1998 Dodge RAM 1500 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 85about this part
- Share
- 16%of 520 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 85 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500, 16% of the 520 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles. 8 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 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 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11098881, filed 2018-05, 180,000 miles“I was driving down a 45mph road and the truck was not shifting so I pulled to the side shut it off turned it back on the checked all the gears and everything seemed fine then I tried driving again and it stalled while driving down the road and will not start and the engine makes a weird rumble noise.”
NHTSA complaint #10572941, filed 2014-03, 211,077 miles“I own a 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 extended cab. I bought the vehicle new. For several years the dash has been cracking and the plastic air conditioning vents are falling apart. I have made no repairs and it needs fixing. Also the rear end is roaring probably from a bearing going bad. Other than this problem, it has been a good truck.”
NHTSA complaint #10421089, filed 2011-08, 130,000 miles“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 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 92 | 13% |
| 2011 | 176 | 26% |
| 2010 | 229 | 47% |
| 2009 | 231 | 34% |
| 2008 | 73 | 13% |
| 2007 | 61 | 12% |
| 2006 | 100 | 13% |
| 2005 | 594 | 51% |
| 2004 | 181 | 16% |
| 2003 | 125 | 11% |
| 2002 | 99 | 12% |
| 2001 | 95 | 9% |
| 2000 | 45 | 9% |
| 1999 | 59 | 10% |
| 1998 | 85 | 16% |
| 1997 | 56 | 16% |
| 1996 | 52 | 17% |
| 1995 | 30 | 14% |
| 1994 | 7 | 6% |
| 1993 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500
102 complaintsBrakes
64 complaintsAir bags
63 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