Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 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
BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT AND FAILED CAUSING LOOSE OF BRAKE IN TRAFFIC. ONCE FUEL TANK WAS REMOVED THIS EXPOSED THE PROBLEM AREA. REAR WIRING HARNESS RUNS DIRECTLY AGAINST THE FUEL LINE TRAPPING ROAD GRIM, WATER, SALT, CAUSING CORROSION AT THIS POINT.
WENT TO PUT BRAKES ON AND DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW AND ABS AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON. IM GOING TO FIX IT MYSELF BUT WISH THERE WOULD BE A RECALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
WHILE TURNING LEFT AT ANY SPEED HAVE A SERIOUS SHUDDER. TRUCK HAS NEW WHEEL BEARINGS TIE ROD ENDS ROTORS AND CALIPERS DONE AT DODGE DEALERSHIP. THE SHUDDER IS HEARD AND FELT IN FLOOR BOARD NOTHING IN BRAKE PEDAL OR STEERING WHEEL. SHUDDER IS LESS AUDIBLE WHEN PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTING WHILE TURNING LEFT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR EXHIBITED SEVERE CORROSION. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER VOLUNTARY RECALL RELATED TO THE SIMILAR DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BATTERY TRAY AND ABS WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE VIN WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON 1998 DODGE 4X4 TRUCK. NO WARNING BRAKES FAILED. LINE FAULTY. *TR
1998 DODGE RAM 2500 24 VALVE CUMMINS DIESEL DASH BOARD CRACKING SEVERELY, ANTI LOCK BRAKES NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, OVERDRIVE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AROUND 45 MPH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL REMEDIES. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH, A SMOKE SMELL WAS NOTICED IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH NO FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND REMOVED THE MOTOR TO THE ELECTRIC SEAT WHICH MELTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALLS, # 04V185000, 98V207000, REGARDING THE ABS MODULE AND THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS.
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ALREADY INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MEINEKE BECAUSE OF A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED INSPECTION DUE TO NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE. *TS THE MEINEKE TECH STATED THAT EH VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECT DUE TO NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS. THE VEHICLE NEEDS 2 WHEEL BEARINGS, TRACK BAR, STEERING SHOCK, 2 HUB ASSEMBLIES, BRAKE LINES, OXYGEN SENSOR AND A NEW LICENSE PLATE BULB. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO GET HIS MONEY BACK BUT THEY REFUSED. *NM
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
DODGE HAS HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM ON ALL OF THE DISEAL MODELS, WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. THE DATE BELOW IS JUST FILLED IN BECAUSE YOU WANTED A DATE.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE PULLLED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM EIGHT TIMES, BUT COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT TWO FRONT BRAKE LINES ARE RUBBING. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN THE LINE MAY PUNCTURE, AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK
I HAVE TONS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL PICK UP TRUCK.THE BRAKES CHRONICALLY FAIL TO WORK, THEN LOCK UP OR CATCH ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. HAD A BAD SENSOR ACCORDING TO DODGE, AND IT WAS REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.*AK I NEARLY RAN INTO AN 18 WHEELER WHEN THE TRUCK FAILED TO STOP AT 4 WAY CROSSING. I HAD IT WORKED ON THEN AND WAS TOLD THAT A SEAL WAS LEAKING FLUID AND IT WET THE BRAKE PADS AND CAUSED THEM TO TO "SLIP". I AM HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN THIS WEEK AND WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC TO SEE IF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD BEEN RECALLED. HE THINKS THE POWER SURGE HAS IS FAULTY AND FAILS AT TIMES AND NOT OTHERS! ALSO MY PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T PREVENT VEHICLE FROM MOVING WHEN IN USE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE!
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CONSUMER STATES' THE BRAKES SOMETIME LOCK UP. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SLID 120 FEET INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATES, WHILE DRIVING OVER 50MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE IS VIBRATING HEAVILY AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.. TS
FRONT BRAKE PADS AND SHOES WEAR EXCESSIVELY AND CAUSE TRUCK TO PULL WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. OTHER FAILURE INVOLVED A BOLT THAT HOLDS 5TH GEAR IN PLACE FELL OFF WHILE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN. HAD ITEM REPAIRED, AND IT FELL OFF AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THERE WAS A SQUEAK NOISE WHEN BRAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT ROTORS NEEDED TURNING. AT 9000 MILES DEALER STATED ROTORS WERE CRACKED. CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
RIGHT REAR WHEELS INTERMITTENTLY LOCKED UP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED OF A ABS SENSOR AND HYDRO BOOSTER FAILURE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
HAVING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, BRAKES WORK ONE MINUTE THEN THE NEXT MINUTE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND NOT STOPPING. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND HAVE HAD TWO MASTER CYLINDERS PUT ON THINKING THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT STILL HAVING BRAKE FAILURE. NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN IDEA AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE NO HELP AND WAS UNSUCCESFUL IN CONTACTING THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. *AK
EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, BUT NO SIGN OF LEAKAGES. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INTERNTIONALLY WITH HELD THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH V-10 ENGINE TO AVOID RECALL. ACCORCING TO THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM INTERNET, THE MANUFACTURER HAD INDICATED THAT THE V-10 HEADS AND CRANKSHAFT COULD EXPERIENCE HAIR LINE CRACKS CAUSING INTERNAL COOLANT LEAKAGE. SPARK PLUGS FAILED. FRONT BRAKE PADS FAIED. LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD FELL OFF. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES ACCURRED. MADE EXCESSIVE NOISE. REPLACED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE TRYING TO STOP ON WET PAVEMENT REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER ONCE. *AK
SEVERE PULLING TO LEFT WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED; BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK THE DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTERWARDS. *YH
WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP, POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE SEAT BELT SOLENOID SHORTED OUT. *SLC
REAR (ABS) BRAKES WOULD CAUSE A SHIMMYING EFFECT WHEN APPLIED. PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. FRONT (ABS) BRAKES WERE THREE TIMES REPLACED, INCLUDING PADS AND SHOES/ROTORS AND CALIPERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED THAT DRUMS NEEDED TO BE CUT. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. DEALER OFFERED TO ACCEPT VEHICLE AS A TRADE-IN. *AK *ML
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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