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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

Structure complaints

102 reports
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82,000 miles · Mar 24, 2021
Structure

I PURCHASED A TRUCK ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAD TO REPLACED SO MANY THINGS ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 72,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. I ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH IT. I ENDED UP RUNNING CARFAX ON IT AND FOUND OUT THE ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BA…

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I PURCHASED A TRUCK ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAD TO REPLACED SO MANY THINGS ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 72,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. I ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH IT. I ENDED UP RUNNING CARFAX ON IT AND FOUND OUT THE ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BACK TWO WEEKS BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. IT HAD ORIGINALLY 167,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11404603

200,000 miles · Dec 9, 2020
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED AN OCCUPANT SUSTAINED AN INJURY DUE TO THE SHARP DASHBOARD PIECES. THE CONTACT CALLED PIEDMONT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AEV (4015 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 305-4234) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOAR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED AN OCCUPANT SUSTAINED AN INJURY DUE TO THE SHARP DASHBOARD PIECES. THE CONTACT CALLED PIEDMONT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AEV (4015 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 305-4234) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOARD COULD BE REPLACED OR A CAP COVER INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #11378640

120,000 miles · Jun 14, 2015
Service BrakesStructureCrash

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, THESE RUBBER BRAKE LINES ALMOST KILLED ME BARRELING THRU A DOWNHILL RED LIGHT. FIXED BAD PART,THEN HIT GUARD RAIL,DAMAGED FRONT GRILLE,BUMPER AND FENDER WHEN THE OTHER LINE POPPED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A NOTORIOUS PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS. I'M NOT AS ANGRY ABOUT THE FILLER NECK WHICH RO…

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, THESE RUBBER BRAKE LINES ALMOST KILLED ME BARRELING THRU A DOWNHILL RED LIGHT. FIXED BAD PART,THEN HIT GUARD RAIL,DAMAGED FRONT GRILLE,BUMPER AND FENDER WHEN THE OTHER LINE POPPED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A NOTORIOUS PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS. I'M NOT AS ANGRY ABOUT THE FILLER NECK WHICH ROTTED AND FILED TANK W RUST CHUNKS,REPLACED FUEL PUMP. BUT I THINK MORE PPL NEED TO B AWARE OF THIS BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AND I MIGHT SCRAP IT BECAUSE IT'S PROBLEMS 120K MILE TRUCK I CAN'T EVEN GET 700$ FOR AFTER THE $ I'VE INVESTED TO KEEP IT SAFE. I THINK THE BRAKES NEED TO BE RECALLED WITH THESE TRUCKS. OWNERS LIKE ME JUST LET THEM SIT BECAUSE THEY ROSY SO EASY THEIR NOT WORTH FIXING ANYMORE, I REGULARLY MAINTENENCE MY VEHICLES,THESE ARE EXPENSIVE TO KEEP SAFE, THANK YOU. SCOTT KIMBALL.120K 98 RAM

NHTSA ODI #10725151

39,000 miles · Mar 17, 2015
Structure

HE DASH STARTED CRACKING NOT THAT LONG AFTER WE GOT THE TRUCK. IT WAS NOT EVEN PAID OFF WHEN IT STARTED COMING APART WAS USED. WE EVENTUALLY PUT A MAT DASH COVER ON IT TO KEEP THE PARTS FROM FLYING AROUND. IT HAS VIRTUALLY DISSOLVED SINCE THEN. VERY POOR MATERIAL WAS USED ON THESE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694954

93,000 miles · Jan 31, 2015
Structure

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN STREET WHEN I TURNED A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. AS I TURNED I FELT AN AWFUL JAR. I WAS PULLING A 12' EMPTY TRAILER. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE MY TRAILER LIFT UP ABOUT 3-4 FT. IT STAYED ON THE BALL HITCH BUT BOUNCED TERRIBLY. I ALSO SAW A TIRE ROLLING ACROSS THE ROAD FORTUNA…

