1998 Dodge RAM 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
92,090 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 46 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 84 complaints (9.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 22.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 10.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 6.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 8 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4
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 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 12
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 38 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 | 10 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 10; 2001: 10; 2002: 9; 2003: 16; 2004: 7; 2005: 7; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 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 10004783 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
THE FUEL PUMP BROKE CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND BLACK SMOKE OCCURRED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 127,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005358 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
LOSS OF FIFTH GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) WHILE GOING UP A MOUNTAIN ON INTERSTATE 25 IN WYOMING RESULTING IN RAPID DECELERATION OF VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED BY CHRYSLER IN 1994 AND SERVICE BULLITENS WHERE ISSUED TO DEALERS. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS SAME MODEL AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED AT VARIOUS MILEAGES. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT DUE TO "OUT OF WARRANTY" STATUS, THE REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED NO QUESTIONS ASKED IF WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD.
Owner-reported narrative. 163,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006655 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009362 · 2002-05-31 (May 31, 2002)
NUT FELL OFF BACK OF FIFTH GEAR, DAMAGING THE MAIN SHAFT AND CAUSING TRUCK TO JUMP ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. DODGE ADMITS THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT, YET THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. A HORSE IN THE TRAILER BEING TOWED WAS INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT DUE TO THE VIOLENT JERKS AND SWERVES INVOLVED. *TS **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS*762504
Owner-reported narrative. 117,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015809 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
THE AIR BAG ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015820 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
THE ELECTRICAL WIRES BECAME VERY HOT AND MELTED, AND SHORTED OUT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND DISABLED THE PARKING LIGHTS. *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019939 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GASOLINE GAUGE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019940 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
THE FUEL PICKUP PUMP BURNED THE INJECTOR PUMP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019940 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.