1998 Dodge Ram 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 Ram 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
- Body & structure416.7%
- Airbags416.7%
- Transmission312.5%
- Brakes312.5%
- Exterior lighting28.3%
- Engine14.2%
- Fuel system14.2%
- Interior & seats14.2%
- Other / unspecified14.2%
- Seat belts14.2%
- Steering14.2%
- Electrical14.2%
- Driver assistance14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DASH HAS STARTED CRACKING IN TWO PLACES. *JS
1998 DODGE RAM PICKUP 1500 THE DASH HAS CRACKED SO BAD IT IS UNSAFE. IT HAS SHARP EDGED FRAGMENTS. *TT
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
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON SEVERAL TIMES DURING OPERATION MEANING THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT BRAKES WEAR OUT, WHILE REAR BRAKES ARE STILL NEW.SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS WITH IN SIX MONTHS MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SCREW ATTACHING THE HEAT SHIELD TO THE EXHAUST IS RUBBING AGAINST FUEL LINE. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IT HAS BURNED OUT TWICE AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK UNTIL IT SAYS THAT I AM GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH IS NOW ON ALL THE TIME I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY DOOR LOCKS ARE POWER AND AS LONG AS YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK THEM FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THEY WORK FINE BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OF THESE COULD BE SOME KIND OF DEFECT THAT HAVE OR WILL BE RECALLED *LA
FOG LIGHT / REAR TURN SIGNAL FAILED. *YC
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
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE USED A LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR A NEW CLUTCH MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CYLINDER HEADS HAD SEVERAL CRACKS. THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IT HAS BURNED OUT TWICE AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK UNTIL IT SAYS THAT I AM GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH IS NOW ON ALL THE TIME I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY DOOR LOCKS ARE POWER AND AS LONG AS YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK THEM FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THEY WORK FINE BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OF THESE COULD BE SOME KIND OF DEFECT THAT HAVE OR WILL BE RECALLED *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SCREW ATTACHING THE HEAT SHIELD TO THE EXHAUST IS RUBBING AGAINST FUEL LINE. *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
BOTH FRONTAL SEAT BELTS STUCK IN THEIR HOLSTER AND WOULDN'T RELEASE. THE SEAT BELT SHOWED NO SIGN OR ABUSE OR WEAR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH SHOULDER BELTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
TIE ROD FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING.*AK
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
HORN PAD ON STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO PUSH.
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
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IT HAS BURNED OUT TWICE AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK UNTIL IT SAYS THAT I AM GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH IS NOW ON ALL THE TIME I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY DOOR LOCKS ARE POWER AND AS LONG AS YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK THEM FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THEY WORK FINE BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OF THESE COULD BE SOME KIND OF DEFECT THAT HAVE OR WILL BE RECALLED *LA
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 .