Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
925–50K
1450–75K
1575–100K
15100–150K
19150K+
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
What owners actually said
225 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2005
Tires
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIS 2004 THOR JAZZ 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. IT IS THE ORIGINAL TIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FENDER. CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE THE DAY BEFORE. HE TOOK THE TIRE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A CARLISLE DEALER NEARBY. HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SIGN OF TH…
Read full complaint
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIS 2004 THOR JAZZ 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. IT IS THE ORIGINAL TIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FENDER. CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE THE DAY BEFORE. HE TOOK THE TIRE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A CARLISLE DEALER NEARBY. HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE TIRE RUNNING LOW AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10127057
60,000 miles · Apr 24, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DODGE DIESEL LIFT PUMP FAILURE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10118347
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2005
Power Train
HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND "TRANSTEMP" LIGHT COMES ON AFTER OVERDRIVE SHUTS OF WHILE DOING HIGHWAY DRIVING. TRUCK HAS HIGH MILES BUT I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTED TO A POORLY DESIGNED TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONING AND IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AGE, MILES OR NO…
Read full complaint
HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND "TRANSTEMP" LIGHT COMES ON AFTER OVERDRIVE SHUTS OF WHILE DOING HIGHWAY DRIVING. TRUCK HAS HIGH MILES BUT I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTED TO A POORLY DESIGNED TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONING AND IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AGE, MILES OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LEARNED IT IS COMMON TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT OR REPAIRED ONE OR MORE TIMES DURING THE DURATION OF THE TRUCKS LIFE. IF WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS TRUE THEN THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE FROM DODGE AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10113969
132,000 miles · Feb 4, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I DROVE THE TRUCK AS NORMAL AND THE BLOCK DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE RIGHT SIDE THE FAILURE IS THE WATER JACKET OF THE BLOCK THAT KEEPS THE COOLING FLUID INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS MEANS I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK WITHOUT FILLING THE COOLING FLUID EVERY 300 MILES. THIS IS A 53 BLOCK MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE!!!…
Read full complaint
I DROVE THE TRUCK AS NORMAL AND THE BLOCK DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE RIGHT SIDE THE FAILURE IS THE WATER JACKET OF THE BLOCK THAT KEEPS THE COOLING FLUID INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS MEANS I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK WITHOUT FILLING THE COOLING FLUID EVERY 300 MILES. THIS IS A 53 BLOCK MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE!!!!! I CONTACTED DODGE AND THE SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I WILL NEED A NEW BLOCK/ENGINE...$6500 FOR A NEW ONE..$3500 FOR USED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10109820
70,000 miles · Nov 3, 2004
Fuel System, Other
THE LIFT PUMP THAT FEEDED THE INJECTOR PUMP FAILED, AND WAS COSTLY TO REPLACE IT. VEHICLE LOST POWER. *AK *SC
NHTSA ODI #10092675
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
ON MARCH 2003 WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED BOTH FUEL PUMPS AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. ONE YEAR LATER VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOM AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DEALERSHIP INDICATED AGAIN IT WAS THE INJECTOR FUEL PUMP, BUT WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANNTY. JUST THE PART WILL…
Read full complaint
ON MARCH 2003 WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED BOTH FUEL PUMPS AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. ONE YEAR LATER VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOM AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DEALERSHIP INDICATED AGAIN IT WAS THE INJECTOR FUEL PUMP, BUT WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANNTY. JUST THE PART WILL COST CONSUMER $1400 PLUS LABOR. *AK *TC
NHTSA ODI #10092919
1 miles · Oct 17, 2004
Electrical System
HORN FAILS TO SOUND APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE TIME. FORCE REQUIRED AND SIZE OF ACTIVATING AREA ON STEERING WHEEL WERE SEVERELY OVERLOOKED BY DESIGN ENGINEERS. I AM A 6' TALL PHYSICALLY ACTIVE MALE AND I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME SOUNDING HORN (VERY DANGEROUS) *JB
NHTSA ODI #10095899
61,852 miles · Sep 21, 2004
Power Train
CONSUMER PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED THEN LURCHED FORWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THE PILOT BEARING/CLUTCH FAILED.*AK THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND HAD A NEW CLUTCH KIT INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE TESTED OK. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10045031
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090400
56,500 miles · Aug 26, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 1998 DODGE RAM 2500 TRUCK'S ENGINE, WITH JUST OVER 56,000 MILES ON IT, EXPLODED INTERNALLY. MY MECHANIC, COLONIAL AUTO REPAIR OF DANBURY CT. STATED THE BOLTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LOOSENED AND ALLOWED AIR AND FOREIGN SUBSTANCES TO LEAK PAST A GASKET INTO THE CYLINDARS. THE RESULT WAS MY ENGINE PISTON LITERALLY EXPLODED IN …
Read full complaint
MY 1998 DODGE RAM 2500 TRUCK'S ENGINE, WITH JUST OVER 56,000 MILES ON IT, EXPLODED INTERNALLY. MY MECHANIC, COLONIAL AUTO REPAIR OF DANBURY CT. STATED THE BOLTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LOOSENED AND ALLOWED AIR AND FOREIGN SUBSTANCES TO LEAK PAST A GASKET INTO THE CYLINDARS. THE RESULT WAS MY ENGINE PISTON LITERALLY EXPLODED IN THE CYLINDAR, WHICH RESULTED IN MY HAVING TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10088607
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.
1998 Dodge RAM 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration