IllustrationNEW GLASS ON THE RIGHT HAND EXTERIOR MIRRIOR GIVES DRIVER A DECEPTIVE VIEW OF OTHER VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
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
What owners actually said
520 reports3500 AT 45 MPH. IF TRUCK HITS A POT HOLE OR OTHER ROAD DEFLECTION STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT 4" EACH WAY AND CONTINUE UNTIL YOU SLOW TO 15 MPH. SHAKE IS VIOLENT AND DRIVER CAN ONLY GO STRAIGTH AS WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. A BAD THING IN A CURVE.
BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
WITH THE MOTOR OFF THE VEHICLE ROLLED ON ITS OWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE HAS ROLLED FOR NO REASON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY ADJUSTED THE LINKAGE ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS. *AK
VEHICLE CONSUMES LARGE VOLUMES OF OIL IN SHORT PERIODS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK VEHICLE VIBRATES ALLOVER AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-65 MPH NOW. VIBRATION STARTED 45-55 MPH WHEN NEW. *YH
THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A BASE BIG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE VEHICLE. WHENEVER IT REACHES THE HEIGHT WHICH IS NEEDED TO CHANGE A TIRE, IT HAS BEEN UP IN THE AIR, AND CONSUMER HAS WATCHED IT JUST SLIDE DOWN DUE TO THE BASE NOT BEING WIDE ENOUGH. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH WHEN REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER' SIDE OR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CONSUMER WAS KNOCKED OUT. *AK
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
BAD FUMES FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE DUE TO CATALITIC CONVERTER BURNING UP. REAR END IS MAKING A HUMMING NOISE.
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.