Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 44 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 44, in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE GEAR WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REVERSE GEAR RETENTION CLIP CAME OUT AND DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,534.
I DRIVE A 98 DODGE RAM. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF OVERDRIVE ON IT'S OWN. I WILL BE REPLACING THIS TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2000.00. IT DOES IT AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND COULD BE DANGEROUS IF TOWING A TRAILER. DODGE TRUCKS ARE KNOWN FOR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
MY TRANSMISSION HAVE FAILED. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW OUT. *TR
1998 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWICE IN THREE YEARS. HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OVER VARIOUS INTERNET SITES WITH SAME PROBLEMS. FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILED, THEN ALL THE SENSORS FAILED ON TRANSMISSION, AND NOW TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR
TRUCK PARKED ON DRIVEWAY IN PARK--DID NOT HOLD AND ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO TREE ON THE LAWN CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER-LUCKILY IT DID STRIKE THE TREE OTHER WISE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE STREET. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OF SHIFTING INTO DRIVE--AND REVERSE THE ENGAGEMENT POINTS ARE NO WHERE THEY ARE SHOWN TO BE ON THE SHIFTER. THERE IS ALSO A HESITATION WHEN ENGAGED(SOMETIMES) AND WILL ENGAGE ROUGHLY WITH A JERK. I VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS PART--CANNOT GET A DIRECT ANSWER FROM A LOCAL DEALER HERE --WHAT'S THE SCORE ON THIS. *TR
(1) STARTED TO PULL AS IF IT WERE NOT GETTING FUEL (2) THE TRANS TEMP LIGHT CAME ON (3)THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON (4) PERIODICALLY THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE (5) TRUCK WOULD DELAY OR JERK WHEN PUT IN DRIVE (6)WILL NO LONGER GO IN DRIVE OR REVERSE (7) TRUCK HAS STALLED AND IS NO LONGER RUNNING. *JB
TRANSMISSION NO LONGER HAS REVERSE. THIS WAS REPAIRED ONCE AT DEALERSHIP IN FEBRUARY 04 AT COST OF $2135.41. NOW, TO REBUILD FOR SAME PROBLEM 13 MONTHS AND 22K MILES LATER IS $3064.47 AT SAME DEALER. THEY BLAME INCREASE IN COST OF PARTS. CONTACTED DODGE CONSUMER HELP LINE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO DUE TO 12/12 WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY BLAMED INCREASE COST ON INCREASED LABOR RATE AT DEALERSHIP. BOTH SUGGEST REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AT COST OF $3857.95. CALLED LOCAL TRANSMISISON REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS QUOTED $1100 - $1700 FOR SAME REPAIR, AND BOTH OFFER SAME OR BETTER WARRANTY. SECOND SHOP TOLD ME WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS BY JUST KNOWING YEAR AND MAKE OF MY TRUCK. THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION !!!!!!!!!*AK
AT 35 DEGREE OR COLDER ORJUST RAINY DAYS WITH WARM TEMP.TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE ,CAN DRIVE 15 MILES ON HIGHWAY IN 3RD GEAR. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE AND I HIT A BUMP IN ROAD IT WILL GO OUT OF OVERDRIVE. ALSO THE ENGINE WILL REV AS IF IT IS TRYING TO SWITCH OUT OF OVERDRIVE. ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE RESULTING IN INCREASED FUEL USAGE, WHICH AT $2 A GALLON IS BECOMING AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD AT TIME OF PURCHASE,THIS WAS A NORMAL FUCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION, BOUGHT TRUCK FEB. 2003 AND BROUGHT TRUCK BACK 2 TIMES TO A CHYSLER DEALER AND WAS TOLD SAME STORY, DEALER IS NOW NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AND MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEM. *JB
WE HAVE NOT HAD A CRASH, BUT MY DODGE RAM HAS BEEN IN OUR GARAGE SINCE APRIL WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, THE ABS BREAKS ARE ON AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ALSO SMELLS LIKE FIRE CRACKERS AT TIMES. *NM
I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST SPEED AND THE RPM WERE HEADING TO REDLINE. I HIT MY BRAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO KEEP FROM HURTING MY ENGINE. WHEN I GOT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I CHECKED TO SEE IF I COULD GO AND I HAD NO TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 78,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND DON'T PULL HEAVY LOADS OR LOAD MY PICK-UP WITH HEAVY LOADS. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME YEAR DODGE PICK-UP AND THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I AM HAVING MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION COOLER BECAUSE IT HAS PARTS OF MY CLUTCH IN IT. I FOUND 5 PEOPLE IN MY COUNTY THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 98 PICK-UPS AND HAVE HAD THEM FIXED AND THEN TRADED THEM FOR ANOTHER BRAND OF VEHICLE. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHY NOBODY HAS INVESTIGATED THIS OR RECALLED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *NM
TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE..AXEL FLUID LEAKAGE..THIS IS THE THIRD VECHILE THAT THIS DEALERSHIP HAS PUT US IN IN 15 MONTHS!!THE TRUCK WE HAVE NOW ISNT SAFE AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GIVE US A WARRANTY LIKE THEY TOLD US WHEN WE BOUGHT TRUCK IN APRIL. *AK
WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM SEEING MY FIRST GRANDCHILD, SOUTH OF HERSHEY PA MY TRANSMISSION DIED AT APPROX. 50,000 MILES. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM THE INTERSTATE AND THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE A LOT OF METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CLOGGED UP THE WORKS. THIS COST ME ALMOST $3,000.00 PLUS THE COST OF BEING STRANDED OUT OF TOWN FOR 5 DAYS. I NOW HAVE 92,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AGAIN. I DO NOT KNOW THE COST TO DO THIS YET. PLUS I HAVE THE COST OF OBTAINING ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO WORK FOR ABOUT 14 DAYS UNTIL I GET THE WORK COMPLETED. THE FIRST REPAIR WORK WAS DONE BY AAMCO AND THE WARRANTY ON THEIR WORK WAS FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. I HAD AAMCO DO A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS "TOAST". *JB
1998 DODGE RAM 1500 TRANSMISSON; THE TRANMISSION FAILED ON MY TRUCK AT 60,000 MILES! EVIDENTLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE DODGE TRANSMISSIONS AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.*AK NOBODY CAN SAY THAT 60,000 MILES IS RESONABLE FOR SUCH A MAJOR REPAIR (ABOUT $3,000 IN MY CASE). I WANT DODGE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM (RECALL PROBABLY) AND REIMBURESE ME FOR THIS REPAIR.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 AT 49,000 MILES . PLEASE RECALL, THIS PROBLEM IS PRESENT WITH EVERYONE I KNOW THAT OWNES A DODGE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
THE AUTO TRANSMISSION LINKAGE THAT CONNECTS TO THE FRAME BOLT SHEERED OFF. WHEN THIS OCCURED THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE GEAR IT WAS IN AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED. *PH THE BOLTS SHEARING OFF THE FRAME CAUSED THE LINKAGE BRACKET TO FALL OFF THE TRUCK FRAME DISABLING THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING SHIFTED. *TS
CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE GEARS POSITION WERE SWITCHED AROUND, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SHIFT TO CORRECT GEAR. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH TRANSMISSION BROKE. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE TO NEXT GEAR AFTER DRIVING SLOW. WHEN YOU STEP ON GAS PEDAL, IT SEEMS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO ENGAGE INTO NEXT GEAR. HAD TO PUSH DOWN ON GAS PEDAL AS IF TRYING TO GET INTO PASSING LANE IN ORDER FOR TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. CHRYSLER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TT
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS. AS NEAR AS I CAN TELL, FROM READING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS, THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO TWO POSSIBLE THINGS. A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER (FREQUENT PROBLEM)AND/OR CLOGGED COOLING SYSTEM LINES AS THE LINES AND PASSAGEWAYS ARE TOO NARROW AND FILTER IS INSUFFICIENT. *NLM
I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME AND THE PICKUP ONLY HAD 61000 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS ACTUALLY FIRE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, YOU COULD TELL WHEN THE MECHANIC DROPPED THE PAN, THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT EVERY THING WAS FRIED. THAT COULD OF STARTED THE WHOLE PICKUP ON FIRE AND I COULD OF BEEN KILLED OR BADLY HURT. I HAVE TALKED TO SOME OTHER GUYS AND THEY OWNED 1998 RAMS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. NOW THIS IS A BIG SAFETY THING AND THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THEY SAID NO, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN HELP ME OUT. THIS COULD OF BEEN A BIG LAW SUIT IF I WOULD OF GOTTEN HURT. *JB
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APROX 80,000 MILE. LOST ALL GEARS EXECPT FOR 4TH. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAD IT FAILED ON THE FREEWAY WHICH WE HAD JUST EXITED. ALSO THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW. ONE AT 37000, 56,000 AND 81,000. *JB
WHEN APPROACHING A HILL OR ATTEMPTING TO PASS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (75 TO 85MPH) EITHER WITH CRUISE ON OR OFF THE TRUCK WILL DOWN SHIFT FROM OVERDRIVE TO LOW GEAR.(SUDDENLY BRINGING YOU TO A HAULT!) IT WILL THEN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERDRIVE. THEN THE TRUCK WILL STAY EITHER IN LOW GEAR OR 2ND GEAR UNTIL YOU SHUT THE KEY OFF AND RESTART OR BY PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL THEN BACK INTO DRIVE AND LETTING IT COAST FOR A BIT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE BEEN ALMOST SMASHED INTO SEVERAL TIMES! THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH IT SINCE REBUILDING. THERE IS ONLY 4000 MILES ON THE REBUILD! I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK OVER TEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WILL NEVER LEAVE A CODE! I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO WITH IT! THE REASON THE FIRST TRANNY WENT OUT IS BECAUSE THE PARK CONTROL ROD BROKE AND FELL INTO THE GUTS OF THE TRANNY AND VIRTUALLY DESTROYED IT!
AT 71,000 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST TIME WAS AT 34,000. $3200 TO REPACE WITH REBUILT UNIT. ALSO, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS REBUILDING FOR ANOTHER $1600.
NOTICED A VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER. ADVISED TRANSMISSION NEEDS OVERHAUL. $2400.00. MR
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND AS I WENT TO PASS A SLOWER VEHICLE, I FELT THE TRANSMISSION "SLIP" AND WATCHED THE RPM'S INCREASE DRAMATICALLY, WHILE MY SPEED ACTUALLY DECREASED. I SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE AT A SLOWER SPEED, HOWEVER THIS BECAME IMPOSSIBLE VERY QUICKLY. I ALSO SMELLED SOMETHING, PROBABLY THE CLUTCHES "SLIPPING" SO I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK.*AK
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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