RoadVitals

1998 Dodge Ram Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints 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 Nov 6, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 483 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Dodge Ram submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 6, 2003
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046498
Incident
Nov 3, 2003
Mileage
150,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 21, 2002

HEADLIGHT "WINKED" OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES THEN QUIT WORKING, THEY RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER ABOUT 10 MIN. DT

NHTSA ID
768684
Incident
Oct 21, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 8, 2002

WHEN HITTING DIMMER SWITCH TO DIM HEADLIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
8015825
Incident
Jul 18, 2002
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEPT BURNING OUT, CAUSING DASHBOARD AND TAIL LIGHTS TO GO OUT, WITHOUT WARNING. *AKHEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS CHECKED AND DEALER FOUND MELTED PLASTIC WIRE TO THE SWITCH CONNECTOR. SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THEN THE TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT. STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. *JG

NHTSA ID
8008258
Incident
Dec 12, 2001
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Aug 21, 2001

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. WHEN HE TURNED LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF. THE DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED AT DEALER AT OWNERS COST.*YD

NHTSA ID
894843
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 5, 2000

HORN DOES NOT SOUND WHEN DEPRESSED; BACKUP LIGHTS LENS COVER IS TINTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
722317
Incident
Nov 16, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 20, 1999

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
854184
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 1999
Crash reported

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH, REAR ENDED A TRAILER WHICH DIDN'T HAVE ANY TYPE OF LIGHTS. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
845519
Incident
Jul 6, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 13, 1999

FUSE TO DASH LIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS BLEW WHEN HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA ID
709962
Incident
Aug 12, 1999
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Jun 1, 1999

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED TO CONNECT 3 OR 4 TIMES WHEN PULLED AS THOUGH SHAFT WAS SIMPLY IN A HOLE. ACCELERATOR STUCK AND I HAD TO BRAKE HEAVILY BEFORE IT RELEASED. *AK

NHTSA ID
707068
Incident
May 30, 1999
BrakesExterior lightingOther / unspecified+3 more
Filed Apr 17, 1999

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS LATE ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS JUMPING INTO GEAR, DIAGNOSTICS' WERE PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP RESULTING IN A NEGATIVE RESULT, THE TRUCK STILL PERSIST'S WITH THE PROBLEM USUALLY AT SPEEDS' 35 MPH AND UNDER. THE TRUCK HAS PULLED RIGHT UPON DELIVERY, DEALERSHIP REPLACED CALIPERS STATING THAT THE O.E.M. CALIPERS WERE SEIZED FROM FACTORY, THREE DAYS LATER THE PROBLEM WAS BACK, DEALERSHIP PERFORMED ALIGNMENT, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. THE REASON I PUT POWER STEERING DOWN UNDER THE COMMENTS SECTION IS BECAUSE OF MY BELIEF THAT THE PROBLEM RESIDES IN THE STEERING GEAR-BOX, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED. THE BACK-UP LIGHTS DID NOT WORK UPON DELIVERY BUT WERE FIXED IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE BEEN FINE EVER-SINCE. THE DRVER-SIDE WINDOW MOLDING LEAKS AND ON CERTAIN DAYS CAUSES FOGGING OF THE WINDOW RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VISION AND AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. O.E.M. JACKSTAND IS ALSO TO SHORT TO REPLACE TIRE ON INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ID
705725
Incident
Aug 21, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 5, 1999

HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND CONNECTOR FAILED CAUSING OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID
543229
Incident
May 26, 1998

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Brakes115Airbags66Transmission61Electrical48Engine38Suspension31Steering28Other / unspecified27Driver assistance25Fuel system24Powertrain (other)22Tires & wheels18Body & structure18Seat belts17Visibility15Interior & seats12

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .