RoadVitals

1998 Dodge Ram Pickup

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 Mar 31, 2012
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Dodge Ram Pickup, most frequently naming the body & structure, airbags and transmission categories. 12 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

  • Body & structure416.7%
  • Airbags416.7%
  • Transmission312.5%
  • Brakes312.5%
  • Exterior lighting28.3%
  • Engine14.2%
  • Fuel system14.2%
  • Interior & seats14.2%

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 18
Body & structure
Filed Mar 31, 2012

THE DASH HAS STARTED CRACKING IN TWO PLACES. *JS

NHTSA ID
10453676
Incident
Mar 31, 2012
Mileage
138,839 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 2011

1998 DODGE RAM PICKUP 1500 THE DASH HAS CRACKED SO BAD IT IS UNSAFE. IT HAS SHARP EDGED FRAGMENTS. *TT

NHTSA ID
10421653
Incident
Jun 15, 2004
Mileage
120,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 7, 2009

I WAS IN A HOSPITAL PARKING AREA IN TUCSON AZ., ROLLING IN 2ND GEAR, AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH IT FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING LEAVING THE 7200 LB. TRUCK SILL UNDER POWER. LUCKY FOR ME AND NOTHING ELSE I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN A NEAR BY FIELD. THIS IS THE FIRST EVENT FOR ME BUT I HAVE TALKED TO ANOTHER DODGE OWNER AND THE SAME PROBLEM (HE ALMOST BACKED THOUGH A WALL ) THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW HYDRAULIC ASSY. PART. THIS HAPPENED WITH 135K MI. ON THE ODO. THE OTHER OWNER SAID HIS BROKE AT APPROX. 75K MI. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283097
Incident
Aug 31, 2009
Mileage
135,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 14, 2008
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AFTER DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE STEEP HILL,WHEN I HEARD POP, AND LOOK AT MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE MOSTLY AROUND THE LEFT HAND REAR TIRE AND AROUND RIGHT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I DROVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT, THAN I CALL THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. FOR ASSISTANT/HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242096
Incident
Sep 8, 2008
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 5, 2008

DASH BOARD ON 98 TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229999
Incident
May 14, 2008
Airbags
Filed Aug 31, 2007

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON SEVERAL TIMES DURING OPERATION MEANING THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10201312
Incident
Aug 30, 2007
Mileage
125,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 7, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. CHRYSLER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR ON 11-29-05 AND TOOK PICTURES INSIDE AND OUT OF THE TRUCK. THEN, STATED THE TRUCK DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT; THUS, THE TRUCK WAS NOT DAMAGED. CHRYSLER SENT THE CONTACT A LETTER ON 12-5-05 STATING THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME. THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT IF THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED IT WAS AN INDICATOR THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEREFORE, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED PREMATURELY. WHEN HE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOT MENTION THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10144662
Incident
Nov 21, 2005
Mileage
51,200 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 28, 2005

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHCILE WA TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE GOVERNOR PRESSURE SENSOR AND THE GOVERNOR PRESSURE SOLENOID FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED MOMENTARILY. *AK THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED TWICE. *BF

NHTSA ID
10059234
Incident
Jan 27, 2005
Mileage
11,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

9002849

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order kit 68253161AA. Insulator only used on Auto-RWD transmission Note: The color of the insulator is not relevant for service.

0801003

SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT CINCH BAR SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 MODELS. *TT

1400203

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

DIESEL FUEL TRANSFER PUMP DIAGNOSIS. *TT

0801001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT

082700

AIR BAGS

SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT

230800

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

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 Pickup by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003140144.1
2002221153.2
2001200243.0
2000801—
1999330035.7
1998Viewing180038.9
1997170031.8
1996600—
1995702—
1994203—
1992300—

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.