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severe 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Of the 32 engine complaints filed for the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
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.
Of the 5 model years of Dodge Ram 2500 we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 32.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
This could result in an engine compartment fire.
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 ↗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 ↗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 ↗Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners of 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 diesels describe a pattern of emissions-system failures that start early and persist for the life of the vehicle. Check engine lights come on within 500 miles; dealers clean emissions sensors repeatedly, replace DPF filters and turbos, but the problems recur. One dealer admitted to the owner that this is "an ongoing issue" with no permanent fix.
The turbo and DPF regeneration system is the core problem. Under acceleration, many trucks lose power completely, produce heavy black smoke, and stall out. Owners report having to shut down and restart on the highway—some endured six complete stalls over 13 months, nearly causing collisions with tractor trailers. One owner noted the dealer said repair attempts would not stop the problem anyway.
During DPF regeneration cycles (roughly every 100 miles), exhaust fumes and burning fuel smell pour into the cabin. Owners report eye irritation, coughing, nausea, and measured CO levels exceeding safe limits. One dealer acknowledged this as a "common problem." Four dealer repair attempts on one truck failed to stop it.
Oxygen sensors fail repeatedly; one owner made nine dealer visits for sensor work before the dealer refused to service him further. Less common but serious: engine fires, bed melting from exhaust heat, and violent shaking above 55 mph. Dodge customer service has been evasive—owners report being told to email, then call, or hire a lawyer, with no buyback offers despite documented safety issues.
Same Dodge Ram 2500 engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009
Check engine light illuminates repeatedly within first 500–2,951 miles; dealers diagnose emissions sensor deposits or DPF/particulate filter clogging. Owners report repeated cleaning or replacement of sensors and filters with no permanent fix. One dealer acknowledged this as 'an ongoing issue' with no solution.
When: First 500 miles onward; recurs every 100 miles during DPF regeneration cycles in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates intermittently or persistently; Heavy black smoke from exhaust; Difficulty accelerating or loss of power; Engine struggles on hills
Codes mentioned: P1451
Repairs/costs cited: Emissions sensor cleaning (temporary fix, repeats); DPF/particulate filter replacement; turbo replacement attempted. Dealers state problem will recur.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim no permanent fix exists; Dodge runaround (told to email, then call). One dealer states 'no known fix' for the DPF regeneration system. Out-of-warranty claims denied.
Engine loses power or fails to respond during acceleration (from stopped or highway speeds), requires full-throttle input to move 5–10 mph, then loss of response entirely. Black smoke accompanies loss of power. Vehicle must be shut off and restarted to regain normal operation. Multiple complaints cite repeated turbo replacement without resolution.
When: Reported from 79,882 miles to first occurrence within purchase period; recurs every 3,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Little to no engine response on acceleration; Black smoke billowing from exhaust; Engine stalls or shuts down while driving; Lethargic performance requiring restart; Sudden loss of power at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Turbo replacement (multiple attempts on same vehicle); turbo carbon buildup cleaning; one case cited independent diesel mechanic turbo repair after dealer repeated DPF/turbo test without fixing issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Out-of-warranty claim denied. Dealer admitted repeated filter/turbo work would not stop the problem.
Engine stalls completely while driving at various speeds (60–70 mph), forcing owners to pull over, restart, and limp to safety. Check engine light illuminates. One owner reports six instances of complete shutdown on the highway between Nov 2009–Dec 2010, creating immediate safety hazard (near-miss with tractor trailers).
When: First occurrence within 5 weeks of purchase; six stall-outs reported over 13-month span
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls unexpectedly during highway driving; Check engine light illuminates; Complete loss of power and propulsion; Requires restart to resume operation
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; DPF diagnosed as tracked soot; lower particulate emission system replaced. Turbo system failed one month later.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but did not assist. Dodge refused to acknowledge safety issue or offer buyback.
Exhaust brake unexpectedly engages during light acceleration, preventing forward motion and forcing gradual throttle application. Engine RPM then drops to 500 and surges to 1,200 rpm, causing truck to lurch forward without driver input. Occurred twice in 7 months; owner reports near-collision with pedestrian and unintended entry into intersection.
When: Two incidents in 7 months; at traffic lights
Symptoms owners cite: Exhaust brake engages without input; Engine RPM drops sharply then spikes; Unexpected lurch forward; Loss of control during low-speed maneuvers
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle at dealer for diagnostic; no repair details provided.
During DPF regeneration (every ~100 miles, lasting ~20 miles), strong fuel/burning odor enters cabin, causing eye irritation, coughing, nausea, and illness. Owner placed CO meter in cab that exceeded maximum reading of 99 ppm. Multiple dealer visits unable to resolve; one dealer acknowledged this as 'common problem.'
