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1998 Dodge RAM VAN: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

111,375 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 20 complaints (15.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior945.0%
Electrical and battery issues420.0%
Steering behavior315.0%
Transmission and shifting15.0%
Fuel system concerns15.0%

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.

Electrical System
3
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
3
Steering
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
2
Suspension
2
Tires
2
Air Bags
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System3
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood3
Steering3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper2
Suspension2
Tires2
Air Bags1

Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Steering: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 2; Suspension: 2; Tires: 2; Air Bags: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 3

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 10 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
5
2002
3
2004
4
2005
2
2008
1
2009
2
2011
2
2013
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20005
20023
20044
20052
20081
20092
20112
20131

2000: 5; 2002: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10074088 · 2004-05-24 (May 24, 2004)

SINCE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE RECALL 99V002000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON, AND THE DASHBOARD COMPONENTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 3,605 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074088 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10086707 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)

THE VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR WERE BURNED ALONG WITH THE TRUCK BATTERY AND OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN OTHER VEHICLES AND FEELS THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 35,072 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086707 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10086713 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)

WHILE AT A DODGE DEALER FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPAIR THE VERIZON VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR, TRUCK BATTERY AND OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS WERE BURNT. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN OTHER VANS OF THIS MODEL AND BELIEVES THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 94,498 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086713 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10086714 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)

THE VERIZON VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR, TRUCK BATTERY, AND VARIOUS UNDERHODD COMPONENTS WERE BURNT. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN THIS MODEL VAN AND FEELS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 173,637 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086714 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126995 · 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)

DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED OF BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE 1999 DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING ONTO THE BRAKE LINES AND CAUSING CORROSION. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE PROBLEM WA SREPAIRED BY PUTTING A RUBBER TRAY UNDER THE BATTERY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126995 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10129846 · 2005-07-24 (July 24, 2005)

VEHICLE: 1998 DODGE B1500 RAM VAN PROBLEM: AT LESS THAN 40,000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY A TIRE DEALER THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BEFORE THE FRONT END COULD BE ALIGNED. AT 60,000 MILES I FINALLY DECIDE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NOT ONLY WAS THE BALL JOINTS BAD, BUT ONE SIDE HAD COME LOOSE IN THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, AND DESTROYED THE THREADS AND WAS FLOATING FREE IN THE CONTROL ARM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD. I AM INTERESTED IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129846 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10230374 · 2008-06-09 (June 9, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM VAN. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT FELT A HARD VIBRATION AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO LOCATE THE ORIGIN OF THE SOUND, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO PARK WHEN ANOTHER LOUD SOUND OCCURRED. THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND LOCATED A FAILURE WITH THE STEERING CONTROL ARM AND ITS COMPONENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. HE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230374 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10259118 · 2009-02-17 (February 17, 2009)

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE PARKED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 32 UNDER HOOD FIRE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 49,006 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259118 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

98V076000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust

Reported: 1998-04-08 (April 8, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH POWER SEAT OPTION. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT ATTACHING RISER WELDS WERE NOT CORRECT.

Consequence: THE SEAT ATTACHMENT STRENGTH WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER FRONT SEAT RISE WITH A RISER THAT WAS MIG WELDED.

NHTSA campaign record ↗