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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.

About this comparison →
520Owner complaints

Model-year median: 520

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
213
1995298
1996361
1997520
1998610
1999513
20001,112
2001
Compare all RAM 1500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
102Power Train
85Air Bags
63Service Brakes, Hydraulic
56Engine And Engine Cooling
35
All reported categories
Seat Belts
34Suspension
34Electrical System
32Steering
28Tires
27Unknown Or Other
24Latches/locks/linkages
17Fuel System, Gasoline
14Visibility
14Equipment
13Vehicle Speed Control
13Service Brakes
7Exterior Lighting
6Fuel System, Other
6Wheels
5Seats
4Fuel/propulsion System
3Interior Lighting
2Engine
1Parking Brake
1Trailer Hitches
1

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.

66 crash reports16 fire reports46 injury reports

Structure complaints

102 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2010
Structure

CRACKED DASH COVER IS A HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335302

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2010
Structure

WE OWN THREE DODGE RAMS, THE 99 & 98 DASHES HAVE CRACKED UP DUE TO DODGE USING CHEAP MATERIAL. WE CAN NOT AFFORD THE $1200 TO REPLACE JUST ONE OF THE DASH, NOR CAN WE FIND A USED ONE. NOW MY 6YR GRANDCHILD HAS CUT HIS HAND FROM ONE OF THE CRACKS SHARP EDGES. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS, I LOVE MY PERSONAL TRUCK BUT I UNABLE T…

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WE OWN THREE DODGE RAMS, THE 99 & 98 DASHES HAVE CRACKED UP DUE TO DODGE USING CHEAP MATERIAL. WE CAN NOT AFFORD THE $1200 TO REPLACE JUST ONE OF THE DASH, NOR CAN WE FIND A USED ONE. NOW MY 6YR GRANDCHILD HAS CUT HIS HAND FROM ONE OF THE CRACKS SHARP EDGES. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS, I LOVE MY PERSONAL TRUCK BUT I UNABLE TO KEEP MY GRANDSON SAFE IN IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334131

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2010
Structure

DASHBOARD HOLE KEEPS GETTING LARGER 1998 DODGE RAM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330908

164,000 miles · May 1, 2010
Structure

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. MY DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD BE HAPPENING, AS NO UNUSUAL USE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328381

89,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Structure

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH A CRACKED DASH AND RESEARCHED OTHER YEARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . I HAVE CALL DODGE LIKE A LOT OF OTHERS HAVE WITH NO RESULTS . MY CONCERN IS WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN I HAVE HAD A PEACE OF THE DASH FLY IN TO FACE WHILE DRIVING . AND I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW I CANT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS WI…

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I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH A CRACKED DASH AND RESEARCHED OTHER YEARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . I HAVE CALL DODGE LIKE A LOT OF OTHERS HAVE WITH NO RESULTS . MY CONCERN IS WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN I HAVE HAD A PEACE OF THE DASH FLY IN TO FACE WHILE DRIVING . AND I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW I CANT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS WITH OUT FEAR OF BEEN HIT IN THE FACE AGAIN ...... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313977

130,000 miles · Feb 23, 2010
Structure

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND EXPOSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THERE ARE ALSO SHARPE EDGES EXPOSED CAUSING A SAFETY RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313113

155,240 miles · Feb 5, 2010
StructureInjury

1998 DODGE RAM 4X4 SLE PICK-UP TRUCK WITH CRACKED DASH. SHARP EDGES ON DASH HAS CAUSED AN INJURY TO MY HAND WHILING CLEANING THE WINDOW. DAMAGE WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANY PERSON OR PERSONS IN YOUR AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CRACKED DASH IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2ND GENERATE DODGE PICKS (1994-2001). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10306427

125,000 miles · Jan 30, 2010
Structure

1998 DODGE RAM 1500, SEVERELY CRACKED DASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303320

140,000 miles · Oct 19, 2009
Structure

CRACKING DASH ON DODGE RAM SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE SINCE CHRYSLER WILL NOT. CRACKS ARE CAUSING SHARP EDGES AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10288955

130,000 miles · Aug 28, 2009
Structure

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT DODGE RAM TRUCKS I OWN A 98 DODGE TRUCK IS THERE ANY RECALLS ABOUT THE DASHES CRACKING AND COMING APART WHILE YOUR DRIVING THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME I ALMOST WRECKED MY TRUCKED PLEASE LET ME KNOW THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282081

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.