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I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN STREET WHEN I TURNED A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. AS I TURNED I FELT AN AWFUL JAR. I WAS PULLING A 12' EMPTY TRAILER. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE MY TRAILER LIFT UP ABOUT 3-4 FT. IT STAYED ON THE BALL HITCH BUT BOUNCED TERRIBLY. I ALSO SAW A TIRE ROLLING ACROSS THE ROAD FORTUNATELY NOT HITTING ANY OTHER CAR. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED AROUND MY TRUCK. I ACCOUNTED FOR ALL 4 TIRES ON MY TRUCK AND THE TWO ON MY TRAILER. I THOUGHT I MUST HAD RUN OVER ONE LAYING IN THE STREET. THEN I NOTICED MY SPARE WAS MISSING AND SAW THE METAL PIECE WHERE CABLE GOES THROUGH LAYING IN THE ROAD. THE CABLE BROKE OFF WHICH DROPPED THE SPARE INTO THE ROAD WHICH MY TRAILER RAN OVER. HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER OR ON A BUSIER HIGHWAY THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAD BEEN MORE DAMAGE. ONLY DAMAGE I INCURRED WAS MY TRAILER MESH FLOOR BROKE WELD AND NOW IT IS BENT FRAME. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR A RECALL MUST AT LEAST MAKE PEOPLE AWARE TO HAVE THIS CABLE CHECKED PERIODICALLY AND REPLACED IF NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680177

70,000 miles · Dec 13, 2014
Structure

DASH BREAKING APART, LEAVING SMALL AND LARGE SHARDS OF VERY SHARP PLASTIC POINTING TO PASSENGERS/DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664079

109,000 miles · May 4, 2014
Structure

UPPER DASH TOTALLY GONE AND BEZEL AROUND CLUSTER CRACKED AND FALLING APART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586455

157,000 miles · Apr 15, 2014
Structure

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 THE HOLE DASH IS FALLING IN CRACKS ALL OVER WITH A FEW BIG HOLES I'VE SEEN THAT THIS IS A DODGE ISSUE THAT DODGE HAS NOT FIXED OR HAS NOT MADE ATTEMPTED TO FIX. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10582984

160,000 miles · Feb 21, 2014
StructureSuspension

MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IS LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTING BECAUSE OF THIS, THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT, HOWEVER IS THE COIL SPRING FRONT MOUNTS, OR BUCKETS THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM SPRINGS TO THE FRONT AXEL ASSEMBLY. DODGE HASN'T OFFERED TO RECALL DODGE TRUCKS TO REPA…

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MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IS LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTING BECAUSE OF THIS, THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT, HOWEVER IS THE COIL SPRING FRONT MOUNTS, OR BUCKETS THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM SPRINGS TO THE FRONT AXEL ASSEMBLY. DODGE HASN'T OFFERED TO RECALL DODGE TRUCKS TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, WHEREBY THE COIL MOUNTS WERE INSUFFICIENTLY COATED, AND IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TO TRAP SALTY WATER IN THEM TO ACCELERATE THE OXIDATION PROCESS. THIS IS NOT UNLIKE THE SAFETY ISSUE FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS HAD WITH THEIR AXLES THAT TRAPPED SALTY WATER DURING WINTER AND CAUSED THEM TO ROT OUT AND SNAP CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH. MY CLOSE FRIEND WHO OWNS A MID 1990'S DODGE RAM TRUCK, WHO HAD HIS COIL SPRING BUCKET ACTUALLY FAIL CAUSING HIS FRONT END TO LUNGE FORWARD, HE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED SO HE WASN'T INJURED. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY DATA ON INJURIES RELATED TO FAILURE OF THE COIL SPRING MOUNTS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVEN'T OCCURRED. DODGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO AT THE VERY LEAST, PROVIDE A KIT TO TRUCK OWNERS THAT REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565229

115,000 miles · Dec 26, 2013
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10557331

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.