GEAR MOTOR, Transfer Case The gear motor assembly is shipped in AWD/2WD position. The transfer case needs to be positioned in AWD/2WD position to properly assemble gear motor to T-Case. Please reference Star Online publication S2121000003 for further details. Do not have the transfer case in in another position other than AWD/2WD and rotate the motor to align the bolt holes as this could result in damage to the gear motor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Dodge Ram 1500 engine problems
moderate 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 28 engine complaints filed for the 2008 Dodge Ram 1500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
GEAR MOTOR, Transfer Case The gear motor assembly is shipped in AWD/2WD position. The transfer case needs to be positioned in AWD/2WD position to properly assemble gear motor to T-Case. Please reference Star Online publication S2121000003 for further details. Do not have the transfer case in in another position other than AWD/2WD and rotate the motor to align the bolt holes as this could result in damage to the gear motor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗AIR DAM, Front, With Actuator (Active Air Dam) Prior to replacing this part, please call FCA Redacted Content. If no response in 15 minutes, proceed with repair.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket. This applies to Cummins 5.9L and 6.7L engines only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service - Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket. This applies to Cummins 5.9L and 6.7L engines only. Installation: 1. Clean the oil pan T-joints.~ 2. Fill the T-joint between the pan rail/gear housing and pan rail/rear seal retainer with sealant. Use Mopar® Silicone Rubber Adhesive Sealant or equivalent. 3. Apply a 2-mm [0.063-in] bead of Mopar Engine Sealant RTV Silicone Rubber Adhesive, to the oil pan flange.~ 4. The four piece gasket will need to be assembled to make a complete oil pan gasket. 5. Lay the oil pan gasket(s) onto the oil pan flange.~ 6. Ensure the oil pan gask
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint across these 28 narratives is random, unpredictable engine shutdown during normal driving. The engine simply stops running without warning, and typically no check engine light or diagnostic code appears. The vehicle loses all power steering and braking, forcing the owner to coast to safety. The engine restarts immediately afterward, leaving mechanics baffled.
A distinct subset occurs specifically after refueling. Owners report strong fuel odor and stalls happening within 2–3 minutes of leaving the pump, particularly during acceleration, turns, or moderately hard braking. One owner states this happens at 95 percent of fill-ups.
A separate failure pattern involves the rocker arm and lifter assembly. Loud tapping noise from the engine, illuminated check engine light, and parts on severe backorder (600 units ahead in one queue) suggest a systemic issue. One shop told an owner this is a known valve seat failure.
Multiple owners have taken their trucks to 4+ independent shops and dealerships without resolution. One spent over $10,000 over three years. Another had the engine replaced three times in 2.2 years under warranty, with repair times ranging from 28 to 54 days per incident. The intermittent nature makes diagnosis nearly impossible—no codes, no reproducible symptoms for the dealer.
Same Dodge Ram 1500 engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Catastrophic Engine Failure—Complete Loss of Power
Engine shuts down completely without warning while driving at various speeds, causing total loss of power steering and braking. The vehicle becomes immobile in traffic. Owners report this is a recurring problem in some cases. One narrative explicitly mentions timing chain tension failure causing catastrophic engine damage on a 5.7L Hemi.
When: While driving at all speeds; many incidents occur within 2-3 minutes after refueling or during maneuvers like turns and stops. Instances reported from 26,000 miles to 122,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off without warning; No check engine light or warning lights in most cases; Loss of power steering and braking; RPM fluctuation preceding some failures; Vehicle must be restarted in Neutral; White smoke from engine in one case; Loud noise before failure in some instances
Codes mentioned: P0884, None found in most cases despite multiple diagnostic attempts
Repairs/costs cited: One customer replaced engine three times under warranty in 2.2 years (28 days, 45 days, 54 days repair time per incident). Another spent over $10,000 attempting repairs across 4 independent shops and 2 dealerships without resolution. Timing chain tension failure required engine replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty company (LKQ) authorized engine replacement in one case. Dealer stated unaware of problem in another. No manufacturer recall mentioned.
Post-Refueling Engine Stalling
Engine stalls consistently after filling the fuel tank, particularly during acceleration, turns, or driving maneuvers immediately following refueling. Owners report strong fuel odor. This occurs in approximately 95% of fill-ups for at least one owner.
When: Within 2-3 minutes after refueling; occurs during subsequent driving maneuvers such as acceleration, turns onto freeways, or moderately hard stops.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls after fuel fill-up; Loss of power steering during stall; Strong fuel odor noticed; Bucking behavior; Occurs at high percentage of fill-ups for some owners
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated unaware of problem; owner notes this is documented on consumer websites as a recurring issue across multiple Dodge models and Jeep vehicles.
Intermittent Stalling Without Diagnostic Codes
Engine randomly stalls during normal driving at idle, during turns, or at variable speeds. No diagnostic trouble codes are stored, and the vehicle restarts immediately after stalling. Multiple mechanics and dealerships are unable to diagnose the root cause.
When: Intermittent; occurs randomly at idle, during turns, during stops, or while driving at various speeds. Duration of problem ranges from weeks to 3+ years for some owners.
Symptoms owners cite: Random engine stall at idle or all speeds; Rough idle with shaking; Engine surges (high rev) at idle then wants to stall; No diagnostic codes stored; Check engine light absent or flickers without codes; Immediate restart after stall; Loss of power steering during stall
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle work performed in one case. Wires replaced in another. Dealer unable to identify cause. One owner reports spending over $10,000 across 6 service locations with no resolution.
Rocker Arm and Lifter Failure
Rocker arm separates from lifter or breaks due to lifter spring failure. One owner reports this identified as a common valve seat failure issue. Engine light illuminates and blinks. High parts demand (600 units on backorder) suggests systemic issue.
When: Rocker arm failure reported around 147,000 miles with regular maintenance. Lifter replacement needed around 57,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud tapping noise from engine (passenger side reported); Engine warning light illuminates and blinks; Rocker arm comes off lifter; Broken lifter spring
Repairs/costs cited: Rocker arm replacement required; lifter replacement needed. One owner reported parts on backorder with 600 units ahead in queue; 3.5-week wait documented. Another owner had camshaft removed and new camshaft installed along with new rack lifters on passenger side.
Engine Warning Light—Sensor and Harness Failure
Engine warning light illuminates, triggering a check engine condition. Diagnosis identifies failed sensor and harness requiring replacement. Parts availability issues delay repair.
When: At 70,000 miles in reported case.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor and harness replacement needed; parts on backorder at time of complaint.
Sudden Power Loss While Driving—No Restart Required
Vehicle suddenly loses all engine power while driving at highway speed. Check engine light illuminates. Vehicle does not immediately restart and requires towing or extended downtime.
When: At approximately 5,300 miles in one case.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power while driving 55 mph; Check engine light illuminates
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer found no problems after inspection.
Abnormal Engine Humming Noise
Engine produces abnormal humming noise during normal driving. Problem cannot be replicated by dealer and remains undiagnosed.
When: At 36,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal humming noise while driving 55 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate or diagnose.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Several times now after starting the truck and running it 10-15 minutes it just shuts off. Today on a very busy 4 lane road it happened and nearly caused a crash due to no power steering. Shops have checked it and it does not show in code errors.
The engine randomly dies. At idle or driving, at all speeds. It starts right back up. I have had the truck worked on at 4 shops and two dealerships. I have spent over $10,000 string to get the problem fixed. It is a very dangerous situation. I have been trying to resolve this problem for 3 years. *tr
Had engine trouble with your 2008 Dodge Ram 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2008 Dodge Ram 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 27 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 39,892 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 71,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,892; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Dodge/Ram 1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.