1999 Dodge Ram: problems, recalls and reliability
13 recalls and 426 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (18% of complaints); the 2000 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 426 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated he noticed a strong odor of gasoline inside the vehicle and the gasoline was leaking from the fuel pump. The contact stated he diagnosed the failure himself and noticed the rubber cap was defective. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The contact stated he replaced several different rubber caps but none rectified the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but the part could not be sold. The failure mileage was 180,000”Owner report · Fuel System, Other · Aug 2022
“The bracket that holds the bolt to secure seat to rails it slides on is snapped clean in two with the bolt hole on the outside of bracket. This is the bolt on rear right side of driver's seat.”Owner report · Seats · Jun 2021
“Severe rusting in unibody construction. Has rusted so severely van is unsafe to drive. Vehicle has 133513 miles on it. Rust on under carriage is extremely excessive. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge ram b1500. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, he noticed holes in the frame. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000. *tr”Owner report · Structure · May 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge b-van station wagon. The contact stated that the entire front frame was completely rusted and had been eaten away by corrosion. In addition the contact was able to turn the steering wheel a full 360 degrees. The contact was driving the vehicle when the steering column collapsed and the vehicle stopped independently. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop where it was discovered that the entire front frame was completely corroded. The failure and the current mileages were 71,000.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge ram. While the vehicle was parked the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the front drivers side frame was extremely corroded. The contact stated the steering box, sway bar, pitman arm, spring and shock assembly, and bumper were all connected to the section of the frame that was corroded. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2011
“I noticed a very small crack on the passenger side dash, by the door, last summer and didn't think much of it. Now it is completely cracked, front to back, to the middle of the passenger seat. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2010
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge ram. The contact stated the driver and passenger side seat belts do not retract. The contact spoke with the manufacturer who advised they would repair the vehicle free of charge. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was advised that the vehicle would not be repaired due to the vehicle having previous owners. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was advised to pay for the vehicle repair out of pocket due to the vehicle being previously owned. The current miles were 91,200. The failure miles were 91,000.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2010
“The dash in my 99 dodge ram is severly cracked and I believe that dod ge should be made to replace them this is a big problem in alot of dodges if the dash is craked real bad and the air bag deploys it can become a deathly situation. *tr”Owner report · Equipment · Sep 2009
“Crack in dash panel started about aug 2009, it has now became a full blow mess as large pieces have fallen into the wiring harness inside the dash. This could be a hazard if you roll down the window and some smaller pieces fly up into your face, or could set on wires and catch fire. I know of at least two other 1500's that are 98 and 2000 models doing the same thing as mine. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Aug 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 53 of these complaints and injuries in 53 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 13 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT ("J" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 19, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; LAGO ALBERTO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("M" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; AND SALTILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("G" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000. IMPORTANT: VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROPER CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 2001. ALSO SOME 1997-200 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, V10 ENGINES AND FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE TRANSFER CASES. UNDER SUSTAINED MAXIMUM RATED VEHICLE LOAD, WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP GRADE IN FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE LOCAL EXHAUST TEMPERATURE PROXIMATE TO THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE CAN GENERATE LINE TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE TEMPERATURE LIMIT OF THE CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS AND THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, THE LINE COULD RUPTURE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VANS AND WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG). THE FUEL HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL RAILS MAY SHRINK AND LEAK FUEL IF EXPOSED TO HIGH ENGINE OPERATING TEMPERATURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE UNDERBODY HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE HEAT SHIELD IS TOO SHORT, ALLOWING THE PLASTIC CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL TO BE DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO EXHAUST TEMPERATURES. IT IS POSSIBLE TO EXCEED THE MELTING TEMPERATURE OF THE CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE PROPER LENGTH HEAT SHIELD.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, AND MISSOURI. CORROSION OF THE RETURN SPRING ON THE HOOD SECONDARY LATCH COULD CAUSE THE MECHANISM TO BIND IN THE "RELEASE POSITION."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VANS EQUIPPED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FUEL TANKS. INCORRECT FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE INSTALLED ON THE SMALL FUEL TANK. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL TANK MAY NOT BE SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MOUNTING STRAPS FOR THE SMALL FUEL TANK.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
ON CERTAIN VAN AND WAGON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), AFTERMARKET BATTERIES MAY LEAK ELECTROLYTE ONTO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR, WHICH CAN COMPROMISE SEALING INTEGRITY OF THE CONNECTOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTROLYTE DAMAGE AND REPLACE THE CONNECTOR AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL TRAILER HITCH. THE TRAILER HITCH SIDE BRACKETS WERE MANUFACTURED USING MATERIAL WITH INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRAILER HITCHES AND REPLACE ANY TRAILER HITCH SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE CRACKING. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CRACKING EXISTS, THE DEALER WILL INSTALL TWO REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1999 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Ram 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 1999 Dodge Ram reliable?
NHTSA has 426 owner complaints and 13 recall campaigns on record for the 1999 Dodge Ram. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (18% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Ram problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 74,651 miles or less.
Does the 1999 Dodge Ram have open recalls?
13 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. 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.