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1999 Dodge RAM 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
610Owner complaints

Model-year median: 520

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1999 Dodge RAM 1500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 610 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Structure: 240 reports
  • Air Bags: 61 reports
  • Power Train: 59 reports
  • Unknown Or Other: 51 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 47 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    298
    1996    361
    1997    520
    1998    610
    1999    513
    2000    1,112
    2001    815
    2002
    Compare all RAM 1500 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Structure
    240    Air Bags
    61    Power Train
    59    Unknown Or Other
    51    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    47
    All reported categories
    Engine And Engine Cooling
    39    Electrical System
    36    Steering
    32    Suspension
    31    Seat Belts
    24    Tires
    17    Latches/locks/linkages
    16    Equipment
    13    Wheels
    11    Vehicle Speed Control
    10    Exterior Lighting
    9    Visibility
    8    Fuel System, Gasoline
    6    Engine
    4    Service Brakes
    4    Service Brakes, Air
    4    Seats
    3    Trailer Hitches
    3    Fuel/propulsion System
    2    Parking Brake
    2    Electronic Stability Control (esc)
    1    Interior Lighting
    1    Service Brakes, Electric
    1    Visibility/wiper
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    335 reports with mileage · 275 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 240 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Air Bags. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Power Train. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    63 crash reports19 fire reports41 injury reports

    What owners actually said

    610 reports
    178,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
    Power Train

    TRANSMISSION CONTINUALLY SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AND/OR 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10639341

    70,000 miles · Sep 17, 2014
    Structure

    DASH IS TOTALLY FALLING APART. I WAS CONCERNED THAT PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK. I AM HAVING DASH REPLACED NOW FOR ABOUT $1400.00 AND I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OTHER CAR OR TRUCK DO THIS. THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE ABOUT THIS PLASTIC. THIS IS NOT SUN DAMAGE. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10636900

    162,543 miles · Sep 16, 2014
    StructureInjury

    DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED AND FALLING APART. THE OTHER DAY I CAUGHT MY HAND ON A PIECE THAT HAS CURLED UP WITH A SHARP CORNER WHILE RETRIEVING MY SUNGLASSES I TOOK OFF TO PUMP GAS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10633460

    156,000 miles · Sep 2, 2014
    Structure

    DASH PIECES FALLING INTO HEATER VENTS AND OTHER COMPONENTS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10630007

    70,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
    Electrical SystemEngineSteering

    IGNITION AND KEY ARE DEFECTIVE. IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM VEHICLE IGNITION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IGNITION KEY FELL OUT OF IGNITION WHILE DRIVING. IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND IN MOTION. VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOES NOT NEED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE ENGINE. IF THE …

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    IGNITION AND KEY ARE DEFECTIVE. IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM VEHICLE IGNITION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IGNITION KEY FELL OUT OF IGNITION WHILE DRIVING. IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND IN MOTION. VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOES NOT NEED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE ENGINE. IF THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING THE KEY CAN BE VERY EASILY PULLED OUT OF THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY, THE KEY JUST SLIPS RIGHT OUT OF THE IGNITION. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I ASKED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FORWARD THE COMPLAINT TO A HIGHER UP PERSON IN CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT AFTER MY PHONE CALL, THAT WAS THE END OF THE ISSUE AND CHRYSLER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM CONCERNING A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. I SPOKE TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AT (800) 334-9200. THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE AND THE PROBLEM STARTED SIX YEARS AGO AND THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING THROUGH TODAY. AN INTERNET SEARCH YIELDS COUNTLESS OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER. THE CONDITION IS UNSAFE AND PLEASE LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10607173

    100,123 miles · Jun 11, 2014
    Structure

    THE DASH STARTED CRACKING MORE AND MORE FOR NO REASON AT ALL. NOW THERE ARE CHUNKS OF THE DASH THAT HAVE FALLEN BEHIND THE DASH. THIS COULD DAMAGE THE WIRING OR CIRCUITRY OR AIR BAGS BEHIND THE DASH BECAUSE THE PIECES THAT HAVE FALLEN HAVE VERY SHARP EDGES. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10597756

    75,000 miles · May 21, 2014
    Electrical SystemFire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD WITHOUT WARNING AS FLAMES IGNITED FROM UNDERNEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED O…

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    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD WITHOUT WARNING AS FLAMES IGNITED FROM UNDERNEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10592976

    47,000 miles · Apr 13, 2014
    Structure

    DASHBOARD CRUMPLING AND FALLING INTO AIR VENTS AND BEING BLOWN AROUND INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT IF A LITTLE BLOWS INTO EYES. *JS

    NHTSA ODI #10579449

    236,489 miles · Apr 7, 2014
    Tires

    I HAD ONEIDA THE TIRES ON BACK OF MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 ON MY WAY HOME ON A DRY SATURDAY AFTERNOON I WAY ON THE FREEWAY RUNNING 75 MPH WHEN THE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF OF THE TIRE IT BEAT UP FRONT AND BACKSIDES OF MY FENDER WELLS AND SUPPORT BRACKETS AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MY BED AS WELL AS THE TIRE I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRU…

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    I HAD ONEIDA THE TIRES ON BACK OF MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 ON MY WAY HOME ON A DRY SATURDAY AFTERNOON I WAY ON THE FREEWAY RUNNING 75 MPH WHEN THE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF OF THE TIRE IT BEAT UP FRONT AND BACKSIDES OF MY FENDER WELLS AND SUPPORT BRACKETS AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MY BED AS WELL AS THE TIRE I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK A LITTLE OF 2MONTHS AND THE TIRE HAD 75PERCENT TREAD LEFT ON IT. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10578031

    77,000 miles · Mar 7, 2014
    Structure

    THE DASHBOARD HAS CAME ALL APART. FROM 1998 TO 2004 THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHT MARE FOR OWNERS. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DODGE FOR SAFETY REASONS PEOPLE COULD BE STRUCK WHILE DRIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10567808

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.