1998 Dodge B Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge B Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
COACH IS BUYING VANS AND CONVERTING THEM TO MOBILE HOMES. CONSUMER BOUGHT A 98-DODGE-B3500 WHICH WAS MODIFIED TO MAKE VAN A MOBILE HOME. THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE COVERS DO NOT FIT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY TO MODIFY MODULE TO MAKE COVERS FIT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .