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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.

About this comparison →
105Owner complaints

Model-year median: 124.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
108
1995124
1996125
1997105
1998104
199958
2000130
2001
Compare all RAM 3500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
19Electrical System
14Exterior Lighting
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14Air Bags
9
All reported categories
Steering
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7Fuel System, Gasoline
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Suspension
4Unknown Or Other
4Seat Belts
3Structure
3Fuel System, Diesel
2Interior Lighting
2Parking Brake
2Service Brakes
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Other
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Trailer Hitches
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
101,000 miles · Sep 7, 2005
Seat Belts

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE USED OR TIGHTEN UP TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO UNLATCH THEM DUE TO THE SEAT BELT MOTOR SENSOR IN MY 98 DODGE 3500. THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND MAKE IT UNSAFE TO USE THEM WHEN YOU DO AND IT IS UNSAFE NOT TO USE THEM. DODGE IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE HAVE SINCE RETURNED TO USING MAN…

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THE FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE USED OR TIGHTEN UP TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO UNLATCH THEM DUE TO THE SEAT BELT MOTOR SENSOR IN MY 98 DODGE 3500. THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND MAKE IT UNSAFE TO USE THEM WHEN YOU DO AND IT IS UNSAFE NOT TO USE THEM. DODGE IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE HAVE SINCE RETURNED TO USING MANUAL SEAT BELTS BUT DON'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES, AND CHARGE THE VEHICLE OWNERS TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS SINCE THE LAWS REQUIRE THEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10135674

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2002
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE LITTLE PIN IS BROKEN AND WILL NOT LET THE BELTS EXTEND. WHY WOULD THIS PIN BECOME DEFECTIVE? WHY WOULD BOTH SEAT BELTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME? THE PASSANGER SIDE IS RARELY USED. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE …

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THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE LITTLE PIN IS BROKEN AND WILL NOT LET THE BELTS EXTEND. WHY WOULD THIS PIN BECOME DEFECTIVE? WHY WOULD BOTH SEAT BELTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME? THE PASSANGER SIDE IS RARELY USED. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TEMP. IN THE TRUCK WHICH WAS RATHER HIGH. THE DEALER ADVISED THE COSTS TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS WOULD BE OVER $600.00. THESE SHOULD NOT GO BAD AND BECOME UNUSABLE. DT

NHTSA ODI #768932

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Seat Belts

WHILE TRYING TO PUT SEAT BELTS ON THEY LOCKED UP. CONSUMER UNABLE TO PUT SEAT BELT ON. SEAT BELT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SEAT DUE TO MALFUNCTION IN THE MOTOR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF AND REFUSES TO RECTIFY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848792

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.