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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

View investigation details →

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

What owners actually said

520 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2003
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHIE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR I HAD STEP ON MY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. I HAD TO SVERVE TO THE RIGHT SO I WOULDN'T HIT THE CAR. ALSO I HAD THE BRAKES WORKED AND NOW MY ROTORS HAVE HEAT CRACKS AFTER BEING REPLACED. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE AGAIN THIS THE FOUTH TIME. DEALER SAY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES JUST THAT THEY ARE WEARIN…

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WHIE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR I HAD STEP ON MY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. I HAD TO SVERVE TO THE RIGHT SO I WOULDN'T HIT THE CAR. ALSO I HAD THE BRAKES WORKED AND NOW MY ROTORS HAVE HEAT CRACKS AFTER BEING REPLACED. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE AGAIN THIS THE FOUTH TIME. DEALER SAY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES JUST THAT THEY ARE WEARING OUT FRONT ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10032773

51,000 miles · Jul 17, 2003
Steering

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING AND SHIMMERING DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ENDS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10029529

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2003
Electrical System

THE HORN TURNED ON BY ITSELF. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HORN ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029421

53,379 miles · Jul 16, 2003
Steering

BROKENT TIE ROD AT 53,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028432

53,500 miles · Jul 14, 2003
Suspension

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS MECHANIC LINKAGE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE. ALSO, TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD BRACKET IN PLACE BROKE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY OR RECALLS, AND THEY COULD NOT DO …

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CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS MECHANIC LINKAGE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE. ALSO, TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD BRACKET IN PLACE BROKE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY OR RECALLS, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10027238

54,000 miles · Jul 9, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED. DOOR FLEW OPEN, AFTER BEING LOCKED, AND WOULDN'T LOCK BACK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10026870

103,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10019698

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2003
Seat Belts

BOTH SEAT BELTS WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024149

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2003
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH TRANSMISSION BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022787

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2003
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE TO NEXT GEAR AFTER DRIVING SLOW. WHEN YOU STEP ON GAS PEDAL, IT SEEMS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO ENGAGE INTO NEXT GEAR. HAD TO PUSH DOWN ON GAS PEDAL AS IF TRYING TO GET INTO PASSING LANE IN ORDER FOR TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. CHRYSLER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10021244

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.