Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 483 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Dodge Ram. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 483 · page 1 of 20
THE SPARE TIRE MECHANISM THAT HOLD THE TIRE UNDER THE BED BROKE. THIS FAILURE WAS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY SPARE TIRE FELL ONTO THE STREET AND ROLLED. LUCKILY I WAS IN A 35 MPH AREA, BUT CARS STILL HAD TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ROLLING TIRE. HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM VAN WITH AFTERMARKET BENDIX BRAKES (MODEL NUMBER: 13481).THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, CAUSING THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE OR THE BRAKES IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BUT THE FAILURES WERE CAUSING BY AN ELECTRIC COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE NOTICED THE DASH BOARD OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED BADLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT HOT AND WAS NOT A FACTOR WITH THE VEHICLE DASH BOARD DEFECT. THE CONTACT HAD PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD FLY INTO HIS EYES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THERE HAD BEEN NO REPAIRS DONE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAIL TO DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, SHE NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,216. UPDATED 07/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR RANDOMLY ILLUMINATES AND THE AIR BAG CHIME WILL BEGIN TO SOUND. THE HORN IN THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND PROVIDED THEM WITH INFORMATION HE FOUND ONLINE REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V153000 (AIR BAGS). HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRINGS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES IN THE HORN AND THE AIR BAGS. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 10/20/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB
1998 DODGE RAM TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN THE CENTER LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. *KB THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO STRUCK MY ANOTHER VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0246-90) *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND AN ALARM SOUNDS FOUR TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. EVENTUALLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIMS. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THERE ARE TWO AIR BAG RECALLS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 01V153000 AND 99V002000); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER ONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,800.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON 70 MPH IT BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED KEPT ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE REVVED. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED VERY HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. AFTER SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE IT WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHUT OFF; AND TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL VALVE THAT WAS LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY. ACID FROM THE BATTERY LEAKED DOWN ONTO THE CRUISE CONTROL VALVE CAUSING IT TO STICK. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED 04/11/06. *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. *AK
THE RPMS INCREASED, AND THE GEARS POPPED ON THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
THE TODDLER WAS STRAPPED IN THE BOOSTER SEAT BY THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS IN THE REAR OF THE QUAD CAB. CONSUMER HAD TO HIT BRAKES SUDDENLY TO KEEP FROM BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES THE SEAT BELT ALLOWED THE TODDLER TO STRIKE HIS HEAD ON THE FRONT SEAT. DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WORKED PROPERLY.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONSULTED BUT DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY. *TC
TRUCK HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS REPLACED MANY PARTS FOR LEAKS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON EVEN AFTER REPAIRS. TRUCK BUCK WHEN ACCELERATING LOOSES ENGINE POWER. WOULD LIKE IT FIXED I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE TRUCK AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING,THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS COMING INSIDE OF THE LANE. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED INTO A DITCH. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. THE DRIVER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON HIS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
HOOD LATCH POPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, CLOSED THE HOOD, AND DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. *AK
ALL WARRANTY SERVICE AT CLIFFS AUTOSVR-GOODYEAR-SPRINGTOWN.*MR THE VEHICLES REAR END HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. *NM
ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND IT WAS T-BONED BY CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WHICH WAS TRAVELING 45-50 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME SOFT TISSUE INJURIES TO THE BACK. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT ONE OF CABLES THAT HELD THE TAILGATE FROM FALLING BROKE. IT JUST SNAPPED OFF. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE CABLE HAD SOME RUST DAMAGE. *AK
GOODYEAR, WRANGLER, P265/75R16 , DOT#4B73D5DR1900 SIDEWALL SEPARATION ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN SEPARATION OCCURRED. TIRES HAD LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THEM. *AK
CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. IN THE PROCESS, THE VEHICLE HOPPED UP AND DOWN. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER MALFUNCTIONING. *AK
VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS ON ITS OWN. THEN, ENGINE RACED. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF. *AK
MY HUSBAND ORDERED THIS TRUCK IN LATE 1997. WE PURCHASED IT NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE FACED IS THE TRANSMISSION. MID-APRIL 1998 THE FIRST PROBLEMS OCCURED WITH SLIPPAGE, THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES WERE REPLACED, ONE MONTH LATER THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. NOW AT 51,000 MILES AND VERY LITTLE DRIVING FOR THE LAST 2 YRS (SINCE MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN SICK WITH CANCER) IT HAS BLOWN AGAIN. THE FRONT SEALS ARE LEAKING PROFUSELY. THE REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING SO BADLY AT ONE POINT THE ENTIRE CEILING INSIDE WAS SOADED. THE ABS COMPUTER WENT WACKY ON US EARLY ON ALSO. THE SEATBELT HAS BEEN TWISTED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WE HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY FIXED IT. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. I WILL NOT LIKELY BUY ANOTHER DODGE EVER AGAIN. MERCEDES TAKES THE CAKE.
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. JUST GO TO JASPER.COM. THEY SAY THAT 1995 TO 2001 DODGE TRUCK TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. SEEMS THAT DODGE PUT TO LOW A VOLUME PUMP IN ALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. LOCAL TRANSMISSION REBUILDERS TELL ME THAT YOU CAN NOT LET THE TRUCK IDLE BECAUSE THE TRANNY GETS NO LUBRICATION AT LOW RPM'S. SO DURING THE WINTER WHILE YOU ARE WAITING FOR THE WINDSHEILD TO CLEAR OFF TO DRIVE IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE IT SNOWS. YOU ARE DAMAGING YOUR TRANNY. THE TRANNY OVER HEAT LIGHT NEVER CAME ON JUST THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT.DODGE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE A LIST OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD DODGE TRANNY PROBLEMS. ONE IS MY BROTHER-IN-LAW.
TAIL GATE SUPPORT STRAP BROKE,RELATIVE WITH 1996 DODGE HAD BOTH SUPPORT STRAPS BREAK RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO TAILGATE
CLEAR COAT FAILURE ON CAB AND UNDER WINDOWS.
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
Data on this page last refreshed .