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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 →
520Owner complaints

Model-year median: 520

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
213
1995298
1996361
1997520
1998610
1999513
20001,112
2001
Compare all RAM 1500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
102Power Train
85Air Bags
63Service Brakes, Hydraulic
56Engine And Engine Cooling
35
All reported categories
Seat Belts
34Suspension
34Electrical System
32Steering
28Tires
27Unknown Or Other
24Latches/locks/linkages
17Fuel System, Gasoline
14Visibility
14Equipment
13Vehicle Speed Control
13Service Brakes
7Exterior Lighting
6Fuel System, Other
6Wheels
5Seats
4Fuel/propulsion System
3Interior Lighting
2Engine
1Parking Brake
1Trailer Hitches
1

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

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 · Oct 4, 2001
Structure

SEVERE CRACKS UNDERNEATH HATCH ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. CRACKS ARE APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH APART ON EACH SIDE, AND 90% OF HATCH IS AFFECTED BY THESE CRACKS. PART IS AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED,AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897366

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2001
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON, AND LEFT REAR PASSENGER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN CHILD. CHILD HIT HIS FACE ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATBACK. ONE OF THE CHILD'S TEETH CUT THROUGH THE LIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897191

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SUFFERED SPRAINED NECK/ ANKLE, AND BACK INJURIES. PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WAS TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897186

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2001
Power TrainSteering

VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE BACK IN REVERSE, BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRVE. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, AND WENT BACK TO REVERSE, AND DROVE. BUT VEHICLE WAS STIL THE SAME. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF TO GET IT CORRECTLY INTO GEAR. SERVICE MANAGER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO HAD TO …

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE BACK IN REVERSE, BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRVE. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, AND WENT BACK TO REVERSE, AND DROVE. BUT VEHICLE WAS STIL THE SAME. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF TO GET IT CORRECTLY INTO GEAR. SERVICE MANAGER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895670

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Power Train

STANDARD MAINTENANCE FOLLOWED AS RECOMMENDED BY DEALER, JACK CAROLL LYNNWOOD DODGE. PREMATURE REAR AXLE BEARING FAILURE. COMMON LIGHT DUTY USE OF VEHICLE AND ALL FLUIDS CHANGES AND MAINTAINED ON SCHEDULE.

NHTSA ODI #750896

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2001
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER CAN SHIFT VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR. STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. RPMS REVVED HIGH OR LOW BEFORE VEHICLE HAD A DELAYED RESPONSE BY LURCHING FORWARD IN WHATEVER GEAR IT WAS IN. DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED NO CODES AND SHIFTED AS NORMAL. PROBLEM HAD TO DUPLICATE TO BE REMEDIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #894608

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISION IN WHICH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAIN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND AS A RESULT TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAIN INJURIES. NLM

NHTSA ODI #785453

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages

HOOD LATCH FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #9002864

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE PISTON SEALS WERE NEVER SEATED PROPERLY WHICH ALLOWED ENGINE TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #892827

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2001
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746778

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.