Illustration1998 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK FRONT LEFT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A DITCH. *NJ ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, ONE OF THE FIVE STUDS HAD BROKEN OFF AND THREE OTHER APPEARED TO HAVE JUST LOST LUG NUTS. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0255-89)*JB LETTER UPDATED 03/17/10*BF
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
Wheels complaints
5 reportsWHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. *NLM
I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-94 GOING NORTH IN THE CENTER LANE, SUDDENLY IT FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND SUDDENLY MY ENTIRE WHEEL ROLLED OFF MY TRUCK AT ABOUT 55 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY TOWARDS THE LEFT LANE AND THEN BOUNCED UP BETWEEN THE CONCRETE DIVIDERS AND FLEW INTO…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-94 GOING NORTH IN THE CENTER LANE, SUDDENLY IT FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND SUDDENLY MY ENTIRE WHEEL ROLLED OFF MY TRUCK AT ABOUT 55 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY TOWARDS THE LEFT LANE AND THEN BOUNCED UP BETWEEN THE CONCRETE DIVIDERS AND FLEW INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC HITTING ONE CAR IN THE FRONT END. I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK THE NIGHT BEFORE ABOUT 50 MILES AND NO PROBLEMS, I DROVE THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT ABOUT 10-15 MILES BEFORE THE WHEEL FELL OFF THE TRUCK. ALL BUT 1 LUG ON THE ROTOR WERE BROKE OFF AND THE ONE LUG THAT WAS LEFT WAS BENT AND THE LUG NUT WAS GONE. I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED ABOUT 4-6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT AND HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER FRIEND THAT CERTAIN TYPE RIMS ARE PRONE TO THE LUGS BECOMING LOOSE AND THE TIRE FALLING OFF. THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO REPORT THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT. MANY MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS WAS AN OVERSIZED TIRE AND PROBABLY WEIGHED OVER 75 LBS. DT
WHILE TURNING A SHARP CURVE AT 30 MPH LEFT REAR WHEEL HUB DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
IN APRIL OF 2001, THE LUGS: NUTS OF FRONT/PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHEARED OFF AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. I WAS GOING 5 MPH PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AT THE TIME, BUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE THE INCIDENT I WAS GOING 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY.*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.