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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.

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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
134,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE RAISED UP. THE SPARE TIRE HAD DETACHED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT HE NOTICED THE CABLE WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE HAD POPPED AND CAUSED TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE RAISED UP. THE SPARE TIRE HAD DETACHED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT HE NOTICED THE CABLE WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE HAD POPPED AND CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO DETACH FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ODI #10401136

123,000 miles · Apr 12, 2011
Seat Belts

THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. THERE WASN'T ANY EVENT THAT LED TO THE FAILURE, THEY BOTH JUST QUIT WORKING. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND APPARENTLY IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN LEAVING BOTH THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANT WITHOUT SAFETY RESTRAINTS. THIS IS VERY DANG…

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THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. THERE WASN'T ANY EVENT THAT LED TO THE FAILURE, THEY BOTH JUST QUIT WORKING. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND APPARENTLY IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN LEAVING BOTH THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANT WITHOUT SAFETY RESTRAINTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED TO BOTH NOTIFY AND TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395670

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2011
Structure

I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK THAT HAS A STRANGE ISSUE. FOR YEARS I HAVE SUFFERED WITH A CRACKED DASHBOARD THAT CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. THERE ARE MANY EXPOSED ELEMENTS THAT I FEEL WOULD COMPROMISE MY SAFETY IF I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. THE SHARP EDGES MADE BY THE CRACKS ARE ALSO A HAZARD AS WELL. JU…

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I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK THAT HAS A STRANGE ISSUE. FOR YEARS I HAVE SUFFERED WITH A CRACKED DASHBOARD THAT CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. THERE ARE MANY EXPOSED ELEMENTS THAT I FEEL WOULD COMPROMISE MY SAFETY IF I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. THE SHARP EDGES MADE BY THE CRACKS ARE ALSO A HAZARD AS WELL. JUST TODAY, I HAVE LEARNED THAT COUNTLESS DODGE OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AND THE COMPANY HAS SEEMED TO TURN A DEAF EAR. I ACTUALLY STUMBLED ACROSS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AS I WAS SEARCHING ONLINE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT FOR MY VEHICLE DASHBOARD. I HAVE BEEN USING MATS AND TOWELS OR WHATEVER I COULD CONJURE TO COVER UP THE PROBLEM FOR A YEAR OR SO, BUT NOW THE DAMAGE IS WAY MORE THAN THAT TYPE OF "BANDAID" CAN FIX. FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT OF THE SAME TYPE OF DASH IS A WASTE OF MONEY, BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL IS STILL THE SAME, AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL AS WELL. I CERTAINLY FEEL THAT DODGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SAID PART DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE IN ENSURING THE SAFETY AND STABILITY OF THIS COMPONENT. IT IS BY NO MEANS COINCIDENTAL THAT ALL THE PEOPLE HAVE THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND NEVER HAVE I HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394362

198,000 miles · Apr 1, 2011
StructureInjury

SEVERELY CRACKING DASH, PRODUCING SHARP EDGES AND LARGE SHARDS POTENTIALLY CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393932

124,000 miles · Mar 3, 2011
Electrical SystemStructure

1998 DODGE RAM DASHBOARD IS CRUMBLING INTO LITTLE PIECES. I SMELL BURNT WIRES COMING FROM MY DASH SOMETIMES. I FEEL IT MAY START A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386264

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2011
Structure

MY DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED ALL OVER WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE FRAME AND THERE ARE LITTLE SHARP PIECES FLOATING AROUND THE CRACKED AREAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384474

115,920 miles · Jan 3, 2011
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS COULD NOT BE LUBED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD SCRAPPING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS COULD NOT BE LUBED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD SCRAPPING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,920.

NHTSA ODI #10374015

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICKUP I WAS DRIVING A FRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER TO THE DENTIST I PASSED A LOGGING TRUCK WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY LANE AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE TRUCK SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THE ONLY PLACE I COULD PULL OFF I HIT IT THE WAS ALMOST OFF THE NUT HOLDING THE TIRE ROTOR ON THE SHAFT …

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I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICKUP I WAS DRIVING A FRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER TO THE DENTIST I PASSED A LOGGING TRUCK WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY LANE AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE TRUCK SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THE ONLY PLACE I COULD PULL OFF I HIT IT THE WAS ALMOST OFF THE NUT HOLDING THE TIRE ROTOR ON THE SHAFT SNAPPED OFF THE TOW HOME WAS OVER 500 DOLLARS AFTER GETTING TRUCK I BROKE OUT MY SHOP MANUALS OUT THE BRG PACK WAS BURNED I REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRES WITH OEM PARTS TO THE TUNE OF 1100 DOLLARS WITHIN A MTH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVE WAY AGAIN REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRE THIS TIME COST ABOUT 850 6 MTHS LATTER COMING HOME I FEEL FRONT VIBRATION HANG ON TO WHEEL MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE ROTOR CALIPER FLY OFF I SLIDE BETTER PART OF 75 FEET GRINDING OFF LOWER BALL JOINT AFTER BEING TOWED HOME LOOKING AT TIRE RIM CALIPER ROTOR I DECIDE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT END COST OF 650 DOLLARS FROM A WRECKING YARD BELIEVE THE PROBLEM FRONT TO LIGHT FOR WEIGHT ALSO THE VISCOSITY OF GREESE IN BRG PACK TO LIGHT BREAKING DOWN CAUSING BRG TO GET HOT AND SEIZE UP CAUSING TIRE RIM CALIPER H ROTOR TO FLY OFF HAVE SAVED ALL OLD PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366499

40,123 miles · Nov 1, 2010
Structure

THE DASH COMES APART INTO SMALL PIECES.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10363611

80,500 miles · Oct 26, 2010
Seat Belts

1998 DODGE RAM 1500 SEAT BELTS REMAIN IN RETRACTABLE POSITION AND CANNOT BE USED ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. MILEAGE 80500 THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PULL ON THE SEAT BELTS THEY WILL NOT COME LOOSE FROM THE RETRACTABLE POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362474

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.