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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.

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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.

66 crash reports16 fire reports46 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

32 reports
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140,000 miles · Sep 19, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND THEN DIMMED COMPLETELY. AS OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX MELTED, WHICH BE BELIEVED WAS THE CAUSE O…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND THEN DIMMED COMPLETELY. AS OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX MELTED, WHICH BE BELIEVED WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ODI #10203425

85,000 miles · Aug 7, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE SERVICE AND ABS WARNING ILLUMINATED AND HE HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE SERVICE AND ABS WARNING ILLUMINATED AND HE HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. RETURN USPS, MADE 2ND ATTEMPT 08/07/07 FAILED. *BF

NHTSA ODI #10198755

95,000 miles · May 1, 2007
Electrical SystemStructure

DASHBOARD OF MY 1998 DODGE RAM PICKUP UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED CRACKING AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189431

119,000 miles · May 14, 2006
Electrical System

HORN BUTTON DOESN'T WORK. WHEN IT DOES WORK, IT WON'T TURN OFF. HORN BUTTON IS CONNECTED TO THE AIRBAG ON MY TRUCK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157528

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2006
Electrical SystemCrash

THE HORN ON MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 WILL ONLY BLOW WITH ABOUT 50 LBS OF PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND ONLY IF YOU PUSH ON THE EXACT SPOT. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE A GUY BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND RIGHT INTO THE SIDE OF MY TRUCK . I TRIED TO BLOW THE HORN BUT I COULDN'T GET IT TO WORK UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151754

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2005
Electrical SystemStructure

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ALONG WITH THE BEZEL. ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HORN, IT IS VERY HARD TO ACTIVATE WHEN PUSHED. THESE ITEMS ARE A CONCERN BEING NEAR OR PART OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IF IN A CRASH. I BELIEVE THE DASH AND BEZEL ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND DODGE NEE…

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I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ALONG WITH THE BEZEL. ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HORN, IT IS VERY HARD TO ACTIVATE WHEN PUSHED. THESE ITEMS ARE A CONCERN BEING NEAR OR PART OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IF IN A CRASH. I BELIEVE THE DASH AND BEZEL ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND DODGE NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE AT WHAT EVER COST TO PREVENT POSSIBLE INJURY IF PERSONS ARE IN A CRASH WHILE OPERATING OR RIDING IN THEIR VEHICLES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10146631

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2004
Electrical System

CONSUMER NOTICED IN COLD WEATHER HORN ASSEMBLY IS HARD TO DEPRESS IN AN EMERGENCY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10081398

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

HORN IS HARD TO BLOW. REAR END MAKES WHINING NOISE AND IT STARTED USING 5 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I ONLY HAVE 36000 MILES ON IT. THEY REPLACED MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET AT MY EXPENSE. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. LUCKILY I DIDN'T RUIN THE ENGINE THAT I KNOW OF. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH I…

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HORN IS HARD TO BLOW. REAR END MAKES WHINING NOISE AND IT STARTED USING 5 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I ONLY HAVE 36000 MILES ON IT. THEY REPLACED MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET AT MY EXPENSE. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. LUCKILY I DIDN'T RUIN THE ENGINE THAT I KNOW OF. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH INTAKE GASKETS. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE PARTS? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10055028

72,329 miles · Jan 6, 2004
Electrical System

HORN BUTTON IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESS TO ACTUATE HORN. THIS IS MY SECOND TRUCK OF SAME YEAR AND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10052476

94,000 miles · Dec 17, 2003
Electrical System

HORN SWITCH FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10051662

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.