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1998 Dodge 1500 Other / unspecified Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Other / unspecified reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Aug 23, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 520 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. 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. 15 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.

Owner reports naming other

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureOther / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 23, 2011

I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 EXTENDED CAB. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE DASH HAS BEEN CRACKING AND THE PLASTIC AIR CONDITIONING VENTS ARE FALLING APART. I HAVE MADE NO REPAIRS AND IT NEEDS FIXING. ALSO THE REAR END IS ROARING PROBABLY FROM A BEARING GOING BAD. OTHER THAN THIS PROBLEM, IT HAS BEEN A GOOD TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10421089
Incident
Aug 22, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Nov 17, 2010

I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICKUP I WAS DRIVING A FRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER TO THE DENTIST I PASSED A LOGGING TRUCK WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY LANE AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE TRUCK SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THE ONLY PLACE I COULD PULL OFF I HIT IT THE WAS ALMOST OFF THE NUT HOLDING THE TIRE ROTOR ON THE SHAFT SNAPPED OFF THE TOW HOME WAS OVER 500 DOLLARS AFTER GETTING TRUCK I BROKE OUT MY SHOP MANUALS OUT THE BRG PACK WAS BURNED I REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRES WITH OEM PARTS TO THE TUNE OF 1100 DOLLARS WITHIN A MTH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVE WAY AGAIN REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRE THIS TIME COST ABOUT 850 6 MTHS LATTER COMING HOME I FEEL FRONT VIBRATION HANG ON TO WHEEL MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE ROTOR CALIPER FLY OFF I SLIDE BETTER PART OF 75 FEET GRINDING OFF LOWER BALL JOINT AFTER BEING TOWED HOME LOOKING AT TIRE RIM CALIPER ROTOR I DECIDE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT END COST OF 650 DOLLARS FROM A WRECKING YARD BELIEVE THE PROBLEM FRONT TO LIGHT FOR WEIGHT ALSO THE VISCOSITY OF GREESE IN BRG PACK TO LIGHT BREAKING DOWN CAUSING BRG TO GET HOT AND SEIZE UP CAUSING TIRE RIM CALIPER H ROTOR TO FLY OFF HAVE SAVED ALL OLD PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10366499
Incident
Sep 6, 2010
Interior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 9, 2008
Crash reported

'ON MAY 26, 2003 I TOOK MY PICKUP TO DENOYER DODGE 2242 CENTRAL AVE, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK AND HAD THEM HANDLE THE RECALL SITUATION. 'ON DECEMBER 4, 2008 TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 87 THE HOOD FLEW UP SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. THE GRILL WORK FLEW OFF THE HOOD AND LANDED IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. 'I CALLED 911 AND THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED. 'ON DECEMBER 5, 2008 I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-992-1997 AND SPOKE TO RHYS. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WOULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE HOOD LATCH DISENGAGING. SHE SUGGESTED I COULD CALL LANGON CHRYSLER JEEP OR GOLDSTEIN CHRYSLER. SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT IF IT WAS THE LATCH THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND I WOULD ALSO BE GIVEN A LOANER VEHICLE TO DRIVE. SHE GAVE ME A REFERENCE NUMBER OF 18144145 I CALLED LANGON AND SPOKE TO MIKE. HE INFORMED ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BODY SHOP. HE ALSO TOLD ME I NEEDED TO CALL A DIFFERENT 800 NUMBER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. HE GAVE ME 1-800-283-5882 I CALLED THE 1-800-283-5882 WHICH THE RECORDED NUMBER GAVE ME 1-800-856-5545 WHICH I CALLED. SPOKE TO DAVE WHICH TOLD ME I WAS SPEAKING TO CHRYSLER AND HE TRANSFERRED ME BACK TO AUSTIN AT THE ORIGINAL 800 NUMBER (1-800-922-1997) AUSTIN ASKED ME FOR MY REFERENCE NUMBER (18144145) AND HE REPEATED WHAT I HAD ALREADY BEEN TOLD BY RHYS. HE SAID THAT IF THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALLED LATCH THAT DODGE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND I WOULD GET A LOANER CAR. I THAN CALLED GOLDSTEIN CHRYSLER I SPOKE TO MORGAN AND REPEATED THE WHOLE STORY. MORGAN TOLD ME BASICALLY THE SAME THING I HAD BEEN TOLD BY THE OTHER CHRYSLER DEALER. HE SAID THEY WOULD INSPECT THE TRUCK AND SEE IF ANYONE HAD LEFT THE HOOD OPEN. FEELING LIKE I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND I CALLED LISA AT SCATUB MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS TOLD TO CALL KEMPER INSURANCE TO START THE PAPERWORK. THE HAD THE ADJUSTER CALL ME AND SHE SUGGESTED THEY HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO METRO FOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251171
Incident
Dec 4, 2008
Mileage
117,270 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 28, 2008
Crash reported

