Dodge 1500 2008

Model 1500 made in 2008 by Dodge got 41 consumer complains as well as 2 recalls. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to air bags and electrical system. There were some recalls concerningsteering and visibility.

Model 2008

Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
STEERING - GEAR BOX - SHAFT PITMAN
10E013000FABTECH MOTORSPORTS E (Equipment)150005/24/2010MFRCHRYSLER GROUP LLC05/03/201005/03/2010
Defect SummaryFabtech is recalling certain aftermarket replacement pitman arms, p/nos. fts93001 and ft44039, installed for use on certain 2003 through 2008 dodge 2500 4wd, 3500 4wd, and 1500 4wd mega cab vehicles. the pitman arm can fracture and break away from the steering box causing total loss of steering control.
Consequence SummarySteering loss could result in a vehicle crash possibly resulting in property damage, injury or death.
Corrective SummaryFabtech will notify owners and authorized installers will inspect for defective pitman arm and replace if necessary free of charge. the safety recall began on may 24, 2010. owners may contact fabtech at 1-877-432-2832.
NotesThis recall only pertains to aftermarket fabtech replacement pitman arms and has no relation to any original equipment installed on dodge 2500, 3500, and 1500 vehicles manufactured by chrysler group, llc.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov .
VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR
07E104000SAFELITE FULFILLMENT, INC. E (Equipment)165701/15/2008MFRCHRYSLER GROUP LLC12/11/200712/11/2007571205
Defect SummaryCertain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as dot-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles may not break into small pieces as expected of tempered glass and fails to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 205, glazing materials.
Consequence SummaryIn the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
Corrective SummarySafelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. safelite will notify its wholesale customers and reimburse wholesale customers for current inventory and at a specified rate for replacing their customer's glass. wholesale customers can contact safelite's wholesale division, service autoglass toll free at 1-888-246-6298. the recall began on january 15, 2008.
NotesThis recall only pertains to certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass, ltd. (dot-430) and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., and has no relation to any original equipment installed on the vehicles listed above. customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
AIR BAGS
02/17/201254100
 While driving on a rural road close to home i had to swerve to the left to avoid a deer in the road when i swerved left i instantly impacted a telephone pole and came to a violent stop without the airbag deploying to protect me. i suffered neck , back and hand injuries as well as a severe concussion. i will be forever afraid to drive another dodge vehicle or any vehicle in which my life is dependent on whether or not my airbag is going to open.the front end of the truck is pushed in to the engine block.scary very very scary to think that there could be the same incident in the future that could result in death
09/15/2008100001
 My air bags do not work, i had it checked at agency and they said it's a switch in the steering column. it has been 2 months now and every time i call the agency they say it's back ordered. what can i do? *tr
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL
12/04/2009117431
 I recently had an accident where the air bags did not deploy. causing me to get over 30 stitches in my lower lip and chin. im concerned as if this should happen in a more serious accident the damage would be much more so. *tr
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
06/24/201035000
 When driving the truck gives no warning everything just shuts off and i loose all power. i can't steer the car or break very easy.this has happened to me now twice. it is very scary and my dealer who sold me the truck brand new said he has heard of this with the model i bought.
