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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.

About this comparison →

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
40,000 miles · Jan 6, 2005
Structure

SEVERE CORROSION OF PAINTED FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS COMPOMISES THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE BUMPERS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105862

12,922 miles · Nov 26, 2004
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT FAILURE IN 1998 DODGE RAM--ONLY 13000 MILES, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. I GOT IN VEHICLE ONE DAY, AND SEAT BELT WAS LOCKED IN RETRACTED POSITION--CAN NOT FREE. CURIOUSLY ENOUGH, PASSENGER SEATBELT WOULD ALSO NOT UNREEL FOR ANYONE ELSE TO USE. SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF BOTH SEATBELTS? I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WHERE EV…

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SEAT BELT FAILURE IN 1998 DODGE RAM--ONLY 13000 MILES, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. I GOT IN VEHICLE ONE DAY, AND SEAT BELT WAS LOCKED IN RETRACTED POSITION--CAN NOT FREE. CURIOUSLY ENOUGH, PASSENGER SEATBELT WOULD ALSO NOT UNREEL FOR ANYONE ELSE TO USE. SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF BOTH SEATBELTS? I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WHERE EVEN ON HAS DONE MORE THAT BE A LITTLE SLOW ON THE UPTAKE, BUT FOR BOTH TO FAIL OVERNIGHT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100565

62,000 miles · Nov 12, 2004
Power Train

AT 35 DEGREE OR COLDER ORJUST RAINY DAYS WITH WARM TEMP.TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE ,CAN DRIVE 15 MILES ON HIGHWAY IN 3RD GEAR. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE AND I HIT A BUMP IN ROAD IT WILL GO OUT OF OVERDRIVE. ALSO THE ENGINE WILL REV AS IF IT IS TRYING TO SWITCH OUT OF OVERDRIVE. ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE RE…

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AT 35 DEGREE OR COLDER ORJUST RAINY DAYS WITH WARM TEMP.TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE ,CAN DRIVE 15 MILES ON HIGHWAY IN 3RD GEAR. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE AND I HIT A BUMP IN ROAD IT WILL GO OUT OF OVERDRIVE. ALSO THE ENGINE WILL REV AS IF IT IS TRYING TO SWITCH OUT OF OVERDRIVE. ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE RESULTING IN INCREASED FUEL USAGE, WHICH AT $2 A GALLON IS BECOMING AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD AT TIME OF PURCHASE,THIS WAS A NORMAL FUCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION, BOUGHT TRUCK FEB. 2003 AND BROUGHT TRUCK BACK 2 TIMES TO A CHYSLER DEALER AND WAS TOLD SAME STORY, DEALER IS NOW NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AND MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098719

10 miles · Nov 11, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

I HAVE HAD MY VAN SINCE 98 GOT IT NEW THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY VAN MORE THEN I HAVE, THEY FIXED ONLY A FEW PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THEY COULDN'T FIND. THE SIDE PASSENGER DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK, WHEN COMING TO A STOP SECONDS AFTER STOPPING I WOULD FEEL A HICK COMING FROM THE BACK END, ON VACATION AFTER RESTING AT A WAYSIDE…

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I HAVE HAD MY VAN SINCE 98 GOT IT NEW THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY VAN MORE THEN I HAVE, THEY FIXED ONLY A FEW PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THEY COULDN'T FIND. THE SIDE PASSENGER DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK, WHEN COMING TO A STOP SECONDS AFTER STOPPING I WOULD FEEL A HICK COMING FROM THE BACK END, ON VACATION AFTER RESTING AT A WAYSIDE WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY THE YOU HEARD A CLICK FROM THE ENGINE THEN YOU LOSS ALL POWER IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THEN 30-35 MPH, TOOK VAN IN AFTER THIS ONE GUY AT SHOP SEEN MY HANDICAP DAUGHTER AND WENT IN BACK TO GET A PAPER HE THEN GAVE ME, PAPER WAS FROM DODGE TELLING OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOT TO SHOW TO ANY CUSTOMERS,HE GAVE THIS PAPER TO ME,AND TO THIS DAY I STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEMS,ALL PLASTIC LINING INSIDE OF VAN HAS CRACKED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER GETTING VAN, GO THROUGH BRAKES LIKE CRAZY, AND VAN ALWAYS PULLS TO RIGHT . THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAN I CAN'T LIST THEM ALL,TRIED TO RETURN VAN AFTER 7 MONTHS THEY WOULDN'T TAKE IT BACK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098662

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A NOISE AND THE CONSUMER THEN REALIZED THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET HOME AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED A BOLT THAT ATTACHED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND POWER BOOSTER HAD BROKEN. THE BOLT H…

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WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A NOISE AND THE CONSUMER THEN REALIZED THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET HOME AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED A BOLT THAT ATTACHED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND POWER BOOSTER HAD BROKEN. THE BOLT HAD SHOWN STRESS FRACTURES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10096853

108,650 miles · Oct 8, 2004
Parking BrakePower Train

WE HAVE NOT HAD A CRASH, BUT MY DODGE RAM HAS BEEN IN OUR GARAGE SINCE APRIL WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, THE ABS BREAKS ARE ON AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ALSO SMELLS LIKE FIRE CRACKERS AT TIMES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093807

78,000 miles · Oct 7, 2004
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST SPEED AND THE RPM WERE HEADING TO REDLINE. I HIT MY BRAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO KEEP FROM HURTING MY ENGINE. WHEN I GOT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I CHECKED TO SEE IF I COULD GO AND I HAD NO TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 78,000 MILES ON MY T…

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I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST SPEED AND THE RPM WERE HEADING TO REDLINE. I HIT MY BRAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO KEEP FROM HURTING MY ENGINE. WHEN I GOT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I CHECKED TO SEE IF I COULD GO AND I HAD NO TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 78,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND DON'T PULL HEAVY LOADS OR LOAD MY PICK-UP WITH HEAVY LOADS. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME YEAR DODGE PICK-UP AND THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I AM HAVING MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION COOLER BECAUSE IT HAS PARTS OF MY CLUTCH IN IT. I FOUND 5 PEOPLE IN MY COUNTY THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 98 PICK-UPS AND HAVE HAD THEM FIXED AND THEN TRADED THEM FOR ANOTHER BRAND OF VEHICLE. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHY NOBODY HAS INVESTIGATED THIS OR RECALLED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093762

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2004
Tires

GOODYEAR WRANGLER AP TIRES ON 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE ALL 5 (4+SPARE) DUE TO SPLITS IN THE SIDEWALL NEAR THE RIM. THE FIRST ONE WAS 2 SUMMERS AGO, 3 MORE TIRES LAST LAST SUMMER, AND THE LAST ONE NOW. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND THE PROBLEM BEFORE BLOW OUTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093603

85,000 miles · Sep 29, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY ITSELF BETWEEN 70-75 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THEN, CONSUMER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND CONTINUED DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN. TWO DAYS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND V…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY ITSELF BETWEEN 70-75 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THEN, CONSUMER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND CONTINUED DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN. TWO DAYS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40-45 MPH. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. VEHICLE REVVED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND 3 SEPARATE TESTS WERE DONE, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10094628

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2004
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

CONSUMER DROVE OFF THE ROAD WHEN BECOMING ILL THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PASSENGER AND DRIVER IN THE SEATS, BOTH OCCUPANTS HIT THE WINDSHIELD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10090156

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.