← New search

1998 Dodge RAM 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

79 reports with mileage · 146 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports3 fire reports14 injury reports

Fuel System, Diesel complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
290,000 miles · Feb 8, 2014
Fuel System, DieselVehicle Speed Control

1998.5 24VALVE CUMMINS DIESEL, ONE OWNER WITH FACTORY ECM (799) UPDATE, NEVER ANY "CHIPS". ON COLD START UP, EVERYTHING NORMAL UNTIL I GO TO TAKE OFF, ANY APPLICATION TO THE ACCELERATOR AND AS IF I PUT THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, TRUCK WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL EITHER I REMOVE MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE …

Read full complaint

1998.5 24VALVE CUMMINS DIESEL, ONE OWNER WITH FACTORY ECM (799) UPDATE, NEVER ANY "CHIPS". ON COLD START UP, EVERYTHING NORMAL UNTIL I GO TO TAKE OFF, ANY APPLICATION TO THE ACCELERATOR AND AS IF I PUT THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, TRUCK WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL EITHER I REMOVE MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE PEDAL, OR THE GOVERNOR KICKS IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563484

4 miles · Feb 13, 2007
Fuel System, Diesel

I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLERCHRYSLER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS BY EMAIL AND WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE LIFT PUMP OF THE 1998-2002 DODGE RAMS WITH THE 5.9 LITER CUMMINS 24 VALVE DIESELS. THE LIFT PUMPS EXPERIENCE PREMATURE FAILURE LEADING TO COSTLY REPAIR OF THE INJECTOR PUMP. BY CUMMINS OWN ADMISSION TO ME BY …

Read full complaint

I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLERCHRYSLER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS BY EMAIL AND WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE LIFT PUMP OF THE 1998-2002 DODGE RAMS WITH THE 5.9 LITER CUMMINS 24 VALVE DIESELS. THE LIFT PUMPS EXPERIENCE PREMATURE FAILURE LEADING TO COSTLY REPAIR OF THE INJECTOR PUMP. BY CUMMINS OWN ADMISSION TO ME BY EMAIL ON JANUARY 9, 2007, DODGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH A MORE RELIABLE REPLACEMENT LIFT PUMP TO BE INSTALLED IN THE GAS TANK IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN INDICATOR LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES WHEN FUEL PRESSURE DROPS TO A LEVEL TO HARM THE INJECTOR PUMP. EVEN THOUGH DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS FULLY AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THE REMEDY, THEY ARE REFUSING TO CONDUCT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES AND HAVE REFUSED TO ANSWER MY LATEST CORRESPONDENCE ON JANUARY 17, 2007. THEY HAVE REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL DEALER,WHICH I CONTACTED AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182521

133,000 miles · May 3, 2004
Fuel System, Diesel

OCTOBER 2003 LIFT PUMP FAILED LEFT STRANDED $1150.00 DEALER KEPT OLD PUMP FOR CORE. FEBRUARY 2004 INJECTOR PUMP FAILED ON INTERSTATE ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. $1475.00 DEALER KEPT INJECTOR PUMP FOR CORE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068248

34,700 miles · Mar 19, 2004
Fuel System, Diesel

FAILED FUEL LIFT/TRANSFER PUMP ON 1998.5/1999 24 VALVE DODGE CUMMINS DIESEL CAUSING ENGINE TO REFUSE TO START AND DAMAGING FUEL INJECTION PUMP COSTING OVER $2,000.00 TO REPLACE NOT COUNTING THE INCONVIENENCE OF BEING STRANDED AWAY FROM HOME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10062594

98,000 miles · Jun 23, 2003
Fuel System, Diesel

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY THIRD LIFT PUMP AND ALSO GOING ON MY THIRD INJECTION PUMP VP-44 IN MY 98.5 DODGE RAM CUMMINS... DODGE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND OR HAVE CUMMINS ADDRESS IT THIS IS A BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023567

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.