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1998 Dodge RAM Pickup

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
18Owner complaints

Model-year median: 14

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
19956
199617
199718
199833
19998
200020
2001
Compare all RAM Pickup years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
4Structure
4Power Train
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Electrical System
2
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Air
1Steering
1Trailer Hitches
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 10 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

18 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2003
Electrical SystemExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IT HAS BURNED OUT TWICE AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK UNTIL IT SAYS THAT I AM GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH IS NOW ON ALL THE TIME I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY DOOR LOCKS ARE POWER AND AS LONG AS YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK THEM FROM…

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I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IT HAS BURNED OUT TWICE AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK UNTIL IT SAYS THAT I AM GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH IS NOW ON ALL THE TIME I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY DOOR LOCKS ARE POWER AND AS LONG AS YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK THEM FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THEY WORK FINE BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OF THESE COULD BE SOME KIND OF DEFECT THAT HAVE OR WILL BE RECALLED *LA

NHTSA ODI #10042971

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2003
Steering

TIE ROD FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10039729

126,481 miles · Jul 30, 2003
Service Brakes, AirService Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKES WEAR OUT, WHILE REAR BRAKES ARE STILL NEW.SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS WITH IN SIX MONTHS MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES

NHTSA ODI #10030458

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureTrailer Hitches

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SCREW ATTACHING THE HEAT SHIELD TO THE EXHAUST IS RUBBING AGAINST FUEL LINE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #566094

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2002
Air BagsInjury

ATTORNEY IS WRITING ON BEHALF OF MR. RICKER WHO STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING, MR. RICKER MOVED TO THE RIGHT ALLOWING A LARGE TRUCK MORE CLEARANCE. AT THIS POINT, THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT A LARGE AMOUNT OF SNOW PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND INTO AN UTILITY POLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CENTER FRONT OF VEHI…

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ATTORNEY IS WRITING ON BEHALF OF MR. RICKER WHO STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING, MR. RICKER MOVED TO THE RIGHT ALLOWING A LARGE TRUCK MORE CLEARANCE. AT THIS POINT, THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT A LARGE AMOUNT OF SNOW PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND INTO AN UTILITY POLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CENTER FRONT OF VEHICLE AND UNKNOWN DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MR. RICKER COMPLAINED OF NECK AND BACK PAINS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #565770

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Exterior Lighting

FOG LIGHT / REAR TURN SIGNAL FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #608594

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 1999
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS ALONG WITH REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. UPON APPLYING BRAKES WHILE GOING 50 MPH, REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WENT OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT SAID TH…

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CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS ALONG WITH REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. UPON APPLYING BRAKES WHILE GOING 50 MPH, REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WENT OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. CONSUMER HAS SINCE RID HIMSELF OF THE VEHICLE, AND BOUGHT A DIFFERENT ONE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #833277

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 1998
Electrical System

HORN PAD ON STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO PUSH.

NHTSA ODI #781335

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.