1998 Dodge RAM problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
257 owner complaints analyzed
13 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 257 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 64 | 24.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 35 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 26 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 21 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Trailer Hitches | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 8 |
| Tires | 7 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 35; Air Bags:Frontal: 26; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 21; Air Bags: 12; Trailer Hitches: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 8; Tires: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 228 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 | 84 |
| 2001 | 73 |
| 2002 | 52 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
2000: 84; 2001: 73; 2002: 52; 2003: 19; 2004: 15; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 64 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 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 10003775 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED. SCC PH
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070595 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MY HUSBAND ORDERED THIS TRUCK IN LATE 1997. WE PURCHASED IT NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE FACED IS THE TRANSMISSION. MID-APRIL 1998 THE FIRST PROBLEMS OCCURED WITH SLIPPAGE, THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES WERE REPLACED, ONE MONTH LATER THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. NOW AT 51,000 MILES AND VERY LITTLE DRIVING FOR THE LAST 2 YRS (SINCE MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN SICK WITH CANCER) IT HAS BLOWN AGAIN. THE FRONT SEALS ARE LEAKING PROFUSELY. THE REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING SO BADLY AT ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002441 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ATTEMPING TO DRIVE FROM A RED LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 67,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031298 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING LEFT TO RIGHT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004284 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717741 · 2000-01-22 (January 22, 2000)
THE BRAKES PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN APPLIED CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING HAZZARD. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DODGE DEALERS IN A TOTAL OF SEVEN (7) TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A SATISFACTORY REPAIR. THE DEALERS HAVE DONE STEERING ALIGNMENT AND REPLACE BRAKE PARTS ON MANY OCCAUSIONS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS A FACTORY DESIGN DEFICIENCY WHICH IS NOT REPAIRABLE AT THE DEALER LEVEL. DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO REDESIGN THE FRONT BRAKE - STEERING SYSTEM TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IN A NATIONWIDE RECALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME A JOKE IN THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017270 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053862 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
WHILE TRAVEL AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153457 · 2006-03-22 (March 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON 70 MPH IT BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED KEPT ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE REVVED. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED VERY HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. AFTER SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE IT WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHUT OFF; AND TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL VALVE THAT WAS LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY. ACID FROM THE BATTERY LEAKED DOWN ONTO THE CRUISE CONTROL VALVE CAUSING IT TO STICK. THE DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726425 · 2000-08-02 (August 2, 2000)
SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE CAUSED CURRENT DRAW THAT DEPLETES BATTERY. DISCONNECTING THE MODULE STOPS CURRENT DRAW BUT DEACTIVATES THE SEAT BELTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730790 · 2000-09-08 (September 8, 2000)
I BOUGHT THE DODGE JUNE 1998, FROM THE FIRST MONTH I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS.I HAD BOTH FRONT SIDE WINDOWS FALL DOWN, WIPER BLADE LINKAGE BREAKS, ENGINE SURGES, DOOR LIGHTS WON'T COME ON, THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER/MOTOR SHORTED OUT, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS/TV/VCP/CD PLAYER WILL SHUT OFF AT TIMES. EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE INTERIOR EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN CORRECTED, THEY STILL SHORT OUT. THE PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SHORTS HAS EXPANDED. ON THE WAY HOME FROM VACATION JUST OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS ON INTERSTATE 44, WE WERE PASSING A DIESEL TRUCK GOING ABOUT 70 MPH …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8001228 · 2001-12-28 (December 28, 2001)
CONSUMERS VEHICLE RAN INTO A TRAILER ON HIS PROPERTY AND ABS WAS DEFECTIVE, ALSO BRAKE DRUMS WERE RUSTED, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADACHE BAR AND FUEL TANK, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, STEERING STABILIZER, FRONT SHOCKS, REAR SHOCKS, AIR FILTER, REAR AXLE SEAL AND FLUID, REAR TRANSFER CASE SEAL AND U-JOINTS IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND REPLACED.*YD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001228 at NHTSA ↗