Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 102 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 102, in the owner's own words
I PURCHASED A TRUCK ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAD TO REPLACED SO MANY THINGS ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 72,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. I ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH IT. I ENDED UP RUNNING CARFAX ON IT AND FOUND OUT THE ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BACK TWO WEEKS BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. IT HAD ORIGINALLY 167,000 MILES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED AN OCCUPANT SUSTAINED AN INJURY DUE TO THE SHARP DASHBOARD PIECES. THE CONTACT CALLED PIEDMONT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AEV (4015 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 305-4234) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOARD COULD BE REPLACED OR A CAP COVER INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, THESE RUBBER BRAKE LINES ALMOST KILLED ME BARRELING THRU A DOWNHILL RED LIGHT. FIXED BAD PART,THEN HIT GUARD RAIL,DAMAGED FRONT GRILLE,BUMPER AND FENDER WHEN THE OTHER LINE POPPED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A NOTORIOUS PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS. I'M NOT AS ANGRY ABOUT THE FILLER NECK WHICH ROTTED AND FILED TANK W RUST CHUNKS,REPLACED FUEL PUMP. BUT I THINK MORE PPL NEED TO B AWARE OF THIS BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AND I MIGHT SCRAP IT BECAUSE IT'S PROBLEMS 120K MILE TRUCK I CAN'T EVEN GET 700$ FOR AFTER THE $ I'VE INVESTED TO KEEP IT SAFE. I THINK THE BRAKES NEED TO BE RECALLED WITH THESE TRUCKS. OWNERS LIKE ME JUST LET THEM SIT BECAUSE THEY ROSY SO EASY THEIR NOT WORTH FIXING ANYMORE, I REGULARLY MAINTENENCE MY VEHICLES,THESE ARE EXPENSIVE TO KEEP SAFE, THANK YOU. SCOTT KIMBALL.120K 98 RAM
HE DASH STARTED CRACKING NOT THAT LONG AFTER WE GOT THE TRUCK. IT WAS NOT EVEN PAID OFF WHEN IT STARTED COMING APART WAS USED. WE EVENTUALLY PUT A MAT DASH COVER ON IT TO KEEP THE PARTS FROM FLYING AROUND. IT HAS VIRTUALLY DISSOLVED SINCE THEN. VERY POOR MATERIAL WAS USED ON THESE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN STREET WHEN I TURNED A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. AS I TURNED I FELT AN AWFUL JAR. I WAS PULLING A 12' EMPTY TRAILER. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE MY TRAILER LIFT UP ABOUT 3-4 FT. IT STAYED ON THE BALL HITCH BUT BOUNCED TERRIBLY. I ALSO SAW A TIRE ROLLING ACROSS THE ROAD FORTUNATELY NOT HITTING ANY OTHER CAR. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED AROUND MY TRUCK. I ACCOUNTED FOR ALL 4 TIRES ON MY TRUCK AND THE TWO ON MY TRAILER. I THOUGHT I MUST HAD RUN OVER ONE LAYING IN THE STREET. THEN I NOTICED MY SPARE WAS MISSING AND SAW THE METAL PIECE WHERE CABLE GOES THROUGH LAYING IN THE ROAD. THE CABLE BROKE OFF WHICH DROPPED THE SPARE INTO THE ROAD WHICH MY TRAILER RAN OVER. HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER OR ON A BUSIER HIGHWAY THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAD BEEN MORE DAMAGE. ONLY DAMAGE I INCURRED WAS MY TRAILER MESH FLOOR BROKE WELD AND NOW IT IS BENT FRAME. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR A RECALL MUST AT LEAST MAKE PEOPLE AWARE TO HAVE THIS CABLE CHECKED PERIODICALLY AND REPLACED IF NEEDED. *TR
DASH BREAKING APART, LEAVING SMALL AND LARGE SHARDS OF VERY SHARP PLASTIC POINTING TO PASSENGERS/DRIVER. *TR
UPPER DASH TOTALLY GONE AND BEZEL AROUND CLUSTER CRACKED AND FALLING APART. *TR
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 THE HOLE DASH IS FALLING IN CRACKS ALL OVER WITH A FEW BIG HOLES I'VE SEEN THAT THIS IS A DODGE ISSUE THAT DODGE HAS NOT FIXED OR HAS NOT MADE ATTEMPTED TO FIX. *TT
MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IS LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTING BECAUSE OF THIS, THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT, HOWEVER IS THE COIL SPRING FRONT MOUNTS, OR BUCKETS THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM SPRINGS TO THE FRONT AXEL ASSEMBLY. DODGE HASN'T OFFERED TO RECALL DODGE TRUCKS TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, WHEREBY THE COIL MOUNTS WERE INSUFFICIENTLY COATED, AND IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TO TRAP SALTY WATER IN THEM TO ACCELERATE THE OXIDATION PROCESS. THIS IS NOT UNLIKE THE SAFETY ISSUE FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS HAD WITH THEIR AXLES THAT TRAPPED SALTY WATER DURING WINTER AND CAUSED THEM TO ROT OUT AND SNAP CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH. MY CLOSE FRIEND WHO OWNS A MID 1990'S DODGE RAM TRUCK, WHO HAD HIS COIL SPRING BUCKET ACTUALLY FAIL CAUSING HIS FRONT END TO LUNGE FORWARD, HE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED SO HE WASN'T INJURED. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY DATA ON INJURIES RELATED TO FAILURE OF THE COIL SPRING MOUNTS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVEN'T OCCURRED. DODGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO AT THE VERY LEAST, PROVIDE A KIT TO TRUCK OWNERS THAT REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME ABNORMALLY LOOSE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE FORWARD BUT HE TURNED THE WHEEL RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WENT LEFT. THE CONTACT THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 11-04-13 *BF UPDATED 11/8/2013 *JS
