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 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2013
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN) SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN) SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10535132
70,000 miles · Aug 2, 2013
Seat Belts
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES SINCE 2003 (APPROXIMATE DATE), LEAVING THE SEAT BELT PAID-OUT (UNABLE TO RETRACT) AND USELESS. I REPLACED IT LAST MONTH FOR $185 PLUS TAX. PARTS SALESMAN WASN'T CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE (AS SOME SEAT BELTS ARE DISCONTINUED). SAFETY ITEMS SHOULD H…
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DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES SINCE 2003 (APPROXIMATE DATE), LEAVING THE SEAT BELT PAID-OUT (UNABLE TO RETRACT) AND USELESS. I REPLACED IT LAST MONTH FOR $185 PLUS TAX. PARTS SALESMAN WASN'T CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE (AS SOME SEAT BELTS ARE DISCONTINUED). SAFETY ITEMS SHOULD HAVE NO EXPIRATION! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533237
127,000 miles · Aug 2, 2013
Structure
DASHBOARD HAS BEEN DISINTEGRATING THE LAST FEW YEARS. WHOLE CHUNKS HAVE BEEN FALLING THROUGH, INCLUDING WHERE THE VIN PLATE IS LOCATED. I'M NOT HAPPY BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS USED A FULL WINDSHIELD SUN SHADE. DATE WHEN IT STARTED IS APPROXIMATE (A GUESS). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533236
138,839 miles · May 1, 2013
Structure
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10510195
160,000 miles · Apr 19, 2013
Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE HOOD LATCH BECAME DISENGAGED, CAUSING THE HOOD LID TO RELEASE AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CLOSE THE HOOD LID. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES AND THE HOOD WOULD NOT REMAIN LATCHED SE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE HOOD LATCH BECAME DISENGAGED, CAUSING THE HOOD LID TO RELEASE AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CLOSE THE HOOD LID. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES AND THE HOOD WOULD NOT REMAIN LATCHED SECURELY. THE DEFECT RESULTED IN THE HOOD HINGE BECOMING BENT AND THE WINDSHIELD EXHIBITED NUMEROUS CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V040000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10508762
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2013
Structure
WHOLE DASH HAS OPEN HOLE THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL, AND CRACKS FROM DRIVERS SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE. MORE OPEN SPACE THAN DASH LEFT. IT CRACKS, BREAKS, AND CRUMBLES TO WHERE TAPE DOESN'T EVEN WORK ANYMORE. FALLS INTO CAB AND BEHIND DASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505334
190,000 miles · Feb 5, 2013
Air BagsStructure
I HAVE OWNED THE 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 NEW IN THE DASH IS CRACKED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10496418
108,000 miles · Jan 19, 2013
Structure
I WAS CLEANING FRONT WINDSHIELD. JULY 2007 WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE DASH PANEL CRACK ,HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN THERE I DO NOT KNOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10493475
2,300 miles · Jan 9, 2013
Air BagsElectrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER FOR THE HORN TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG AND HORN CONTACT UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER FOR THE HORN TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG AND HORN CONTACT UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA ODI #10492000
117,370 miles · Dec 15, 2012
Service BrakesCrash
DRIVING TRUCK TO AN INTERSECTION WENT SLOW DOWN BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND I PROCEEDED INTO INTERSECTION AND WAS HIT ON DRIVER SIDE OF TRUCK AND CAME TO REST AGAINST LARGE STEEL FENCE POST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10488892
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.
1998 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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