1998 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems
- Complaints
- 520filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 95,000miles, 225 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 14 mpgcombined, 5.2L 8-cyl RWD · 12 city / 17 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year center on a cracking dashboard that owners say deteriorates over time, plus transmission and rear-axle problems that often show up as slipping, harsh shifting or noise. Mileage at the time of complaint varies widely, from under 50,000 to well past 150,000, and many owners describe gradual deterioration over years of sun exposure rather than a single sudden event.
- Body and structure
Cracking, crumbling dashboard
- 100 complaints (19%)
- median 91,000 mi at 9.7 yrs old (69 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2005–2020
Owners describe hairline cracks that spread across the top of the dash and eventually open into holes, with pieces of hard plastic breaking loose and, in some accounts, reaching the windshield or the occupants while driving. Several say the cracks began within a few years of purchase or shortly after buying used, and that sun exposure made it worse. According to the complaints, dealers offered to replace the dash or install a cover at the owner's cost, and owners report being told the vehicle was outside any recall or warranty coverage. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 200,000 miles, frequently after several years of sun exposure.
What to check: Inspect the top of the dash above the instrument cluster and around the defroster vents for cracks or repaired spots, and ask whether a dash cover or cap has been installed. Note also whether the airbag warning light is on.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have a 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 with a cracked dash and researched other years with the same problem . I have call Dodge like a lot of others have with no results . My concern is with the windows down I have had a peace of the dash fly in to face while driving . And I think it is a safety issue. Now I cant roll down the windows with out fear of been hit in the face again ......”
NHTSA complaint #10313977, filed 2010-02, 89,000 miles“I own a 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 sport 4x4 quad cab truck and the dashboard is cracked terribly. Now I've spoken to a lot of ram owners and have visited many Dodge dealerships and they say this is a common problem with these trucks. As you are aware the dash also houses important components of the airbag safety system. Something needs to be done about this problem. The cost to replace this dash is very high.”
NHTSA complaint #10182591, filed 2007-02, 45,000 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission slipping, harsh shifting, lost gears
- 34 complaints (7%)
- median 90,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (19 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $2,067 (median of 6 quotes)
- filed 1998–2020
Complaints describe the automatic transmission dropping out of overdrive on its own at highway speed, slipping into neutral during turns and needing a pause before it re-engages, and in some cases losing all gears except one. Some owners report the truck unexpectedly downshifting while climbing or passing, and others describe reverse gear no longer working. Repairs mentioned include rebuilds and replacement units, and in some cases the symptoms returned afterward. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 170,000 miles, often at highway speeds or while towing.
What to check: Drive the truck at highway speed and check that overdrive holds and downshifts are smooth; test reverse and slow turns. Ask whether the transmission has been rebuilt or replaced and whether a valve body service was done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I drive a 98 Dodge ram. The transmission slips out of overdrive on it's own. I will be replacing this transmission at a cost of $2000.00. It does it at speeds of 70 MPH and could be dangerous if towing a trailer. Dodge trucks are known for faulty transmissions.”
NHTSA complaint #10296655, filed 2009-12, 148,000 miles“Transmission overheats. As near as I can tell, from reading the numerous complaints on message boards, the problem is due to two possible things. A bad torque converter (frequent problem)and/or clogged cooling system lines as the lines and passageways are too narrow and filter is insufficient.”
NHTSA complaint #10014441, filed 2003-04, 67,000 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Rear axle and differential noise or failure
- 27 complaints (5%)
- median 71,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1999–2019
Owners report a whining or growling noise from the rear end, sometimes with visible fluid seepage at the pinion seal, and in some cases the axle bearings and seals had to be replaced. One owner describes noticeable horizontal movement at the rear axle, and another says the rear differential and bearings were replaced once and were making the same noise again about 30,000 miles later. Typically reported between about 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with noise usually the first sign.
What to check: Listen for whine or howl from the rear axle on a test drive and on deceleration, and look under the bed at the differential and pinion area for oil residue. Ask whether the rear end has been serviced or rebuilt.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“When backing the vehicle out of the garage, I noticed an oily substance in the center of the vehicle directly below the rear differential. Inspecting the vehicle, I could see there is a leak emanating from the drive-shaft and differential where the pinion seal is located. There is a recall on the pinion seal for the 2009 and 2010 model years that does not cover my 2008 Dodge RAM 1500. I believe the recall needs to extend to the 2008 model year also.”
NHTSA complaint #10747167, filed 2015-08, 41,000 miles“The driver seat belt became unbuckled various times. I have replace the buckle side of it on my own. Also the rear end is making noise right after warranty expired, now I'm supposed to replace it onmy own.”
NHTSA complaint #10261919, filed 2009-03, 39,898 miles - Air bags
Airbag warning light, no deployment, clock spring
- 71 complaints (14%)
- median 96,500 mi at 8.5 yrs old (28 state mileage)
- 41 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1998–2018
Several owners describe the airbag warning light staying on, and in a few cases airbags did not deploy in a frontal collision. Some connect the light to a faulty clock spring in the steering wheel, and one owner notes that the steering-wheel-mounted cruise control also stopped working at the same time. Others tie the light and warning to a dash that has cracked around the passenger airbag area. Reported from about 80,000 to 155,000 miles, in some cases after the dash had cracked.
