RoadVitals

1998 Dodge Ram Club Cab

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.
12
Latest Aug 21, 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.
2
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Dodge Ram Club Cab, most frequently naming the steering, engine and airbags categories. 13 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Steering320.0%
  • Engine320.0%
  • Airbags213.3%
  • Driver assistance16.7%
  • Fuel system16.7%
  • Other / unspecified16.7%
  • Tires & wheels16.7%
  • Transmission16.7%

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

View all 12
BrakesEngine
Filed Aug 21, 2011

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY PICK-UP SINCE DAY-1.MY ROTORS WERE WARPED FROM THE BEGINNING(THIS BEING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE). THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE FROM MY ENGINE; I THOUGHT WERE THE VALVES. SIX YEARS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT OVER HEATED MY ENGINE,TRANSMISSION, AND RADIATOR. I WAS PAST MY WARRANTY PERIOD SO IT COST ME OVER 3,000 DOLLARS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE YEAR BEFORE AND AFTER MY MODEL WERE ON RECALL,QUIT PUZZLING OR DENIAL FOR PROFIT. I AM NOW ON MY FOURTH RADIATOR WITH ONLY 116,000 MILES. MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO HAVE MAJOR WORK DONE ON IT FROM THE HEAT CAUSED FROM THE CAD PLUGGING UP. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY RADIATOR,WATER PUMP,VALVES,PISTON RINGS,AND SEALS. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF OUT OF POCKET DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT I AM PISSED THAT A SIMPLE PART RUINED SO MUCH OF MY TRUCK,ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY RECALLED THE SAME PART IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO MINE AND THE YEAR FOLLOWING. SEEMS REAL FISHY TO ME. ALSO,I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN ADVERSE EFFECT OR NOT,BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. I HAVE HAD MY CALIBERS REPLACED TWICE,MY ROTORS IMMEDIATELY UPON PURCHASE,AND MY REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS. ALL WITHIN 116,000 MILES. I JUST REPLACED MY ROTORS AGAIN RECENTLY. ALL OF THIS SEEMS REALLY PREPOSTEROUS TO ME IN THE 21ST CENTURY. I HAD A 1976 GRAND PRIX BACK IN THE 1990'S AND HAD LESS PROBLEMS THAN THIS PICK-UP. I AM E-MAILING YOU BECAUSE I AM SICK AND TIRED OF JUST TAKING IT. I AM TIRED OF CORP. JUST PUSHING US AMERICANS AROUND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10420863
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Mileage
12 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM CLUB CAB WITH COOPER FUTURA DAKOTA H/T TIRES, LINE SIZE 33X/12.5/R15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED BUT THE TIRE WAS NOT FLAT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO MAIL THE TIRE IN FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS 93,250. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 4,800.

NHTSA ID
10417056
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
93,250 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 6, 2009

MY 98 DODGE RAM PICK DASH IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER DODGE TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THE WIRING IS EXPOSED IN THE DASH AND APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU WHERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10264223
Incident
Aug 13, 2007
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2006

ENGINE WOULD NOT THROTTLE DOWN ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT. HAS HAPPENED ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS BEGINNING 06/17/2006. CURRENTLY DRIVING OTHER VEHICLE UNTIL PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10161146
Incident
Jun 17, 2006
Mileage
181,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 1, 2003

STEERING WANDERS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10036992
Incident
Aug 30, 2003
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 15, 2002
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE PASSING A VAN ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VAN THAT RAN STOP SIGN AND PUSHED FRONT END OF 1998 DODGE CLUB CAB P/U INTO THE FRONT SEAT AREA. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED RESULTING IN INJURIES TO MYSELF AND STEP SON. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. INFORMED CHRYSLER OF ACCIDENT AND THE RESULTS(INJURIES) AND THEY MORE OR LESS LAUGHED AT ME BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ALREADY SOLD MY VEHICLE FOR SCRAP. WITHOUT THE VEHICLE THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS ON THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I INFORMED CHRYSLER THAT I HAD PICTURES OF THE TRUCK BUT THAT WASN'T SUFFICIENT FOR THEM. THEY ARE SORRY PEOPLE IF THS IS THE WAY THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS AND DO BUSINESS.

NHTSA ID
10000070
Incident
Jul 17, 2001
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 19, 2001

DURANGO RADIAL A/T 285/75R16

NHTSA ID
9004654
Incident
Mar 20, 2001
Airbags
Filed Apr 18, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING COLLISION CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL UPON IMPACT RESULTING IN A MILD CONCUSION. NLM

NHTSA ID
551909
Incident
Aug 17, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

9004275

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

9004275

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

08-049-20

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

3100319

STRUCTURE

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

31-003-19

EQUIPMENT

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

31-006-19

STRUCTURE

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Ram Club Cab by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002601—
1999900—
1998Viewing120038.3

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.