12/09/200860001
 2008 dodge ram 1500, the tipm module has burned up once already and after being replaced twice now we are smelling a burning smell again, when this happens the vehicle will not shift into or out of 4x4 (depending on what it is in when it occurs) it also causes loss of engine power, the windshield wipers quit, the air bag warning light goes on, the headlights dim way down, all the lights on the dash start flickering and all warning lights light up. this is very dangerous if this happens while driving down the highway at night and it is snowing or raining (which happens alot here in washington in the winter) the fixes the dealerships have done (two different places) have never lasted a day, we just got the vehicle back from repairs and we are again smelling a burning smell nd it is doing it all over again. *tr
10/23/200870001
 I bought a new 2008 dodge pick up 1500, with a v-6 manual transmission, 5 months later, with 7000 miles on the odometer, i was driving down a road at 45 mph, all the instrumentation flickered, then quit as well the engine quit, coasted to a stop on the side of the road, and there was a fire under the hood, called the fire department, they put the fire out. no one was hurt, but the vehicle is in bad shape, it has not been modified in any way, it is 100% the way chrysler made it. now, chrysler has refused to warrant this problem, saying they can find no indication of a manufacturing defect. this is so wrong, i am so upset, my truck has been sitting in their back lot for 7 weeks now, and they will not fix it, will not take any phone calls or anything, it is like they are an untouchable ghost. *tr
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
06/24/201035000
 When driving the truck gives no warning everything just shuts off and i loose all power. i can't steer the car or break very easy.this has happened to me now twice. it is very scary and my dealer who sold me the truck brand new said he has heard of this with the model i bought.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
12/09/200860001
 2008 dodge ram 1500, the tipm module has burned up once already and after being replaced twice now we are smelling a burning smell again, when this happens the vehicle will not shift into or out of 4x4 (depending on what it is in when it occurs) it also causes loss of engine power, the windshield wipers quit, the air bag warning light goes on, the headlights dim way down, all the lights on the dash start flickering and all warning lights light up. this is very dangerous if this happens while driving down the highway at night and it is snowing or raining (which happens alot here in washington in the winter) the fixes the dealerships have done (two different places) have never lasted a day, we just got the vehicle back from repairs and we are again smelling a burning smell nd it is doing it all over again. *tr
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
04/18/201230000
 When the vehicle is being refuled at a gas station, it will not automatically shut the gas pump off. it will spill gas all over the truck and pavement. it will do this every time, unless we carefully monitor and estimate how much gas it needs to be full and stop it before it reaches that point. this seems to be a common issue among this year model of trucks. we purchased this vehicle as used and the first time we filled up we had this issue. dodge told us $87 to evaluate issue and an additional $500 to fix it - in the same phone call. they know the issue, they are having issues with it in other rams but they refuse to do anything to resolve an ongoing issue.
POWER TRAIN
06/05/2012700001
 Driving home from work down the highway i heard a loud whine coming from the rear end of the truck. i pulled over to the shoulder and was slowing down when the rear end locked up causing the truck to buck and skid to a stop. the drive shaft was lying on the ground having disconnected from the rear end. once the truck was home i discovered nothing had broken. it looked like the pinion nut had loosened allowing the yoke to back off the pinion until they finally disconnected. luckily for me, i had pulled over to the shoulder, so i was not actually doing highway speed when the drive shaft fell off, but the whine started at highway speeds and if i had not pulled over, or was not able to pull over, it very easily could have happened on the crowded highway during the rush hour with everyone trying to get home. i contacted chrysler about this incident, but have heard nothing back from them regarding it. there is a nhtsa campaign (# pe12021) regarding this issue in 2009-2010 ram 1500s. i hope that is expanded to include other years as mine is a 2008 ram 1500 and had the exact issue as is described in that investigation. i have heard of others (granted from internet message boards, so no way of verifying it) with this problem as well, so this problem is not limited to the 2009-2010 model years. *tr
06/05/201270000
 Driving home from work down the highway i heard a loud whine coming from the rear end of the truck. i pulled over to the shoulder and was slowing down when the rear end locked up causing the truck to buck and skid to a stop. the drive shaft was lying on the ground having disconnected from the rear end. once the truck was home i discovered nothing had broken. it looked like the pinon nut had loosened allowing the yoke to back off the pinion until they finally disconnected. luckily for me, i had pulled over to the shoulder, so i was not actually doing highway speed when the drive shaft fell off, but the whine started at highway speeds and if i had not pulled over, or was not able to pull over, it very easily could have happened on the crowded highway during the rush hour with everyone trying to get home. i contacted chrysler about this incident, but have heard nothing back from them regarding it. there is a nhtsa campaign (# pe12021) regarding this issue in 2009-2010 ram 1500s. i hope that is expanded to include other years as mine is a 2008 ram 1500 and had the exact issue as is described in that investigation. i have heard of others (granted from internet message boards, so no way of verifying it) with this problem as well, so this problem is not limited to the 2009-2010 model years.
02/16/2012
 The transmission didn't want to shift into gear but did, carried to the local dealership, said the transmission gears are coming apart. only 52000 miles on this truck can't believe this has happened $3100 to repair.
