end is messed up. So I did some research and found out that my truck was under recall for this problem. My entire rear end is messed up because of this and I have spent thousands of dollars trying to have it fixed because the mechanics had no idea that it was under recall.

- Lagrange, NC, USA

problem #48

Feb 062016

Ram 1500

  • 120,000 miles
While driving down the road the rear end locked up causing the drive shaft to twist in half and the transfer case to bust into pieces. The truck spun out of control into a ditch. There was no warning, there are recalls online for other year models having this same problem but not for 2008. I truly believe this is the same problem with the pinion gear.

- Conway, AR, USA

problem #47

Jan 232016

Ram 1500

  • 90,000 miles
The gear shift cable is very common problem in multiple Dodge cars, trucks, and SUV's the gear shift cable breaks easily, and the parts for repair are not available anywhere in the usa. The cable is currently being redesigned fca/Ram for the 5th time, with a one month or greater time frame until they are available for dealers.

- Somerset, NJ, USA

problem #46

Oct 272015

Ram 1500

  • 95,000 miles
While driving the rear axle lock-up and the driveshaft detached from the rear differential. This cause my truck to lock up the rear tires nearly causing and accident. I was on the ramp to the freeway. 20 more ft and I would have been in traffic.

- Madison Heights, MI, USA

problem #45

Sep 092015

Ram 1500

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle and the rear tires seized. The contact was able to avoid a crash. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact noticed that the drive shaft had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 13V038000 (power train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #44

Sep 022015

Ram 1500

  • miles
The truck started to make scraping noise and intensified in about 2 miles of driving a loud grinding noise with vibration sounding like a eco inside the cabin faster you go louder it gets then while in motion the truck made a louder sound and felt like the truck move back for 2 seconds and keep then moving foward still the loud noise I toke it to a mechanic shop to be check and the owner told me that the differential oil has metal on it like a metal was loose inside I told him to stop so I can check for recalls and call the dealer online they show that this kind of issues happen before and that the tires can lock and cause an accident or put someone in danger pedestrian passenger or driver is a recall from Chrysler about this issue but I will contact the dealer for more information I been inside the forums online and is a lot of people with this same problem I hope this recall come thru to all those Dodge Ram 1500 buyers like

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #43

Aug 282015

Ram 1500

  • 104,000 miles
Rear pinion nut came loose and drive shaft fell off and truck made abrupt stop rear end locked

- Saratoga Springs , NY, USA

problem #42

Feb 182015

Ram 1500

  • 62,995 miles
On 2/19/2015, I was driving my 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 slt at approx 40mph when loud bang came from the rear of the truck, the truck lurches sideways and proceeded to come to a grinding halt. The truck would not move in either drive or reverse. I then had the truck towed back to the dealer since it could not be driven. Upon inspection by the dealership, it showed that the pinion gears were destroyed and all of the metal shavings cause the rest of the failure of the rear. The result was the entire rear needed to be rebuilt. It is very disheartening since Chrysler acknowledged the same issue and recall the following model year of my truck (2009) if this catastrophic failure of the rear had happened while on the highway or in higher volume traffic, the safety results could have much worse or dire. With 63K miles, a failure like this, especially with absolutely no warning of impending failure, should never had happened

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

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