IllustrationREA RAXLE FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRE WHEEL AND HUB TO SEPERATE FROM THE AXLLE. ALSO, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED,CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE,RESULTING IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, EVEN AFTER VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES.
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 reportsWHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER ACCIDENTLY HIT THE CURB. WHILE TRYNG TO RECOVER THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE CURB AND APPLIED BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED VIOLENTLY AND LOCKED UP AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO THE CURB AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HUB AND WHEEL SEPERATED FROM THE AXLE, CAUSIN…
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WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER ACCIDENTLY HIT THE CURB. WHILE TRYNG TO RECOVER THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE CURB AND APPLIED BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED VIOLENTLY AND LOCKED UP AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO THE CURB AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HUB AND WHEEL SEPERATED FROM THE AXLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP FOUR TIMES, AND NEITHER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. 7810022 DUP OD 780994; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE RIGHT THEN TO THE LEFT, GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TWO TO THREE TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS SEVE…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE RIGHT THEN TO THE LEFT, GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TWO TO THREE TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS SEVEN TIMES, AND THE DEALER STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAULTY. *YH
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAD DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A 30 MPH CRASH. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES.
TAIL LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE.
PERSISTANT ENGINE SPARK CAUSE THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE TO FAIL.
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT.
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY. QCAW
WHILE DRIVING 38 TO 52 MPH VIBRATION IS FELT IN STEERING WHEEL. PROBLEM IS CONSTANT, AND WHEN IT OCCURS, A NOISE IS HEARD. DEALERS NOTED ENGINEERING FLAW. *AK
VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERLY AT 45 AND 65 MPH.
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.