What to check: Turn the key to run and confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb check; if it stays on, ask what was diagnosed. A service bulletin describes the clock spring and horn circuit, so ask whether steering-wheel controls and the horn work.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while traveling 55 MPH. The driver's shoulder restraint did not hold and caused consumer to move forward and hit the front windshield. . Also, front air bags failed to deploy. The driver of the other vehicle was killed in the crash. The consumers truck t-boned the other vehicle on the driver's side.”
NHTSA complaint #10015519, filed 2003-04, 84,000 miles“1998 Dodge RAM 1500 was involved in a four-car collision-mine being the third in the series. The truck was rear-ended which pushed me into the car ahead. The airbag did not deploy on either passenger's side or driver's side. Vehicle was totalled.”
NHTSA complaint #10148959, filed 2006-01, 108,000 miles
Buying note. Look closely at the dashboard and the airbag warning light before buying, since dash cracking and airbag-related complaints are the most common themes for this year. A thorough test drive that checks transmission behavior at highway speed, rear axle noise and the seat belts will cover most of what owners report.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 520 consumer complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500. 225 of the complaints include a mileage, and 13% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 95,000 miles. Of all complaints, 66 involved a crash, 16 a fire, 56 an injury, 8 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 16 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Body and structure102 20%
- Brakes64 12%
- Air bags63 12%
- Engine cooling35 6.7%
- Seat belts34 6.5%
- Suspension34 6.5%
- Electrical system32 6.2%
- Steering28 5.4%
- Tires27 5.2%
Also reported: Other or unknown (25), Fuel system (21), Latches, locks and linkages (17), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (14), Equipment (13), Vehicle speed control (13), Exterior lighting (6), Wheels (5), Seats (4), Interior lighting (2), Engine (1).
Example complaints
Body and structure: “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”
NHTSA complaint #11404603, filed 2021-03, 82,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “I was driving down the road at about a bout 50 MPH down the road and started hearing a noise when letting off the throttle and slowed down a lil gave it some gas then let off again next thing I hear is the drive shaft hitting the road and the tires sliding across the road and causing me to slide across the road locally there was no traffic coming towards me I was able to control the slide of the rear tires to a stop on the side of the road. …”
NHTSA complaint #11231648, filed 2019-07, 108,000 milesBrakes: “To whom it may concern, these rubber brake lines almost killed me barreling thru a downhill red light. Fixed bad part,then hit guard rail,damaged front grille,bumper and fender when the other line popped while driving. I was told this is a notorious problem with Dodge trucks. I'm not as angry about the filler neck which rotted and filed tank w rust chunks,replaced fuel pump. …”
NHTSA complaint #10725151, filed 2015-06, 120,000 milesAir bags: “I went off the road going about 65 MPH and hit a tree, head on. The airbags did not deploy. I was not seriously injured. I have searched the internet and have found that this is not the first incident involving my type of vehicle (Dodge ram).”
NHTSA complaint #10439912, filed 2011-12, 75,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
13% of the 225 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 65,000 and 130,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 14 | 18 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 14 | 20 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 12 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 12 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD | 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 11 | 16 | 13 | $5,150 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD | 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 12 | 16 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD | 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 11 | 15 | 13 | $5,150 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD | 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 11 | 15 | 12 | $5,600 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 16 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10229256Jul 22, 2020Electrical system. KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the…
- 10221686Jul 22, 2020Electrical system. KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the…
- 10175735Apr 22, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty…
- 10176211Mar 23, 2020Air bags, Electrical system. This SKU is a Clock Spring. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the internal spring. If the internal spring is not seated, the electrical circuit for the horn…
- 10220101Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
- 10220099Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
- 10220097Nov 20, 2019Equipment, Body and structure. Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
- 10169249Nov 20, 2019Equipment, Body and structure. Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
- 10169247Nov 20, 2019Equipment. Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
- 10169245Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
Other model years of the Dodge RAM 1500
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 698 | 70,875 | 6 | — | 16 | 53 · Typical | Stable |
| 2011 | 689 | 75,557 | 4 | — | 16 | 55 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 488 | 64,600 | 4 | — | 16 | 34 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 670 | 67,074 | 2 | — | 16 | 24 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 554 | 65,000 | 5 | — | 15 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 517 | 69,250 | 4 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 792 | 61,110 | 9 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 1,173 | 86,000 | 4 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 1,099 | 70,992 | 5 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 1,171 | 70,000 | 1 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 815 | 70,000 | 3 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 1,112 | 70,000 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 513 | 78,000 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 610 | 85,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 520 | 95,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 361 | 99,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 298 | 122,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1995 | 213 | 117,500 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 116 | 108,250 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1993 | 6 | 100,003 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 7 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Dodge RAM 1500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500?
Complaints on this model year center on a cracking dashboard that owners say deteriorates over time, plus transmission and rear-axle problems that often show up as slipping, harsh shifting or noise. The issues reported most often: Cracking, crumbling dashboard; Transmission slipping, harsh shifting, lost gears; Rear axle and differential noise or failure.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 have?
NHTSA recorded 520 consumer complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 is reported most often?
Body and structure is named most often, in 102 complaints (20% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 85.
Has the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 get?
The EPA rates the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 (Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, 5.2L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 reported?
Among the 225 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 95,000 miles and the middle half falls between 65,000 and 130,000 miles; 13% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.