When: Regeneration events every 100 miles; intermittent; most prominent when heater activated
Symptoms owners cite: Strong burning fuel odor in cabin during regen cycles; Eye irritation and burning; Coughing; Nausea and illness; Elevated cabin CO levels (>99 ppm measured)
Repairs/costs cited: Turbo replacement attempted (sooted-up turbo); exhaust wrapping attempted. Problem persisted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable to duplicate or fix; one dealer acknowledged as 'common problem' with no solution offered.
Exhaust smell enters cabin, overpowering enough to cause eye irritation and illness. Occurs intermittently, most prominent when heater is activated. One owner measured CO levels exceeding safe limits. Dealer unable to locate or repair.
When: 16,500 to 162,000+ miles; intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Exhaust odor in cabin; Eye irritation; Illness and nausea; Elevated CO levels when measured
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealer repair attempts failed to resolve; unable to locate source.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable to duplicate failure or provide remedy.
Strong burning coolant odor while driving at highway speed; temperature gauge rises rapidly indicating engine overheating. Coolant had to be added to reservoir. Head gasket replaced by independent mechanic.
When: 166,577 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Burning coolant smell; Rapid temperature gauge rise; Engine overheating
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket replacement (independent mechanic).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no assistance provided (out of warranty).
EGR cooler installation pad makes direct contact with firewall, creating potential fire hazard. Discovered during routine maintenance within first 5,000 miles. Dealer suggested cutting installation pad, but owner concerned this would damage heating system.
When: Less than 5,000 miles; identified under NHTSA Campaign 08V641000
Symptoms owners cite: Physical contact between firewall pad and EGR cooler; Potential fire hazard
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suggested cutting installation pad; owner did not authorize due to heating system concerns.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer (per NHTSA 08V641000) had no information on this campaign; refused to address issue.
Check engine light illuminates due to oxygen sensor faults. One owner took vehicle to dealer nine times for oxygen sensor issues; dealer eventually refused to service vehicle further, claiming owner was 'abusing' it despite no substantiation.
When: 11 miles (first failure) to 46,674 miles on various vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Catalyst converter and oxygen sensor coded as defective
Repairs/costs cited: Oxygen sensor replacement attempted; catalyst converter and oxygen sensors diagnosed as defective (vehicle not repaired); turbo and EGR temp tube replacement diagnosed on follow-up.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered no assistance; one dealer refused further service.
Engine caught fire in engine compartment while owner was looking under hood. Fire was extinguished; vehicle not repaired.
When: 59,472 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous engine compartment fire
Repairs/costs cited: Fire extinguished by owner; no repair attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no response indicated.
Exhaust pipe overheated, melting the truck bed. Vehicle not taken to dealer.
When: 74,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Exhaust pipe overheating; Truck bed material melting
Repairs/costs cited: No repair; vehicle not diagnosed professionally.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer filed report; denied assistance due to out-of-warranty status.
Vehicle shakes violently when driven faster than 55 mph. Not diagnosed or repaired.
When: 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking at speeds above 55 mph
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no assistance provided.
Emission control system activation inhibits vehicle acceleration capability, most prominent during city driving and stop-and-go traffic. Failure present since purchase.
When: 1,500 miles (first report); continues to 12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Inhibited acceleration when emission control system loads; Most prominent in city/stop-and-go traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed flash system check; failure not corrected.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer flash performed but did not correct issue.
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
I purchased a new Dodge Ram 2500 pick-up in march 2008. Within 5 weeks, vehicle started operating poorly. Check engine light would come on, truck would lose power, heavy black smoke from exhaust. Truck was brought back to dealership eight times in first six months. Dodge stated they could find no problems with vehicle. Problems continues and escalated. Truck continues to operate…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, a strong burning odor of coolant emitted inside the vehicle. The temperature gauge increased rapidly as the engine overheated. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where coolant was dispensed into the reservoir. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where the head…
Exhaust leak into cab of truck is a diesel and actually makes you ill when riding in it. 4 attempts by dealer have failed to rectify problem. I placed a co meter in cab and it went off the scale which goes to 99 ppm. *tr
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the engine warning indicator was intermittently illuminated. The failure recurred on several occasions until the engine warning indicator was consistently illuminated each time the vehicle was driven. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but the failure was unable to be…
Epa driven DPF filter on cummins diesel 2008 2500 truck is always causing problems with check engine light. Dealers have had to put a port on turbo, clean exhaust, wrap exhaust, and claim that customers are idling too much. Pollution control devices are obviously bad design. They burn extra diesel in exhaust to burn soot and make mileage go down by 10mpg. 2006 to 2008 change lost significant…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel. The contact stated when the emission control system would load it would inhibit the vehicle acceleration capability. The contact stated that he had experienced the failure since the date of purchase. The dealer stated they performed a flash system check but did not correct the failure. The contact stated that the failure was most prominent when…
It's a meaningful issue. 32 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 13,000 and 74,000 miles, with the median around 40,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,000; a quarter make it past 74,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.