AT A STOP LIGHT REAR ENDED AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
1998 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
227 reports with mileage · 293 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
63 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ,AND THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSIN CONSUMER TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD CONSUMER FROM BOUCING ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THE AIR BAG MODULE AND COVER COMPLETED, HOWEVER COVER IS LOOSE WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE MODULE.
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, RESULTED IN AN INJURY AND A DEATH. *AK *ML
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. DURING A FRONT COLLISION IN WHICH THE CONSUMER REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ANOTHER CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE AT 35 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER WAS HURT IN ACCIDENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH REAR ENDED A DISABLED VEHICLE THAT BROKE DOWN ON THE FREEWAY AND THE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE PASSAGER SIDES DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH WHEN REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER' SIDE OR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CONSUMER WAS KNOCKED OUT. *AK
REA RAXLE FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRE WHEEL AND HUB TO SEPERATE FROM THE AXLLE. ALSO, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED,CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE,RESULTING IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, EVEN AFTER VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES.
WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER ACCIDENTLY HIT THE CURB. WHILE TRYNG TO RECOVER THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE CURB AND APPLIED BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED VIOLENTLY AND LOCKED UP AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO THE CURB AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HUB AND WHEEL SEPERATED FROM THE AXLE, CAUSIN…
Read full complaint
WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER ACCIDENTLY HIT THE CURB. WHILE TRYNG TO RECOVER THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE CURB AND APPLIED BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED VIOLENTLY AND LOCKED UP AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO THE CURB AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HUB AND WHEEL SEPERATED FROM THE AXLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP FOUR TIMES, AND NEITHER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. 7810022 DUP OD 780994; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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