1998 Dodge Pickup 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 Pickup, 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
- Brakes316.7%
- Airbags316.7%
- Fuel system211.1%
- Suspension211.1%
- Electrical15.6%
- Engine15.6%
- Seat belts15.6%
- Steering15.6%
- Tires & wheels15.6%
- Body & structure15.6%
- Heating & air conditioning15.6%
- Driver assistance15.6%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY THE ABS/AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED . THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP TO ZERO THEN GO TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED. *JB THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE GAUGES FELL TO ZERO INCLUDING THE VOLTAGE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL, RPM'S AND THE MPH. WITH A SLIGHT TAP ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE GAUGES HAD COME BACK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. *SC
CONSUMER HAS STATED THAT 3 BRAKE PADS ON HIS VEHICLE HAVE FAILED. TS *DT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY THE ABS/AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED . THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP TO ZERO THEN GO TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED. *JB THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE GAUGES FELL TO ZERO INCLUDING THE VOLTAGE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL, RPM'S AND THE MPH. WITH A SLIGHT TAP ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE GAUGES HAD COME BACK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. *SC
THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. THE CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TILTED UP AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS LEAKING FROM AREA OF GAS TANK AT FILLING STATION WHEN FILLING TANK. *JB
THE VEHICLE FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THE INJECTION PUMP FAILED THE VEHICLE STEERING CONTROLS BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE ON CURVE. THE VEHICLE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER LOSS PRESSURE REQUIRED EXTREME EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BOSCH DIESEL INJECTION PUMP MODEL VP-44 NEED A SAFE LIMP MODE DESIGN TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM MUST HAVE HIGH IDLE SPEED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SAFETY AREA. THE SAFE LIMP
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. EXCESSIVE WEAR ON INSIDE ON DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. 2. COULD NOT ALIGN FRONT END DO TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDE OF TRUCK. 3. CONTACTED DODGE REGIONAL OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE THEY WERE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOW FAILURE ITEM AND ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT OTHER MODELS AND YEARS AROUND MY VEHICLE. REPLACED 4 BALL JOINTS AT MY EXPENSE. SAVED PARTS AND RECEIPTS FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE ACTION. *NM
THERE WAS A POWER STEERING LEAK, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WANDERED TO THE LEFT. POWER STEERING LEAK HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED, BUT VEHICLE STILL DRIFTS OFF CENTER. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY THE ABS/AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED . THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP TO ZERO THEN GO TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED. *JB THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE GAUGES FELL TO ZERO INCLUDING THE VOLTAGE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL, RPM'S AND THE MPH. WITH A SLIGHT TAP ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE GAUGES HAD COME BACK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. *SC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS A PING AND KNOCK IN THE ENGINE FOR LONG TIME AND VEHCILE STALLS ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED WHILE DRIVING. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR IS STUCK. CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO USE SEATBELTS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELTS ARE INOPERABLE DUE TO THE RETRACTOR FAILURE. *SLC
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
THERE WAS A POWER STEERING LEAK, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WANDERED TO THE LEFT. POWER STEERING LEAK HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED, BUT VEHICLE STILL DRIFTS OFF CENTER. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAVE HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON TWO TIRES WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT235/85R1 )
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
THE TRUCKS BED TORE LOOSE WHERE IT WAS BOLTED TO THE VEHICLES FRAME. VEHICLE WAS A 1998 DODGE DIESEL HEAVY DUTY PICK-UP. *NLM *TS *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY THE ABS/AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED . THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP TO ZERO THEN GO TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED. *JB THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE GAUGES FELL TO ZERO INCLUDING THE VOLTAGE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL, RPM'S AND THE MPH. WITH A SLIGHT TAP ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE GAUGES HAD COME BACK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. *SC
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 .