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1998 Dodge RAM 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

46 reports with mileage · 59 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports10 fire reports7 injury reports

Power Train complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2001
Power Train

2 YEARS AGO THE 5TH GEAR FAILED AND CHRYSLER COVERED IT THE TRUCK WAS 1000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. IN 8-2001 THE PART FAILED AGAIN WE TOOK IT TO A TRANS SHOP AND THEY FIXED IT FOR $213.OO, IN 9-2001 IT FAILED AGAIN THE TRANS SHOP THAT FIXED IT IN 8-2001 WOULD NOT WARRANY THE NUT BACKING OFF. SO WE HAD TO PAY $766.OO IN 9-2001 T…

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2 YEARS AGO THE 5TH GEAR FAILED AND CHRYSLER COVERED IT THE TRUCK WAS 1000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. IN 8-2001 THE PART FAILED AGAIN WE TOOK IT TO A TRANS SHOP AND THEY FIXED IT FOR $213.OO, IN 9-2001 IT FAILED AGAIN THE TRANS SHOP THAT FIXED IT IN 8-2001 WOULD NOT WARRANY THE NUT BACKING OFF. SO WE HAD TO PAY $766.OO IN 9-2001 THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE TYPE VEHICLES CHRYSLER KNOWS THIS BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WOULD COST ALOT OF MONEY TO RECALL ALL THESE VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED US TO HAVE A WRECK, WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND YOU HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT BECAUSE THE 5TH GEAR FAILS AND IT IS LIKE DRIVING IN NEUTRAL SO YOU DOWNSHIFT AND HOPE NOONE IS CLOSE BEHIND YOU. THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND US THIS LAST TIME AND ALMOST HIT US IN THE REAR END. WE HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND THEY WERE SCARED TO DEATH. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FACE UP TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE CHILDREN THAT RIDES IN THESE VEHICLES OR EVEN ADULTS GET KILLED BECAUSE CHRYSLER WANTS TO SAVE MONEY. THE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM ARE UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOT AT OUR COST BUT CHRYSLERS EXPENSE. I AM TIRED OF PAYING FOR THIS PROBLEM WHEN CHRYLSER KNOWS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. BUT I GOT NEWS FOR CHRYSLER THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHRYSLER VEHICLE I OWN. THEY ARE THE SORRIEST PEOPLE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THANK YOU CHRISTY HOUSTON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #752647

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2001
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ONTO A TWO LANE HIGHWAY VEHICLE JUMPED IN NEUTRAL AND LOST 5TH GEAR. ALSO,COULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #893918

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2001
Power Train

WHILE TOWING MY TRAILER IN 5TH GEAR ON A CROWDED INTERSTATE, THE GEAR SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. I LOST POWER AND SAFELY PULLED OVER. THE OTHER 4 GEARS WORKED TO GET ME HOME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #749022

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2001
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST FIFTH GEAR, IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE NUT BACKED OFF THE GEAR. NLM

NHTSA ODI #560424

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH REPLACING FRONT WHEEL BEARING FROM 51,000 MILES TO PRESENT, FOUR SETS OF WHEEL BEARING WERE REPLACED. ON LAST OCCASION, FRONT AXLE BROKE DUE TO WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED. ALL REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. BUT UNABLE TO LOCATED THE CAUSE. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES GRAB ON REGULAR BRAK…

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ONGOING PROBLEM WITH REPLACING FRONT WHEEL BEARING FROM 51,000 MILES TO PRESENT, FOUR SETS OF WHEEL BEARING WERE REPLACED. ON LAST OCCASION, FRONT AXLE BROKE DUE TO WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED. ALL REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. BUT UNABLE TO LOCATED THE CAUSE. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES GRAB ON REGULAR BRAKING DUE TO WORN PADS AND ROTORS. THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ODI #877443

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2000
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT. DEALER CLAIMED TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. HAD TO REPLACED, COST WAS SPLIT BETWEEN DEALER AND MYSELF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722780

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING IN 5TH GEAR THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER AS IF IN NEUTRAL. THE OTHER GEARS WERE FUNCTIONAL. DEALER SAID A NEW LOCK NUT WAS NEEDED TO HOLD GEAR IN PLACE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853415

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

DRIVESHAFT FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #607329

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Power Train

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE STRANDED WITH LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #541913

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

1

PE02049 · Tire Valve

Opened Jun 3, 2002 · Closed Oct 1, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires

No summary supplied.