RoadVitals

1998 Dodge B Series

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
18
Latest May 13, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
16

Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Dodge B Series, most frequently naming the electrical, airbags and body & structure categories.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical1684.2%
  • Airbags15.3%
  • Body & structure15.3%
  • Steering15.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structureSteering
Filed May 13, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE B SERIES. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING 5 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES ABNORMALLY TURNED OUTWARD IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WHERE THE IDLER ARM WAS MOUNTED SHOWED SIGNS OF EXTREME RUST AND CORROSION. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE IDLER ARM AND FRAME TO SEPARATE, COMPROMISING THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED REPLACING AT A COST OF $5,000. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,248.

NHTSA ID
10400799
Incident
Sep 2, 2010
Mileage
143,248 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2008
Fire reported

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE PARKED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 UNDER HOOD FIRE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243805
Incident
Sep 27, 2004
Mileage
94,834 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2008
Fire reported

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE PARKED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 UNDER HOOD FIRE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243797
Incident
Oct 24, 2005
Mileage
144,825 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2008
Fire reported

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VAN WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT A JOBSITE WHERE HE WAS WORKING. HE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243796
Incident
Jan 5, 2006
Mileage
104,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2008
Fire reported

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VAN WHEN HE STARTED THE VAN TO LEAVE A JOBSITE. HE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING DIRT AND THE CUSTOMER'S GARDEN HOSE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243791
Incident
Feb 4, 2006
Mileage
92,971 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2008
Fire reported

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THIS VAN CAUGHT FIRE TWICE. THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR THE SECOND FIRE WHICH OCCURRED A FEW MONTHS AFTER DAIMLERCHRYSLER REPAIRED THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRST FIRE. BOTH FIRES ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR AREA. THE DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE WHILE DRIVING THE VAN. HE WAS NEAR A VERIZON GARAGE SO HE PULLED IN AND NOTIFIED THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND REMOVED THE BATTERY CABLE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243789
Incident
Oct 13, 2006
Mileage
94,596 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 2008
Fire reported

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE PARKED. THE VAN IS DECLARED A "TOTAL LOSS". THE FIRE DAMAGED THE DRIVER'S HOME GARAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 UNDER HOOD FIRE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243646
Incident
Oct 10, 2006
Mileage
115,480 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 2008
Fire reported

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VAN WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT A JOBSITE WHERE HE WAS WORKING. HE CUT THE BATTERY CABLE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243645
Incident
Oct 25, 2006
Mileage
146,627 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge B Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998Viewing180053.1
1997200
1996600
1995700
1994900
1993000
1992100
1991000
1990100
1989200
1988100
1987010
1986110
1978100
1976100

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.