DASHBOARD HAS BEEN DISINTEGRATING THE LAST FEW YEARS. WHOLE CHUNKS HAVE BEEN FALLING THROUGH, INCLUDING WHERE THE VIN PLATE IS LOCATED. I'M NOT HAPPY BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS USED A FULL WINDSHIELD SUN SHADE. DATE WHEN IT STARTED IS APPROXIMATE (A GUESS). *TR
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING. *TR
WHOLE DASH HAS OPEN HOLE THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL, AND CRACKS FROM DRIVERS SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE. MORE OPEN SPACE THAN DASH LEFT. IT CRACKS, BREAKS, AND CRUMBLES TO WHERE TAPE DOESN'T EVEN WORK ANYMORE. FALLS INTO CAB AND BEHIND DASH. *TR
I HAVE OWNED THE 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 NEW IN THE DASH IS CRACKED. *TR
I WAS CLEANING FRONT WINDSHIELD. JULY 2007 WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE DASH PANEL CRACK ,HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN THERE I DO NOT KNOW. *TR
THIS IS MY SECOND DODGE RAM THAT MY DASH HAS CRACKED AND CAME APART. THE LAST ONE WAS A 2002 DODGE RAM. WITH THE SHARP EDGES THIS CAUSES AND THE WIRING DANGERS THIS IS DEFENATLY A HAZARD AND DODGE SHOULD RECALL ALL THESE TRUCKS AND REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS WEB SITES WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING ITS REDICULAS DODGE CAN GET BY WITH THIS... SO MUCH FOR AMERICAN WORKMANSHIP... *TR
THE DASH BOARD BEGAN TO CRACK, NOW IT IS VIRTUALLY NON EXISTENT. I CANNOT PLACE ANYTHING ON THE DASH BECAUSE IT HAS HUGE CHUNKS MISSING. IF I ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS ON THE INTERSTATE, SOME MORE PIECES OF THE DASH FALL OFF . IT IS UNUSABLE. IT MAY BE A HAZARD BECAUSE SMALL SHARP PLASTIC PARTS SHOULD NOT BE IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. I HAVE CUT MY HAND ON THE EDGES WHEN I WAS PICKING UP ALL THE BROKEN SHARDS OF PLASTIC. I AM APPALLED THAT DODGE IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE FOR SHORTCOMINGS IN NEARLY EVERY SINGLE DODGE PICKUP TRUCK. I HAVE HAD MECHANICS THAT HAVE TOLD ME TO GO ELSEWHERE, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INEVITABLE BREAKING OF THE DASH THAT OCCURS WHEN YOU HAVE TO WORK ON THE INTERIOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED INTO PIECES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FRACTURED DOWN THE MIDDLE WHEN THE DEFROST SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SPORT 360 4X4 WITH THE 5.9. MY DASH HAS NOW STARTED CRACKING AND THE CRACK IS GETTING WORSE. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE CRACK IS ABOUT 4 INCHES IN LENGTH AND IS SPREADING. IT IS LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CLOSE TO THE VENT BY THE FRONT GLASS. I HAVE BEEN A DEDICATED DODGE OWNER ALONG WITH EVENING OWNING A DODGE WEBSITE (WWW.DODGE-CHAT.COM) AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT THAT DODGE HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THIS ISSUE. I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A BIG ISSUE. *TR
DASH CRACKED AND IS CLOSE TO BECOMING A HOLE. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE I KNOW OF AT LEAST 200 OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IS JUST IN TAMPA FL. STOP DRAGGING YOUR FEET AND SAVE US SOME MONEY FROM THEM CUTTING COST AND DOING IT WRONG THE FIRST TIME. *KB
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 1998 DODGE RAM HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN INTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN SEVERAL PLACES. IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC ITSELF AS NO EXTERNAL SOURCES CAUSED THE DAMAGE. IT STARTED HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY OF 2009 AND HAS GOTTEN STEADILY WORSE.THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME SO SHARP AND BRITTLE THAT DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD WILL ACTUALLY CAUSE PIECES TO FALL INTO THE DASH.THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH, THE DASHBOARD COULD BECOME AIRBORNE IN SHARDS. THESE SHARDS OF PLASTIC ARE SHARP ENOUGH TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF THEY WERE TO STRIKE YOUR FACE OR EYES. THE PIECES FALL INTO THE DASHBOARD AND ONTO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, ONCE THEY FALL INTO THIS POSITION IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. I CAN SEE FUTURE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS A VEHICLE FIRE RESULTING FROM THE SHARP SHARDS OF PLASTIC BEING IN CONTACT WITH WIRING THAT IS NOW EXPOSED AS A RESULT OF THE PLASTIC FALLING AWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE BUT WAS ADVISED THAT NO RECALL EXISTS AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. IT SEEMS THAT A SIMPLE FIX ON THEIR BEHALF COULD AVOID MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH SOMEBODY GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, I HAVE OWNED A DODGE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AND I AM NOW LOOKING TO PURCHASE A NEW FORD THIS YEAR BECAUSE I AM SO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS NOW, BUT IT HAS GOTTEN ALOT WORSE. I MEAN ALOT WORSE. I'VE NEVER SEEN CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD QUITE THIS BAD EVER IN MY LIFE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE DASHBOARD.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,450.
DASH HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS. CONCERNED ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED AND CAUSING INJURY WHEN PARTS OF DASH COME OFF. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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