IllustrationTHE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS FOUND BENT BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, NOISE FROM THE UNIT PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. *MJS
1998 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
2125–50K
4050–75K
5375–100K
61100–150K
43150K+
227 reports with mileage · 293 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 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
66 crash reports16 fire reports46 injury reports
Power Train complaints
85 reportsVEHICLE HAS NO INTERLOCK SAFETY MECHANISM. VEHICLE CAN BE PLACED INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TIRE SEPERATED FROM TRUCK, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ROLLED ? TIMES, EVERYONE WAS EJECTED AND KILLED EXCEPT FOR 1. I DO NOT WANT MY INFORMATION RELEASED TO THE MANUFACTURER, PENDING LEGAL MATTERS.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND ENGINE RUNNING WITH CHILDREN IN BACK SEATS;.ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO A TREE. THREE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, INCLUDING MINOR CUTS & BRUISES. DEALER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO TIRES. MJS
A VISITING RELATIVE FROM THE EAST COAST MENTIONED THAT THE DODGE PICKUP WAS NOT HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM DUE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS NOT HOLDING UP UNDER SNOW PLOWING WORK. THIS DIDN'T CAUSE ME ALARM SINCE MY TRUCK IS USED FOR PASSENGER USE ONLY. EXACTLY 10 DAYS LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE DEALER "RECONDITIONED" IT AND IT LASTED…
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A VISITING RELATIVE FROM THE EAST COAST MENTIONED THAT THE DODGE PICKUP WAS NOT HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM DUE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS NOT HOLDING UP UNDER SNOW PLOWING WORK. THIS DIDN'T CAUSE ME ALARM SINCE MY TRUCK IS USED FOR PASSENGER USE ONLY. EXACTLY 10 DAYS LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE DEALER "RECONDITIONED" IT AND IT LASTED LESS THAN 1000 MILES BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. TO BE CONTINUED. *AK
DRIVER PROCEEDING ALONG INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH WITH CRUISE ENGAGED WHEN FELT A JOLT IN REAR END AND TRUCK STARTED FISHTAILING. TRUCK STRUCK SIDE BARRIER, SPUN, CROSSED 3 TRAFFIC LANES AND CAME TO STOP. RIGHT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS DETATCHED AND HAD COME TO REST ALONG SHOULDER. SUBSEQUENT DEPARTMENT MECHANIC INSPECTION REVEALED…
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DRIVER PROCEEDING ALONG INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH WITH CRUISE ENGAGED WHEN FELT A JOLT IN REAR END AND TRUCK STARTED FISHTAILING. TRUCK STRUCK SIDE BARRIER, SPUN, CROSSED 3 TRAFFIC LANES AND CAME TO STOP. RIGHT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS DETATCHED AND HAD COME TO REST ALONG SHOULDER. SUBSEQUENT DEPARTMENT MECHANIC INSPECTION REVEALED WHAT APPEARS TO BE SHEARING OF AXLE, WITH CENTER OF AXLE APPEARING POROUS. *AK
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BY THE OWNER. I AM A METALLURGICAL ENGINEER INVESTIGATING THE FAILED COMPONENTS. BOTH REAR WHEELS CAME OFF OF THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 70 MPH. NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE OR ANY OBJECT IN THE ROAD. AXLE APPEARS TO BE 1050 STEEL NORMALIZED AND…
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PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BY THE OWNER. I AM A METALLURGICAL ENGINEER INVESTIGATING THE FAILED COMPONENTS. BOTH REAR WHEELS CAME OFF OF THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 70 MPH. NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE OR ANY OBJECT IN THE ROAD. AXLE APPEARS TO BE 1050 STEEL NORMALIZED AND INDUCTION HARDENED TO A DEPTH OF ABOUT 7/32 INCH. POSSIBLE FATIGUE. PART ID, DRIVERS SIDE, MFG. MW, CODE Y19 METAL STAMPED 23133, PASSENGER SIDE, MFG. MW, CODE Y70, METAL STAMPED 21142. OBTAINING INFORMATION ON A SIMILAR ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER DODGE RAM 1500 MADE IN 1998.
REAR WHEELS POPPED OFF AXLE WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. *AK
AXLE SEALS FAILED. YH
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.