1999 Dodge RAM 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
287 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
91,245 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 176 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 287 complaints (16.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 83 | 28.9% |
| Steering behavior | 46 | 16.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 9.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 22 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 5.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure | 46 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Seat Belts | 12 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
Structure: 46; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 26; Unknown Or Other: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Seat Belts: 12; Steering: 12; Air Bags: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 47 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 25
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 111 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 33 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 33 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 33; 2001: 26; 2002: 15; 2003: 33; 2004: 28; 2005: 19; 2006: 20; 2007: 21; 2008: 16; 2009: 13; 2010: 17; 2011: 9; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 8; 2015: 6; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2020: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 83 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 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 10007383 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO PUMP THE BRAKES. *JB THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP WHEN THE WEATHER WAS DAMP, WHEN NOT IN USE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD AND WHEN USING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ALL THE WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP. THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN AT TEMPERATURES OF 32 DEGREES OR COLDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED AT THE REAR OUTPUT SEAL EXTENSION HOUSING LEAKED AT THE CASE SPLIT SILICONE SEAL, THE REAR TRANSMISSION SEAL LEAKED ON THE EXTENDED HOUSING SEAL AT THE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,831 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007637 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
1999 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB TRUCK - WHEN A BUMP OR ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD IS HIT, THE FRONT END BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. WHEEL HOP OCCURS AND THE VEHICLE MUST BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND STOPPED COMPLETELY BEFORE THE STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL - HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYTIME ON THE SAME BUMPS OR PATCHES ON THE SAME ROADS. THE PROBLEM IS SO BAD THE TRUCK IS BASICALLY UNDRIVABLE AND IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONCERN - ONLY 74,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE REPLACED MOST ALL THE FRONTEND PARTS AS WELL AS BRAKE ROTORS, ETC. STILL OCCURS. SEEMS DAIMLER CH…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007787 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
VEHICLE HAS PULLED TO RIGHT SINCE DRIVING IT OFF LOT. WAS TOLD BY SALESMAN THIS WAS DESIGNED INTO TRUCK FOR SAFETY REASONS. REGUIRES 1/4 TURN OF STEERING WHEEL TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT TRAVEL AND IF STEERING WHEEL RELEASED, DARTS SHARPLY TO RIGHT. I'VE HAD TWO ALIGNMENTS BY DODGE DEALER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN PULLING. HAS ALSO DEVELOPED SEVERE "SHIMMY" AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN ENCOUNTERING BUMPS OR HOLES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029793 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. FINALLY THE DEALER REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION . *AK *SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 9,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012002 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAS A FUEL FILTER BUT IT HAS NO WATER SEPARATOR. THIS CAUSED WATER FROM FUEL TANK TO GET INTO THE PICKUP PUMP, ALLFUEL LINES, INJECTOR PUMP AND INJECTORS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048823 · 2003-11-29 (November 29, 2003)
STEEL BRAKE LINES ON 1999 DODGE RAM PICKUP CORRODING AND BURSTING WHERE LINE GOES OVER TOP OF FUEL TANK, BRAKE FLUID IMMEDIATLY DUMPS AND AS A RESULT IMMEDIATE LOSS OF BRAKES. VERY DANGEROUS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129618 · 2005-07-21 (July 21, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS STRETCHED TO TIGHTLY AND THE WIRES DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH SLACK. THE WIRING CONNECTIONS FAILED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE LAST YEAR. OWNER HAS BEEN FIXING THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. THE OWNER HAS CONTACTED DODGE, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON THE TRUCK. THERE WERE MULTIPLE HOT WIRES AND THEY COULD CAUSE A SHORT. THE OWNER HAS NEVER TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE OWNER USUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. THE OWNER HAS A …
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153181 · 2006-03-20 (March 20, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO A WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELTS FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED ABOUT THE SEATBELTS, NO APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR REPAIRS.
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006286 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED.*JG *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023755 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
DODGE RAM LIFT PUMP FAILURES FAILURE OF FUEL SYSTEM FUEL OIL TRANSFER PUMP (LIFT PUMP) LEADS TO IMMEDIATE ENGINE STALLING. WHEN TOWING (AS WHICH TRUCK IS DESIGNED FOR), UPON ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT HWY SPEEDS, IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER BRAKE AND STEERING PERFORMANCE. THIS LEADS TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRAILER AND/OR LOAD. PROPERTY DAMAGE AND FATALITIES WOULD BE DEPENDENT UPON DRIVERS EXPERIENCE LEVEL WHILE TOWING. MFG (DAMILERCHYSLER) KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, IN SOME CASES WILL REPLACE PUMP DEPENDENT UPON DETAILED PROOF FROM VEHICLE OWNER. NOT ALL DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023755 at NHTSA ↗