IllustrationHEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEAT/FIRE NO HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS. FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING REPLACED WIRING AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH FACTORY NEW PARTS. NO RECALL AVAILABLE FOR MY MODEL, PREVIOUS YEARS HAD RECALL FOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH BURNOUT. *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 3500 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
20–25K
425–50K
650–75K
1475–100K
8100–150K
12150K+
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
What owners actually said
105 reportsCONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT AT AN IMPACT OF 30-40 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER REPORTED NO INJURIES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE $9607.80 USING RECYCLED PARTS. CHRYSLER NOTIFIED THE DEALER STATING PARAMETERS FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WERE NO…
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CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT AT AN IMPACT OF 30-40 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER REPORTED NO INJURIES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE $9607.80 USING RECYCLED PARTS. CHRYSLER NOTIFIED THE DEALER STATING PARAMETERS FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WERE NOT MET. THE CONSUMER STATED THE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT DOES NOT KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS WORK OR NOT. *TC
WHILE BRAKING LOW SPEED ABS BRAKES ENGAGED. THIS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
1998 DODGE RAM TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. *MR WHILE IN TRAFFIC, THE CONSUMER HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER WHILE PULLING A 26' TRAILER. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE TRAILER COMPLETELY OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HELP. *SC *JB
WHEN DRIVING BOTH OF THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CRACKED. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK VEHICLE NEEDED REPAIR ON FRONT BRAKES; HOWEVER, IT WAS DECLINED BY THE CONSUMER. *LA
TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL THROUGH A HIGHWAY AND CRASH INTO A FENCE. *MR *NM
ON MAY 10TH, 2004, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE 3500 AND TRAVELING SOUTH ON HWY 116 APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES FROM COPPERAS COVE WHEN I LEFT THE ROAD DUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION. THE FINAL SPOT OF THE TRUCK WAS ABOUT 50 FEET OFF THE ROADWAY IN A STAND OF MEDIUM SIZE TREES. THERE WAS DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT HOWEVER THE DRIVERS AIR BAG …
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ON MAY 10TH, 2004, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE 3500 AND TRAVELING SOUTH ON HWY 116 APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES FROM COPPERAS COVE WHEN I LEFT THE ROAD DUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION. THE FINAL SPOT OF THE TRUCK WAS ABOUT 50 FEET OFF THE ROADWAY IN A STAND OF MEDIUM SIZE TREES. THERE WAS DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT HOWEVER THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE STITCHES, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS, BRUISES, BLACK EYES ON MY FACE. I AM IN A CERVICAL COLLAR AND HAVE REOCCURING AND CONTINUOUS HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND LATER RELEASED.*AK
FRONT SEAL OF MOTOR BUSTED/KNOW PROBLEM WITH DIESELS. *JB
THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES WERE PULLING THE BALL JOINTS OUT OF SOCKET, AND CAUSING THE WHEELS TO FALL OFF. *AK
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, 5TH GEAR DISENGAGED--(AS IF SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL). TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, TOLD BOLT HOLDING 5TH GEAR BACKED OFF. TOLD THERE IS A RETROFIT KIT AVAILABLE TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND PREVENT RE-OCCURANCE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE DIESEL/5 SPEED COMBOS. THIS BOLT (KNOWN DEFECT…
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DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, 5TH GEAR DISENGAGED--(AS IF SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL). TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, TOLD BOLT HOLDING 5TH GEAR BACKED OFF. TOLD THERE IS A RETROFIT KIT AVAILABLE TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND PREVENT RE-OCCURANCE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE DIESEL/5 SPEED COMBOS. THIS BOLT (KNOWN DEFECT) COST ME $1400 AND 2 WEEKS WITH NO VEHICLE.
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
1PE02049 · Tire Valve
Opened Jun 3, 2002 · Closed Oct 1, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires
No summary supplied.