IllustrationWHILE SLOWING, THE BRAKES SOMETIMES MAKES THE VEHICLE FEELS AS THOUGH IT'S BOUNCING. THEY ALSO SQUEAL WHEN IN USE.
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 reportsDRIVER GOT INTO THE TRUCK AND PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TURNED ON THE TRUCK, AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *AK
VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN. *AK
OUTSIDE MIRRORS CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY.
HORN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FORCE NEEDED TO MAKE CONTACT WITHIN THE HORN BUTTON. THE HORN UNUSEABLE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. THE LEVER MUST BE JIGGLED TO LOCK INTO PARK.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN HE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON THAT HAD PULLED OUT OF INTERSECTION . CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FRONT END WAS CAVED IN. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS TURNED OFF. *AK
MIRROR IS DEFECTIVE, BLOCKS VISION
ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOOD INSULATION PAD WAS IGNITED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SMOLDERED UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL IT WAS EXTINGUISHED.
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE EXTREME RIGHT WHEN BRAKING.
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.