IllustrationROTORS INSTALLED BY MANUFACTURER ARE UNDERSIZED CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS. *YC
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
90–25K
2125–50K
4050–75K
5375–100K
61100–150K
43150K+
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
56 reportsBRAKE PADS FAILED.
BRAKE PAD CRACKED, MADE A CLICKING NOISE. YH
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LATCH HANDLE FAILED.
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE OWNER COULD FEEL A GRINDING SENSATION. BRAKES PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. CURRENTLY REPLACING THE PADS FOR THE 4TH TIME. *AK
HAD SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHEN THE ENGINE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. *AK
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
BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
BRAKE PADS CONTINUALLY WEARING OUT PREMATURELY.
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID'NT STO., CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES THREE TO FOUR TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALSO, TIRES LOCKED UP IN PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICLE HAD BEEN THREE TO FOUR TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND STILL CAN'T DETERIMINE THE PROBL…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID'NT STO., CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES THREE TO FOUR TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALSO, TIRES LOCKED UP IN PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICLE HAD BEEN THREE TO FOUR TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND STILL CAN'T DETERIMINE THE PROBLEM. *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.