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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Dodge RAM 2500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

173 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

93,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 173 complaints (8.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3419.7%
Steering behavior2112.1%
Transmission and shifting116.4%
Fuel system concerns84.6%
Electrical and battery issues74.0%
Engine operation31.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure
14
Tires
10
Steering
9
Air Bags:Frontal
8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
8
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
7
Seat Belts
7
Suspension
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure14
Tires10
Steering9
Air Bags:Frontal8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip8
Power Train:Automatic Transmission7
Seat Belts7
Suspension7

Structure: 14; Tires: 10; Steering: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Seat Belts: 7; Suspension: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
14
75,000 to 99,999
15
100,000 to 149,999
15
150,000 and above
19
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,99914
75,000 to 99,99915
100,000 to 149,99915
150,000 and above19

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 19

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 94 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
24
2001
19
2002
18
2003
20
2004
18
2005
6
2006
9
2007
13
2008
5
2009
5
2010
1
2011
5
2012
5
2013
2
2014
5
2015
2
2016
5
2017
2
2018
2
2019
4
2020
2
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200024
200119
200218
200320
200418
20056
20069
200713
20085
20095
20101
20115
20125
20132
20145
20152
20165
20172
20182
20194
20202
20221

2000: 24; 2001: 19; 2002: 18; 2003: 20; 2004: 18; 2005: 6; 2006: 9; 2007: 13; 2008: 5; 2009: 5; 2010: 1; 2011: 5; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 5; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10001262 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CONSUMER STATES' THE BRAKES SOMETIME LOCK UP. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SLID 120 FEET INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001262 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002243 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE PULLS VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002243 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000489 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)

I HAVE RECENTLY EXERIENCED WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS A "WANDERING FRONT END" ON MY '98 RAM. I HAD A LOCAL DEALER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEY SPENT 0.60 HRS DIAGNOSING A "SLIGHTLY WORN LOWER COLUMN SHAFT". THEY WERE QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT THIS MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT PERHAPS I SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN HOPE THAT THE SYMPTOMS WOULD BECOME MORE EVIDENT. I DECLINED ANY REPAIR. I LATER WENT "ON-LINE" AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE SUBJECT. (TSB 19-10-97 - "STEERING WANDER") IN ADDITION, I FOUN…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000489 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10010896 · 2003-03-22 (March 22, 2003)

DEFECTIVE STEERING COMPONENTS LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CONTROL. PROBLEM BEGAN SOON AFTER PURCHASE AND CONTINUE TO DATE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010896 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007039 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)

THE GEAR SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007039 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021133 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN MY 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. JASPER.COM LISTS THIS TRANSMISSION AS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL DODGE TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM 1995 TO 2001 AND MAYBE MORE. LOCAL TRANSMISSION REBUILDERS ALSO AGREE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BUILT WITH TO LOW A VOLUME TRANSMISSION PUMP AND THAT YOU SHOULD NOT LET THE TRUCK IDLE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO LUBRICATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 97,210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021133 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042921 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)

1998 DODGE TRUCK ATE THE INJECTOR PUMP WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THIS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, BRAKES AND STEERING IF IT HAPPENS AT HIGH SPEEDS OR WHEN CARRYING LARGE LOADS AS I DO WHEN ON THE JOB. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042921 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068248 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)

OCTOBER 2003 LIFT PUMP FAILED LEFT STRANDED $1150.00 DEALER KEPT OLD PUMP FOR CORE. FEBRUARY 2004 INJECTOR PUMP FAILED ON INTERSTATE ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. $1475.00 DEALER KEPT INJECTOR PUMP FOR CORE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068248 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10190384 · 2007-05-10 (May 10, 2007)

DASHB OARD OF VEHICLE BECAME BRITTLE AND WAS FALLING DOWN INTO ISTRUMENT WIRING. DASH BOARD CRACKED AND BREAKE OFF IN LARGE PIECES THAT COULD POSSIBLE CAUSE INJURY IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190384 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10225588 · 2008-04-24 (April 24, 2008)

DASHBOARD CRACKING AND NOW HAS HOLES WHICH COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO WIRE DAMAGE UNDER THE DASH. INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE CRACKING. THIS IS ON A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225588 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10092919 · 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)

ON MARCH 2003 WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED BOTH FUEL PUMPS AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. ONE YEAR LATER VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOM AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DEALERSHIP INDICATED AGAIN IT WAS THE INJECTOR FUEL PUMP, BUT WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANNTY. JUST THE PART WILL COST CONSUMER $1400 PLUS LABOR. *AK *TC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092919 at NHTSA ↗