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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 →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
What owners actually said
520 reportsON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS, EVAP COMPONENTS, (VAPOR CANNISTERS) ATTACHED TO THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEATING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO ROAD HAZARD AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEIR LOCATION MAKES THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND ARE NOT REPAIRABLE…
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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS, EVAP COMPONENTS, (VAPOR CANNISTERS) ATTACHED TO THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEATING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO ROAD HAZARD AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEIR LOCATION MAKES THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND ARE NOT REPAIRABLE.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN THE CAR STOPPED HARD I PROCEEDED TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES, WHEN I NOTICED I WAS NOT STOPPING. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY 4 OUTSIDE PERSONAL AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. THAT I HAVE A SEVER PROBLEM WITH MY REAR BRAKES, BUT THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM INCLUDING CHRYLSER. *AK
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE HORN BUTTON CANNOT BE LOCATED WITHOUT TAKING EYES OFF THE ROAD
DRIVER/PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN PULLED OUT TO BE USED. IT WOULD FAIL TO RELEASE FROM RETRACTOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT SEAT BELTS NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
WITHIN 57,000 MILES FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES CAUSE UNKNOWN, DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
FRONT CRASH AT 55 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
FUEL SENDING UNIT WENT OUT. THIS INDICATED THAT TANK WAS EMPTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER . DLR PUT IN A FUEL PUMP,.BUT PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE, AND DEALER SENT PART BACK. CONSUMER HAS BEEN OUT OF A CAR 2 WEEKS. *AK FUEL SENSOR FAILED AND LATER ON THE FUEL PUMP FAILED TOO. *YH
REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEGAN GROWLING AT 39K MILES. DEALER REPORTED IT NEEDED OVERHAUL ($1100 COST). COMPLAINED TO MANUFACTURER AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 9.25 IN. DODGE REAR ENDS. RUMOR IS DEFECTIVE PINION BEARINGS OR UNDERSTRENGTH EQUIPMENT COMPARED TO ENGINE SIZE. *AK
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT OPERATE, BELTS ARE STUCK IN RETRACTORS, LEAVING BOTH OCCUPANTS WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINTS IF VEHICLE BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
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.