1998 Dodge Ram 1500: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 520 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (19% of complaints); the 1996 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 520 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The seatbelt timer module is failing, resulting in the seatbelts staying locked even when fully retracted. This means sometimes I as the driver as well as my front seat passenger cannot buckle up and drive the vehicle safely. I have not reproduced or confirmed this issue with a dealership or independent service center. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance agency. A red seatbelt warning light will appear when the seatbelts lock up and goes away when it unlocks.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Mar 2024
“The drivers side and passanger side seat belts are locked in the seats. There is no fix, you cant drive truck because you can not use the seat belts, they are made into the seats. No one sells part for it. The seat belts will not extend. The seat belts just stopped working, no warning.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jan 2024
“I purchased a truck about 6 months ago and I had nothing but problems with it. I had to replaced so many things on it. I was told that the truck only had 72,000 miles on it when I bought it, after driving it for a few months. I encountered problems with it. I ended up running carfax on it and found out the odometer was rolled back two weeks before I purchased it. It had originally 167,000 miles”Owner report · Structure · Mar 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram 1500. The contact stated that after his wife was parked the vehicle and attempted to shift the gear shifter into park, the gear shifter instead shifted into reverse. The contact's wife exited the vehicle and the vehicle started rolling backwards. The contact used a brick to chock the passenger's side front tire to prevent the vehicle from rolling. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Jul 2020
“You shouldn't be able to pull the gear shifter from park to reverse without your foot being on the break. Plus the emergency break does not work as well.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram 1500. While driving approximately 25 mph, the ABS indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to autonation chrysler dodge jeep ram and fiat at 200 automall dr roseville, ca 95661. And the contact was informed that there was no recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was diagnosed repaired. The failure mileage was 32,000. *tt*jb”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2018
“Coil spring towers reinforcements - as per the recall for the 1994 and 1995 dodge ram 1500 pickups (safety recall 835) the coil spring towers of a 1998 has developed cracks in the left side tower. This vehicle has not been off road, strictly on highway and street. This was found during another repair of said vehicle.”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram 1500. The contact stated the entire dashboard was cracked. The contact stated an occupant sustained an injury due to the sharp dashboard pieces. The contact called piedmont chrysler dodge jeep ram aev (4015 clemson blvd, anderson, sc 29621, (864) 305-4234) and was informed that the dashboard could be replaced or a cap cover installed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 200,000.”Owner report · Structure · Mar 2018
“In motion the steering is very loose. The steering wheel will travel very often from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock and hopefully, I am still going straight. The truck will drift to the right and have to oversteer to get the truck in the travel lane. I replaced steering gear box, ball joints, tie rods, steering rod, track bar, rack, and pinion. This is an ongoing problem for a number of years. Transmission plastic part is broken so there has to be replaced.”Owner report · Steering · Feb 2018
“I was driving on the highway then heard a loud thump and the driver side rear wheel is pushed out and it no longer engages”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 66 of these complaints and injuries in 56 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Remedy: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
How other years compare
Check your exact Ram 1500 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 reliable?
NHTSA has 520 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The most complained-about area is structure (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 97,000 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.