IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD ONCOMING SCHOOL BUS LOST CONTROL AND HIT CONSUMER HEAD-ON. PUSHED CONSUMER INTO A 15 FOOT EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK *ML
1998 Dodge RAM 2500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 2500 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
70–25K
925–50K
1450–75K
1575–100K
15100–150K
19150K+
79 reports with mileage · 146 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports3 fire reports14 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
18 reportsNO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DURING FRONTAL COLLISION WITH SEVERE DAMAGES, INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LEFT FRONTAL COLLISION AT APPROX. 15-20 MPH (ESTIMATED COST OF $6,800) OF DAMAGES, IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
WAS LEAVING SHOPPING CENTER WHEN DRIVER BLACKED OUT. VEHICLE HIT LIGHT POLE OFF CENTER. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD DISCONNECTED & FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED TRAUMA TO TORSO. *AK.
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING HEAD ON COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER) NLM
ON 3/19/99 I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NEITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN AMARILLO TEXAS AND A POLICE REPORT # 9922093 WAS FILED. A STATE FARM INSURANCE CLAIM # 43R231753 HAS BEEN INITIATED, AND THE TRUCK IS BEING ESTIMATED AT MOSS BODY SHOP IN AMARIL…
Read full complaint
ON 3/19/99 I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NEITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN AMARILLO TEXAS AND A POLICE REPORT # 9922093 WAS FILED. A STATE FARM INSURANCE CLAIM # 43R231753 HAS BEEN INITIATED, AND THE TRUCK IS BEING ESTIMATED AT MOSS BODY SHOP IN AMARILLO TEXAS. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED AND HAS INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND DENIED ANY AND ALL PRODUCT FAILURE/DEFECT. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. *AK
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING 50-55MPH THE VEHICLE HAD DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER STATED " IT DID NOT MEET THE THRESHOLD OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT." *AK *ML
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.