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1998 Dodge RAM 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.5.

About this comparison →
105Owner complaints

Model-year median: 124.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
108
1995124
1996125
1997105
1998104
199958
2000130
2001
Compare all RAM 3500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Power Train
19Electrical System
14Exterior Lighting
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14Air Bags
9
All reported categories
Steering
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7Fuel System, Gasoline
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Suspension
4Unknown Or Other
4Seat Belts
3Structure
3Fuel System, Diesel
2Interior Lighting
2Parking Brake
2Service Brakes
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Other
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Trailer Hitches
1Visibility/wiper
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

46 reports with mileage · 59 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports10 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

105 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Interior Lighting

ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW FUSES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM, KEPT REPLACING FUSES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

NHTSA ODI #886691

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

AFTER DISENGAGING SPEED CONTROLBY SWITCH SET AT 57 MPH VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT 70 MPH BEFORE DISENGAGING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886687

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2001
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST FIFTH GEAR, IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE NUT BACKED OFF THE GEAR. NLM

NHTSA ODI #560424

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH REPLACING FRONT WHEEL BEARING FROM 51,000 MILES TO PRESENT, FOUR SETS OF WHEEL BEARING WERE REPLACED. ON LAST OCCASION, FRONT AXLE BROKE DUE TO WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED. ALL REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. BUT UNABLE TO LOCATED THE CAUSE. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES GRAB ON REGULAR BRAK…

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ONGOING PROBLEM WITH REPLACING FRONT WHEEL BEARING FROM 51,000 MILES TO PRESENT, FOUR SETS OF WHEEL BEARING WERE REPLACED. ON LAST OCCASION, FRONT AXLE BROKE DUE TO WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED. ALL REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. BUT UNABLE TO LOCATED THE CAUSE. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES GRAB ON REGULAR BRAKING DUE TO WORN PADS AND ROTORS. THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ODI #877443

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISINGAGE AT TIMES, THIS MOSTLY OCCURS ON LONGER TRIPS OF 40 MILES AND MORE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #557229

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH FAST IDLING OR STALLING INTERMITTENTLY; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WILL NOT REPAIRS UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #872515

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #870633

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Visibility

STRESS FRACTURE IN PASSENGER MIRROR AND DRIVER MIRROR. HEARD FROM DEALER THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, BUT DO NOT SEE IT LISTED ANYWHERE. HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN EACH MIRROR SEPARATELY. FIRST TIME WHILE USING THE MIRROR DEFOGGER, 2ND TIME WHILE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE MIRRORS JUST CRACK UP THE MIDDLE AND THE SOUND IS L…

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STRESS FRACTURE IN PASSENGER MIRROR AND DRIVER MIRROR. HEARD FROM DEALER THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, BUT DO NOT SEE IT LISTED ANYWHERE. HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN EACH MIRROR SEPARATELY. FIRST TIME WHILE USING THE MIRROR DEFOGGER, 2ND TIME WHILE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE MIRRORS JUST CRACK UP THE MIDDLE AND THE SOUND IS LIKE SOMEONE HAS THROWN A ROCK AT YOUR VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #723914

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THIN STREAM OF WHITE SMOKE EMITTING FROM DASHBOARD. HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING WIRES TO BURN BEHIND DASH. VERY CLOSE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. HAVE HEARD OTHER DODGE PICKUP OWNERS HAVING SAME DIFFICULTY (AT LEAST 3 THAT I KNOW). PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM!*AK

NHTSA ODI #723913

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVER HAD A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER HIT WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #723143

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

1

PE02049 · Tire Valve

Opened Jun 3, 2002 · Closed Oct 1, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires

No summary supplied.