12/09/200860001
 2008 dodge ram 1500, the tipm module has burned up once already and after being replaced twice now we are smelling a burning smell again, when this happens the vehicle will not shift into or out of 4x4 (depending on what it is in when it occurs) it also causes loss of engine power, the windshield wipers quit, the air bag warning light goes on, the headlights dim way down, all the lights on the dash start flickering and all warning lights light up. this is very dangerous if this happens while driving down the highway at night and it is snowing or raining (which happens alot here in washington in the winter) the fixes the dealerships have done (two different places) have never lasted a day, we just got the vehicle back from repairs and we are again smelling a burning smell nd it is doing it all over again. *tr
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
04/06/20082112101/01/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 dodge 1500. while idling at a stop light with the brake pedal depressed, the engine accelerated and then decelerated back to normal. while attempting to hook a boat up to the vehicle, the contact depressed the brake pedal to place the vehicle in reverse, and the engine accelerated. the brakes were not holding; therefore, he rammed the shifter into park to get the vehicle back under control. this failure has occurred on three separate occasions and was taken to the dealer on each occasion. the dealer stated they would send a technician to inspect the vehicle at his home. as of may 6, 2008, a technician has yet to arrive. the current mileage was 2,300 and failure mileage was 2,112. updated 6/16/08 *cn
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
02/28/200836
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 dodge ram 1500. while driving approximately 5 mph, the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. the vehicle braked slowly. while driving at any speed, the vehicle automatically sways to the right. the contact took the vehicle to an auto repair shop and the mechanic stated that the passenger side frame rail was shorter than the left. afterwards, he took the vehicle to the dealer on more than three occasions. after taking the vehicle to the dealer the third time, the mechanic stated that the brakes and the alignment were repaired; however, the contact must constantly depress the brake pedal in order for them to work and the alignment is still off. the current mileage was 5,500 and failure mileage was 36.
STEERING
08/22/2008100
 After speaking to several 2008 dodge ram owners (on dodge forum & face to face) we all have the same concerns with this vehicle. there is a severe handling issue at highway speeds that causes an uncontrollable rear suspension hop. this in turn results in severe handling issues that have led in some cases to spin outs and fishtailing. the newer dodge ram models are equipped with sway bars or anti sway bars so it shows that the engineers recognized the problem. i've spent numerous dollars and time having the tires balanced, rotated and rims checked as well as buying new tires in trying to eliminate this dangerous condition.
12/02/201154000
 Failed state inspection due to bad left tie rod
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
02/28/200836
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 dodge ram 1500. while driving approximately 5 mph, the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. the vehicle braked slowly. while driving at any speed, the vehicle automatically sways to the right. the contact took the vehicle to an auto repair shop and the mechanic stated that the passenger side frame rail was shorter than the left. afterwards, he took the vehicle to the dealer on more than three occasions. after taking the vehicle to the dealer the third time, the mechanic stated that the brakes and the alignment were repaired; however, the contact must constantly depress the brake pedal in order for them to work and the alignment is still off. the current mileage was 5,500 and failure mileage was 36.
SUSPENSION
08/22/2008100
 After speaking to several 2008 dodge ram owners (on dodge forum & face to face) we all have the same concerns with this vehicle. there is a severe handling issue at highway speeds that causes an uncontrollable rear suspension hop. this in turn results in severe handling issues that have led in some cases to spin outs and fishtailing. the newer dodge ram models are equipped with sway bars or anti sway bars so it shows that the engineers recognized the problem. i've spent numerous dollars and time having the tires balanced, rotated and rims checked as well as buying new tires in trying to eliminate this dangerous condition.
SUSPENSION - FRONT
10/05/20092001
 Freeway speeds rough road , front end of truck bounces over 2' to 24' left or right depending on rough road angel of entry, called dealer no idea of problem friend has same truck and same problem, this can happen anytime at freeway speed over 50mph. it has happened to me at least 8 times. *tr
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10/11/2009195001
 Had my cruise control set at 70 mph on my dodge ram 1500 truck as i was approaching an 18 wheeler i tap my brake to disengage my cruise and it didn't so i tapped it again and same results and there was cars on my left so i had to take the shoulder of the highway i was applying the brakes as hard as i could but i continued to gain speed ( the cruise was stuck and would not disengage) and had to take the shoulder. i continued to gain speed and ran out of shoulder so i had to cut left back to the highway and hit the trailer of the 18 wheeler. it slowed me down and i cut back behind the trailer and started to gain speed. the 2 cars that was to my left had passed so i cut left and turned off the key and began to slide. i slid about 100 feet and into the median. also the air bags never deployed. my truck was totaled but fortunately there was no injuries other than a few bruises to me and my 2 passengers. there also was no injuries to the driver of the 18 wheeler. *tr