1998 Dodge DODGE TRUCK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
58,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 8.3% |
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 | 3 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Structure: 3; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Diesel: 1; Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
2001: 2; 2003: 4; 2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2009: 2
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000714 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
I, NEAL DARSTEIN, AM A PROUD OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT LARAMIE. I HAVE A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ABILITY TO USE MY HORN. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AS THIS IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN CLEARLY WITHOUT ACTUALLY DEMINSTRATING EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY TRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL PAD (WHICH IS WERE THE HORN IS LOCATED) IS VERY STIFF/SOLID MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO "USE" OR "SOUND" MY HORN IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. I FEEL IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. EVERY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE EASY ACCESSIBITY AND USE OF HORN. PLEASE CONTACT ME RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033413 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
THE PRIMARY TRANSFER PUMP HAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE ROTARY VANS FILTER WIRE MESS. THE ENDS ARE NOT WELDED. THE WIRE MESS WEAVE ENDS ARE UNDO DUE TO NORMAL DIESEL VIBRATION. THE WIRE MESS FILTER ENDS ARE HITTING ROTARY VANE PUMP. THE RUBBER SEAL MATERIAL IS VERY HARD WITH NO ELASTIC SPRING TO IT. THIS VERY DANGEROUS PUMP DESIGNED. THE MAIN INJECTION WILL LOSE POWER WITH NO WARNING. THE PUMP UNIT IS MADE BY CARTER PART#43188C27B 12 VDC IS POWER SOURCE. THE PUMP IS SOLD THROUGH MOPAR BY CUMMINS ENGINE. THE NEW PUMP #05080885AA PUMP F…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,741 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046843 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
I HAVE A '98 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK WITH APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES ON IT. THIS PAST JUNE I HAD TO REPLACE A FRONT END BALL JOINT ON THIS VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE SAME SYMPTOMS ARE STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN THAT ACCOMPANIED THE LAST BALL JOINT PROBLEM. SO IT'S LIKELY I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ANOTHER ONE OF THE JOINTS ON THE SUSPENSION OF THIS TRUCK IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CONSIDERING THERE COULD BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES WITH BALL JOINT FAILURE (THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSING AT HIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051281 · 2003-12-29 (December 29, 2003)
AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT BEFORE CHANGE THE BALL JOINTS THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AND SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE COST. THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING ME THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE FINE. THE REASON I WENT TO MY MECHANIC WAS BECAUSE I HAD HAD MY VEHICLE ALIGNED FOUR TIMES IN THE FIRST 30,000 MILE AND MY TRUCK STILL PULLED TO ONE SIDE. THAT WAS WHEN I WENT TO AN UNBIASED PARTY TO TELL WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I HAD THIS REPA…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108702 · 2005-01-14 (January 14, 2005)
I OWN 1998 DODGE SPORT FULL SIZED PICKUP THAT HAS A LOUD BANG WHEN TURNING CORNERS. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THE TRUCK IS COVERED UNDER SOME RECALL THAT WAS POSTED IN THE PAST. *BF *NM THE SHAKING WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING. *SC *TC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139217 · 2005-10-10 (October 10, 2005)
ON MARCH 8,2002 A SHORT TIME AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF USED 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE VIN # G WITH ONLY 41,950 MILES. IN FEBRUARY ,2002 THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD PRONOUNCED TAPPING SOUND. AFTER I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER PLAZA MOTORS OF BROOKLYN INC.(AKA) PLAZA DODGE LTD. AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACE. AND THE DEALER ABOVE INSTALLED A USED ENGINE FROM VIN#R WITH 58,310 MILES AND LESS THEN 12 MONTHS THE SECOND ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAIL. THEN THE TRANSMISSION. BASE ON THE INFORMATION ABOVE AND THE REPORTS FROM OTHER CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 42 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188901 · 2007-04-26 (April 26, 2007)
DEFECTIVE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT, IN 98 DODGE RAM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DODGE HEADQUARTERS, WHEN THE SEATBELTS FAILED THE FIRST TIME TWO YEARS AGO, HQ STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR LABOR ONLY, AND NOT REPLACE THE PART. DODGE REPLACED THE SEATBELT SENSOR WHICH IS ELECTRONIC UNDER THE SEATS, THE WIRES GET PINCHED OFF, WHEN THE SEATS ARE MOVED FORWARD AND BACK THEREFORE CREATING A SHORT IN THE WIRES, AND THUS THE SEATBELTS FAIL B/C THEY ARE ON AN ELECTRONIC WEIGHT SYSTEM. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY IT TAKES TO CONTINUALLY REPLACE THESE EVERY…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189637 · 2007-05-03 (May 3, 2007)
CRACKED AND BROKEN DASH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10189637 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.