1998 Dodge RAM 1500 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 63about this part
- Share
- 12%of 520 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 105,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 63 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500, 12% of the 520 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 105,000 miles. 41 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 miles“I have a 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 pickup truck. Like many of these trucks my dashboard is literally breaking apart and collapsing. I have read on line where this is very common with my vehicle. My truck has an airbag built in the dash board and I am concerned that a sharp plastic shard could cause severe bodily injury if the airbag is deployed or if the airbag will even work since the dash board has caved in. Dealers are not willing to fix this problem. I am also concerned that the dashboard wiring could catch fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10345088, filed 2010-07, 85,000 miles“In nov. 2005 another driver run a stop sign directly in front of me. I hit a small pick up broadside at 30 MPH. It did $2500 damage. Neither right or left side air bag deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10163251, filed 2006-07, 111,480 miles“My 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 pickup has a chronic case of cracked dash. This has been heavily noted from 1998 models through the 2004 models. This is extremely hazardous to passenger safety because if the passenger airbag should deploy the passenger or driver could be impaled by sharp shards of plastic from the fractured dash. These dashes need to be recalled due to this extreme safety hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #10321300, filed 2010-03, 136,000 miles“My 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 pickup has a chronic case of cracked dash. This has been heavily noted from 1998 models through the 2004 models. This is extremely hazardous to passenger safety because if the passenger airbag should deploy the passenger of driver could be impaled by sharp shards of plastic from the fractured dash. These dashes need to be recalled due to this extreme safety hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #10218979, filed 2008-02, 50,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10176211Mar 23, 2020This 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…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 80 | 11% |
| 2011 | 13 | 2% |
| 2010 | 14 | 3% |
| 2009 | 34 | 5% |
| 2008 | 165 | 30% |
| 2007 | 169 | 33% |
| 2006 | 193 | 24% |
| 2005 | 376 | 32% |
| 2004 | 368 | 33% |
| 2003 | 458 | 39% |
| 2002 | 46 | 6% |
| 2001 | 84 | 8% |
| 2000 | 41 | 8% |
| 1999 | 61 | 10% |
| 1998 | 63 | 12% |
| 1997 | 24 | 7% |
| 1996 | 10 | 3% |
| 1995 | 11 | 5% |
| 1994 | 7 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500
102 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
85 complaintsBrakes
64 complaintsEngine cooling
35 complaintsSeat belts
34 complaintsSuspension
34 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsSteering
28 complaintsTires
27 complaintsOther or unknown
25 complaintsFuel system
21 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
17 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology