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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 · May 26, 1999
Power TrainCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #706891

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineFireInjury

CONSUMER WAS PUMPING GAS AND THE TRUSH BURST INTO FLAMES, BURNING HALF OF HIS BODY, AND THERE WAS A FUEL LEAKAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836813

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 1999
Power TrainInjury

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.

NHTSA ODI #705638

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1999
Power TrainCrashInjury

REAR WHEELS POPPED OFF AXLE WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705426

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1999
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ,AND THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSIN CONSUMER TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD CONSUMER FROM BOUCING ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835957

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1999
Air Bags

RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THE AIR BAG MODULE AND COVER COMPLETED, HOWEVER COVER IS LOOSE WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE MODULE.

NHTSA ODI #544282

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1999
Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER NOTICED HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD PULL COMPLETELY OUT OF DASH MOUNT WHEN TURNING ON THE SWITCH. ALSO HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT COMPLETELY TURN ON HIGH BEAMS UNLESS SWTICH WAS TURNED ON PARTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST WOULD GO TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835658

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, RESULTED IN AN INJURY AND A DEATH. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #835147

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 1999
Electrical System

LITTLE HORN BUTTONS THAT ARE SITUATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL ARE TOO HARD TO LOCATE, AND NEEDS TO PRESS IN MIDDLE OF THE BUTTONS DIRECTLY IN ORDER TO BLOW THE HORN, WHICH MAY BE NEEDED IN EMERGENCY SITUATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835092

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. DURING A FRONT COLLISION IN WHICH THE CONSUMER REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.

NHTSA ODI #834454

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.