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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

520 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2007
Seat Belts

1998 DODGE RAM 1500. SEATBELT/RESTRAINT HARNESS FAILURE/AUTOMATIC DISENGAGEMENT WHEN BELTS ARE USED TO SECURE CHILD SAFETY SEATS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188519

87,000 miles · Apr 19, 2007
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL # 01V153000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL # 01V153000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.

NHTSA ODI #10188331

89,000 miles · Mar 4, 2007
StructureUnknown Or Other

THE DASH CRACKED FROM THE CENTER WHERE IT MEETS THE WIND SCREEN ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE DASH GOING OUT OF SIGHT WHERE THE DASH ROLLS INTO THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE WIND SCREEN CRACKED FROM THE SAME ORGIN WHEN IT GOT WET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184161

45,000 miles · Feb 14, 2007
Unknown Or Other

I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 SPORT 4X4 QUAD CAB TRUCK AND THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED TERRIBLY. NOW I'VE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF RAM OWNERS AND HAVE VISITED MANY DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. AS YOU ARE AWARE THE DASH ALSO HOUSES IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM. SOMETHING NEED…

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I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 SPORT 4X4 QUAD CAB TRUCK AND THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED TERRIBLY. NOW I'VE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF RAM OWNERS AND HAVE VISITED MANY DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. AS YOU ARE AWARE THE DASH ALSO HOUSES IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS DASH IS VERY HIGH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182591

55,440 miles · Feb 7, 2007
Latches/locks/linkages

1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4 WD SHORT BED STANDARD CAB HOOD LATCH FAILED. WHILE DRIVING (AFTER A COUPLE MILES) THE HOOD BEGAN TO SHAKE UP AND DOWN. I PULLED OVER AND SLAMMED THE HOOD CLOSED. COMPLETED MY TRIP (30 MILES ROUND TRIP). 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. AFTER 1/2 MILE THE HOOD BEGAN TO SHAKE UP AND DOWN. I BEGAN TO …

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1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4 WD SHORT BED STANDARD CAB HOOD LATCH FAILED. WHILE DRIVING (AFTER A COUPLE MILES) THE HOOD BEGAN TO SHAKE UP AND DOWN. I PULLED OVER AND SLAMMED THE HOOD CLOSED. COMPLETED MY TRIP (30 MILES ROUND TRIP). 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. AFTER 1/2 MILE THE HOOD BEGAN TO SHAKE UP AND DOWN. I BEGAN TO SLOW BUT IT WAS TOO LATE (40 MPH), THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. SINCE I WAS ONLY 1 MILE FROM MY HOUSE I STOOD ON TOP OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PULLED THE HOOD BACK DOWN WITH MY 200 POUND FRAME AND INCHED BACK TO HOME WHERE IT SITS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY LATCH. THERE WAS MINOR YARD DAMAGE WHEN I DROVE OFF THE ROAD. DAMAGE TO THE HOOD (CREASED) AND THE HINGES, AND FRONT FENDERS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181897

35,000 miles · Jan 17, 2007
Seat Belts

DUE TO THE SEAT BELTS ASSEMBLY COMING APART OUR BABY SEAT BECAME LOOSE CAUSING SEAT WITH INFANT TO LUNG FORWARD UPON BRAKING. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE CHRYSLER 1-800 # FOR COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS TREATED WITH A COMPLETE LACK OF CONCERN FOR SUCH A CRITICAL. ATTEMPTED TO TAKE CARE…

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DUE TO THE SEAT BELTS ASSEMBLY COMING APART OUR BABY SEAT BECAME LOOSE CAUSING SEAT WITH INFANT TO LUNG FORWARD UPON BRAKING. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE CHRYSLER 1-800 # FOR COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS TREATED WITH A COMPLETE LACK OF CONCERN FOR SUCH A CRITICAL. ATTEMPTED TO TAKE CARE OF IT THROUGH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO UPON CALLING THE 1-800# FOR CHRYSLER SERVICE TO SEE THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED BEING A SEAT BELT FAILURE, WERE REFUSED. AT THIS POINT, I JUNK YARD WHOLE SEAT BELTS AND REPLACE THEM EVERY TIME THEY FALL APART WHICH IS VERY OFTEN. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OR PART OF (4) BELT ASSEMBLIES IN THE AREA OF (9) TIMES SINCE THE DATE NOTED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178943

97,000 miles · Dec 8, 2006
Visibility

98 DODGE RAM 1500 2WD WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE DASH TO THE TOP DURING WHEN I SPRAYED WATER ON IT IN THE SHADE. IT WAS NOT HOT, WARM BUT NOT HOT. NEXT DAY THE DASH CRACKED FROM THE SAME SPOT ALL THE WAY TO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I KNOW OF 3 OTHER DODGE 1500'S THAT HAVE THE SAME CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH. I SUSPECT AN…

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98 DODGE RAM 1500 2WD WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE DASH TO THE TOP DURING WHEN I SPRAYED WATER ON IT IN THE SHADE. IT WAS NOT HOT, WARM BUT NOT HOT. NEXT DAY THE DASH CRACKED FROM THE SAME SPOT ALL THE WAY TO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I KNOW OF 3 OTHER DODGE 1500'S THAT HAVE THE SAME CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH. I SUSPECT AND ENGINEERING FAILURE...A STRESS POINT. ONLY I DRIVE THIS TRUCK. NOTHING HAS HIT THE WINDSCREEN THERE. NO CHIPS OR SCRATCHES IN THE AREA OF THE BREAK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175630

180,000 miles · Nov 17, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1998 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP BLOWING OUT A BRAKE LINE ALL BRAKES LOST. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173720

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2006
Seats

THE DRIVER SEAT SUPPORT HAS FAILED. I HAVE CHECKED OUT 6 DIFFERENT TRUCK OF THE SAME YEAR AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173240

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2006
Unknown Or Other

TRUCK IS PAINTED BLACK AND IS PEELING ON THE HOOD AND ROOF OF TRUCK. IT IS ACTUALLY TURNING WHITE IN COLOR AND IS VERY ROUGH. I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE TRUCK REPAINTED; HOWEVER, SEVERAL OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS HAVE STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT DODGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169764

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.