2008 Ram 1500 MPG
Across its 12 EPA-rated versions, the 2008 Ram 1500 returns 12–16 mpg city, 16–19 highway and 14–17 combined.
The most efficient pairs the 3.7-liter 6-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, at 17 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 4.7-liter 8-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive and is rated 14 mpg combined.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 3.7 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 19 | 17 | Regular · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Regular · 635 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 16 | 14 | Regular · 635 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Regular · 635 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 · 635 g CO₂/mi |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD | 4.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 16 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 · 635 g CO₂/mi |
2008 Ram 1500 fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2008 Ram 1500 costs about $3,840 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (17 mpg combined), or roughly 26 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (14 mpg combined) comes to about $4,670 a year, $820 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2008 Ram 1500 specs
2008 Ram 1500 buyers could choose between 3 engines, according to EPA records: 4.7 L 8-cyl, 3.7 L 6-cyl and 5.7 L 8-cyl. It came with automatic and manual transmissions, in all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive versions. The EPA classes it as a standard pickup truck.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 L | 8 | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 8 |
| 3.7 L | 6 | Manual 6-spd; Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 5.7 L | 8 | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2008 Ram 1500 problems
Owners have filed 554 complaints about the 2008 Ram 1500 with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Air bags are the most-reported area (23% of component mentions), followed by steering (15%) and power train (10%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 29 complaints a year: fewer than the 2009 (39 a year).
That ranks 15th of 17 Ram 1500 model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 554, 40 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 29 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 165 | 23% |
| Steering | 106 | 15% |
| Power train | 75 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 52 | 7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 50 | 7% |
| Suspension | 50 | 7% |
| Engine | 35 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 27 | 4% |
| Wheels | 19 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 18 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 18 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 14 | 2% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 13 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 2% |
| Visibility | 12 | 2% |
| Structure | 11 | 2% |
| Tires | 11 | 2% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 9 | 1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 7 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 5 | <1% |
| Other fuel system | 1 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | <1% |
| Seats | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The recall cannot be completed because the parts are unavailable. We have contacted the service department in the dealership a number of times. They told us the parts are not available and cannot give us a date to repair it. …
Front end suspension and steering problems, very loud rubbing sound and unstable feels like it might brake apart.
Vehicle diagnosed September 5, 2025 with failed front driver-side CV axle. Covered under factory lifetime powertrain warranty. Manufacturer (Stellantis) has been unable to supply replacement part for over seven months due to “tooling issue” and no ETA. …
2008 Ram 1500 recalls
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2008 Ram 1500, plus 3 recalls of replacement equipment made for it.
The most recent, campaign 16V352000 from May 2016, concerns air bags.
Steering accounts for 4 of the 8 campaigns, more than any other area.
16V352000 · May 24, 2016 · Air bags
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant.
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete.
15V313000 · May 26, 2015 · Air bags
Problem: The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete.
13V529000 · November 6, 2013 · Steering
Problem: The left tie rod assembly may break.
Risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary.
13V528000 · November 6, 2013 · Steering
Problem: The left tie rod assembly may break.
Risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler notified owners and launched its recall campaign in January 2014.
11V350000 · July 6, 2011 · Steering
Problem: THIS CONDITION TENDS TO OCCUR DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT TYPE MANEUVERS WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS MAKING A TIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 VEHICLES MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE AFFECTED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AS A REPLACEMENT PART DURING NORMAL SERVICE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED.
10E040000 · August 23, 2010 · Wheels · replacement equipment
Problem: THE INBOARD ROLL FORM USED TO MAINTAIN THE HUB ASSEMBLY CAN FATIGUE RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION ON THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE (2WD) APPLICATIONS. THE RISK OF THESE ISSUES DO NOT OCCUR ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) APPLICATIONS, AND INSTALLATION ON THE 4WD APPLICATIONS ARE NOT PART OF THIS RECALL.
Risk: A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR IF THE WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND TECHNICIANS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED HUB ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE.
10E013000 · May 3, 2010 · Steering · replacement equipment
Problem: THE PITMAN ARM CAN FRACTURE AND BREAK AWAY FROM THE STEERING BOX CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Risk: STEERING LOSS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUTHORIZED INSTALLERS WILL INSPECT FOR DEFECTIVE PITMAN ARM AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE.
07E104000 · December 11, 2007 · Visibility · replacement equipment
Problem: CERTAIN 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."
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
Remedy: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE.
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2008 Ram 1500, without an overall score.
These ratings use NHTSA's pre-2011 test method, so they can't be compared with stars for 2011 and later models.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extended Cab | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Regular Cab | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Ram 1500s can be compared fairly. Among other 2008 models in the EPA's standard pickup trucks class, the 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 (17 mpg) and 2008 Ford F-150 (16 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 17 | 554 | 29 | 8 |
| 2009 | 16 | 707 | 39 | 4 |
| 2010 | 16 | 488 | 29 | 4 |
| 2011 | 16 | 689 | 43 | 4 |
Every Ram 1500 model year compared →
Similar 2008 models
FAQ
Is the 2008 1500 a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2008 Ram 1500 has 29 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (15th most of 17 model years), 5 recall campaigns and up to 17 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2008 1500 problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (165), steering (106) and power train (75). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2008 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 3 replacement-equipment recalls. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 1500 get?
The EPA rates the versions at 14–17 mpg combined (12–16 city, 16–19 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 1500 per year?
About $3,840 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $4,670 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).