1998 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK FRONT LEFT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A DITCH. *NJ ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, ONE OF THE FIVE STUDS HAD BROKEN OFF AND THREE OTHER APPEARED TO HAVE JUST LOST LUG NUTS. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0255-89)*JB LETTER UPDATED 03/17/10*BF

NHTSA ID
10240462
Incident
Jun 16, 2008
Mileage
104,254 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 29, 2008

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL I RESTART THE ENGINE, GOES OUT BUT COMES BACK ON, THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 DODGE RAM 1500, I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR THAT EVERYONE TELLS ME THAT THE DODGE IS FAMOUS FOR, NO HELP, THEN CHANGED THE BREAK LIGHT SENSOR, NO HELP, BRAKES, NO HELP, WHAT DO I DO KNOW, CAN'T SELL IT DUE TO THE LIGHTS BEING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10232626
Incident
Apr 16, 2008
Mileage
160,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 14, 2005

PROBLEMS WITH WEAR OF BRAKE SHOES. SINCE I PURCHASED MY DODGE RAM 1500 IN JUNE 1998 I HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH MY FRONT BRAKES. I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THIS PART BUT HAVING TO REPLACE THEM THIS MUCH IN ONE YEAR. I DO NOT RIDE MY BRAKES LIKE I HAVE BEEN TOLD I DO. EVEN RIDING MY BRAKES I STILL DO NOT THINK REPLACING THEM THIS MUCH IS NECESSARY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132753
Incident
Jan 20, 2005
Mileage
55 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 13, 2003

WHIE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR I HAD STEP ON MY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. I HAD TO SVERVE TO THE RIGHT SO I WOULDN'T HIT THE CAR. ALSO I HAD THE BRAKES WORKED AND NOW MY ROTORS HAVE HEAT CRACKS AFTER BEING REPLACED. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE AGAIN THIS THE FOUTH TIME. DEALER SAY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES JUST THAT THEY ARE WEARING OUT FRONT ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10032773
Incident
Mar 9, 2003
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 7, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10015333
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Mar 21, 2003
Crash reported

FROM THE DAY I SAW THAT 96 DODGE TRUCK ROLLING DOWN THE STREET I FELL IN LOVE. I SAVED EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO PURCHASE THE BIG BAD 1500 4X4 5.9(98)WITH EVERY OPTION AVAIL. HAD EVERYTHING AND FROM WEEK 1 HAD PROBLEMS. FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING "DUE TO FRAME STRESS" IT ABOUT 2 WEEKS INTO IT. BRAKE FAILURE CAUSE SERIOUS ASSAULT ON GUARD RAIL, AND DODGE SAID I MUST HAVE BEEN DRIVING TO FAST (@ 30 MPH). THEY REFUSED ANY WARRANTY BECAUSE "NOTHING CAN TOUCH THE WHEEL" AND SINCE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER 93 DAYS LEMON LAWS DID NOT APPLY SO AFTER (2) $900 BRAKE JOBS TWO WEEKS APART EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOT TO MENTION DAMAGE TO BODY I PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET. NOW I JUST GO THROUGH AN ENTIRE SET OF BRAKES EVERY 6 MONTHS. BUT I STOP UNTIL THEN.. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 38 K MILES, NOTE THE WARRANTY ON THAT IS 36 K MILES. I HAVE HAD STEERING LINKAGE BECOME SO LOOSE INSTANTANEOUSLY (OR 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS) THAT IT FELT LIKE I WAS RUNNING OVER MY OWN AXLE, WHICH IS ANOTHER $1000 EACH TIME. FOR THE PAST THREE EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS THE ON BOARD COMPUTER FAILS SO I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHILE THEY CHARGE $200 TO FIX IT, BUT WILL NOT GIVE STRAIGHT ANSWER TO WHAT IS PROBLEM. AND TO NIGHT AS I TYPE, I SPREAD THE GRIME OF ENGINE CRUD ACROSS MY KEYBOARD AS I TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE FUEL FILTER SUDDENLY STOPPED. AMAZINGLY I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR 5 YEARS BECAUSE IT HAS KEPT ME TOO BROKE TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE. ANY "LEGAL" SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I RECOGNIZE I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $15,000 TRYING TO KEEP THIS THING RUNNING RIGHT, AND THAT IS TOO MUCH FOR A "LATE MODEL" TRUCK. I WOULD LOVE TO BLAME A DEALER BUT I HAVE BEEN TO JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM AROUND HERE AND WITH THE SMILES ON THERE FACES I HEAR "THAT WILL BE ANOTHER $950 SIR".. GOOD GRIEF. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010863
Incident
Mar 21, 2003
Other / unspecified
Filed Dec 2, 2002
Crash reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-94 GOING NORTH IN THE CENTER LANE, SUDDENLY IT FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND SUDDENLY MY ENTIRE WHEEL ROLLED OFF MY TRUCK AT ABOUT 55 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY TOWARDS THE LEFT LANE AND THEN BOUNCED UP BETWEEN THE CONCRETE DIVIDERS AND FLEW INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC HITTING ONE CAR IN THE FRONT END. I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK THE NIGHT BEFORE ABOUT 50 MILES AND NO PROBLEMS, I DROVE THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT ABOUT 10-15 MILES BEFORE THE WHEEL FELL OFF THE TRUCK. ALL BUT 1 LUG ON THE ROTOR WERE BROKE OFF AND THE ONE LUG THAT WAS LEFT WAS BENT AND THE LUG NUT WAS GONE. I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED ABOUT 4-6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT AND HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER FRIEND THAT CERTAIN TYPE RIMS ARE PRONE TO THE LUGS BECOMING LOOSE AND THE TIRE FALLING OFF. THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO REPORT THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT. MANY MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS WAS AN OVERSIZED TIRE AND PROBABLY WEIGHED OVER 75 LBS. DT

NHTSA ID
770320
Incident
Dec 1, 2002
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 16, 2001

IN APRIL OF 2001, THE LUGS: NUTS OF FRONT/PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHEARED OFF AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. I WAS GOING 5 MPH PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AT THE TIME, BUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE THE INCIDENT I WAS GOING 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID
753283
Incident
Apr 10, 2001
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 13, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FLAT IN A PARKING LOT, JACK WAS LEVEL AND ON ASPHALT. VEHICLE WAS JACKED UP AND TIRE REMOVED. AFTER TIRE WAS REMOVED, JACK BROKE APART AND TRUCK FELL TO THE GROUND LANDING ON ROTOR ASSEMBLY. VEHICLE GRAZED MY LEG, AND FRIENDS LEG AS IT WAS FALLING TO THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
746763
Incident
Jun 12, 2001
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 2, 2001

CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER TELLING CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK AND REPAIR OF CRACKS ON T TRAILER HITCH, OR TO ATTACH SUPPORT TO AVOID CRACKS ON HITCH. BUT, DEALER NOR MANUFATURER HAD TRIED TO ANSWER HELP.*AK THE DEALER POINTED OUT THAT THE HITCH WAS INSTALLED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER SAYS THIS WAS MANUFACTURER INSTALLED HITCH AND THE DEALER MUST DO THE REPAIR. *YH

NHTSA ID
882007
Incident
Feb 28, 2001
EngineFuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 1, 1999

FUEL PUMP AND MAP SENSOR FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. MJS

NHTSA ID
608026
Incident
Jul 30, 1998
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 28, 1998

THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A BASE BIG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE VEHICLE. WHENEVER IT REACHES THE HEIGHT WHICH IS NEEDED TO CHANGE A TIRE, IT HAS BEEN UP IN THE AIR, AND CONSUMER HAS WATCHED IT JUST SLIDE DOWN DUE TO THE BASE NOT BEING WIDE ENOUGH. *AK

NHTSA ID
829672

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .