1999 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the dashboard, which cracks, crumbles and sheds pieces as the truck ages — many complaints say this started with a single crack and spread over months or years, often in hot, sunny climates. Brake line corrosion and hydraulic brake problems, air bag and seat belt concerns, and assorted transmission and front-end wear issues make up most of the rest. Mileage at reporting varies widely, from under 60,000 to well past 200,000.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked, crumbling dashboard

   • 254 complaints (42%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (165 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2019

   Owners describe the dashboard cracking along the windshield edge and over the passenger air bag area, then breaking into chunks that fall into the dash or into the cabin. Complaints say pieces leave sharp edges and can drop onto wiring, ducts and the air bag housing, and that driving over bumps or touching the dash can make more of it break away. According to the complaints, dealers usually said the warranty had expired and quoted several hundred to a few thousand dollars to replace the whole dash. Reported from roughly 30,000 to over 200,000 miles, often after years of sun exposure in warm climates.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash near the windshield and the area around the passenger air bag for cracks, missing pieces or a loose feel; press lightly along the edge. Ask whether the dash has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Defect in 1999 Dodge RAM 1500 pickup dashboard dashboard has cracks and is crumbling apart...!!!! I used armor all to protect dashboard but it keeps falling apart and is risk for injury/death if air bag is deployed..I have read other complaints online cause of Dodge skimping on materials..I want Dodge to replace this at no cost to me..”

   NHTSA complaint #10299787, filed 2010-01, 119,200 miles

   “The dash on my 1999 Dodge RAM 1500 4 x4 has cracked in three spots. The crack runs from the windshield side of the dash all the way to the bottom of the dash. The truck has not been in any crashes that would result in this type of crack. I am concerned these cracks will intervere with the operation of the passenger side air bag as one of the cracks runs over the holder.”

   NHTSA complaint #10171811, filed 2006-10, 102,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Rusted-through brake lines and soft pedal

   • 53 complaints (9%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2019

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor, a spongy feel, brake fluid dripping from a line along the frame, and ABS warning lights. Owners who inspected the truck found a brake line corroded through, and several said they replaced the line themselves. Some complaints mention the master cylinder, booster or ABS module being replaced, and at least one notes that dealers attributed the fluid condition to contamination. Usually reported between about 60,000 and 110,000 miles, on older trucks in rust-belt or damp conditions.

   What to check: Have the brake lines along the frame and above the rear axle inspected for rust and seepage, and check the pedal for a spongy feel. Ask when the brake fluid was last flushed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving in lowes parking lot going about 10 miles I went to stop the brake pedal went all the way to the floor I managed to stop without hitting anything after investagation found the brake line had rusted all the way throught this could have been deadly if this happen on the highway after talking to co workers I found 4 more dodges with rusted out brake line all rusted brake line was replace by me as I do not trust dealerships repair shops.”

   NHTSA complaint #10319430, filed 2010-03, 105,000 miles

   “1. Abs light kept coming on and brakes kept going to the floor. 2. Tried to carefully get it to a safe location off the highway and brakes eventually failed on me causing me to drive off the road and my back quarter panel scrapped a telephone pole. 3. Dealer claims nothing faulty from their side, but had to change the master cylinder, brake booster and flush brake fluid. Was told fluid was very dirty and black like the color of exhaust changing the color of the fluid. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10095855, filed 2004-10, 85,945 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and no deployment

   • 127 complaints (21%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 8.1 yrs old (65 state mileage)
   • 43 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $775 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2017

   Owners report the air bag light coming on while driving and staying lit, and some describe frontal air bags not deploying in a collision. Complaints also connect cracked dash plastic around the passenger air bag housing with concern about how the bag would deploy. One owner said a mechanic found symptoms similar to a past air bag campaign but the dealer stated the VIN was not covered. Reported from about 50,000 to 175,000 miles, with no single pattern in age or conditions.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the air bag light cycles and then goes out; if it stays lit, ask for a diagnostic scan. Check for cracks around the passenger air bag cover.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dash board is cracking all over. It just started a few months ago and is getting worst. My truck is in show condition and this really bites. I think Dodge should fix this problem with a recall. I don't think my airbag will work because the housing it seats into is cracked too.”

   NHTSA complaint #10256259, filed 2009-01, 126,000 miles

   “1999 Dodge RAM 1500 quad cab. Dashboard deteriorated and has finally resulted in large voids and sharp edges being exposed to the passenger compartment. The mounting location for the passenger side airbag has deteriorated to the point where the airbag can fall out.”

   NHTSA complaint #10298833, filed 2010-01, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping and shift problems

   • 32 complaints (5%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2016

   Owners describe harsh or skipping shifts between first and second gear, gears slipping at highway speed, and in some cases a transmission that stopped driving the truck altogether. Complaints mention torque converter failure, metal debris in the fluid and a cooler line leaking, with dealers replacing or rebuilding the transmission. One owner also reported the column shift lever not engaging park. Mostly reported between about 34,000 and 100,000 miles, with some failures past 130,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the transmission fluid for color and any metal grit, and drive through all gears from a stop and at highway speed. Ask whether the transmission or shift shaft seals have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Automatic transmission failure - vehicle started to skip when shifting from 1st gear to second gear. Took it to the dealer and was told I was 200 miles out of warranty and they could not fix it under warranty (even though I had been having problems for a month before that and hadn't time to get in to get it looked at). Was told that other transmissions were also failing, but Dodge would not do anything. I am a former chrysler employee, as is my father. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10007530, filed 2003-02, 34,500 miles

   “I own a 1999 Dodge ram extended cab 1500 pick up truck. My wife was driving and when she stopped the truck and placed in park the truck continued to move and we almost ran into the vehicle in front of us. After investigation it was noted that the lever on the stearing column used to change the transmission position was not functining. There was no way to place the transmission in the park position and there was no way to determine which position the transmission was in. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10104142, filed 2004-12, 73,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Seat belt retractors lock up

   • 21 complaints (3%)
   • median 120,000 mi at 15.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2017

   Complaints describe front seat belts that will not pull out of the retractor or that tighten and stay locked. Owners report being told the sensor or control module under the seat had failed, and in one case the belts locked again shortly after a module replacement. Another complaint describes smoke and fire from the seat belt plug under the driver seat. Reported between about 100,000 and 145,000 miles, plus one at roughly 104,000 miles.

   What to check: Pull each front belt fully out and let it retract several times on both sides, and look under the seats for damaged or chafed wiring and connectors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our seat belts locked up on our 1999 Dodge RAM 1500. Took our Dodge truck to Dodge dealership 06/05/2017 who said our seat belt control module had gone out. We paid $400 to replace. Pickup on 06/26/2017. 3 days later 06/29/2017 while towing our 20 ft north river boat across charleston harbor bridge on the down hill side to port launch ramp our vehicle power shut down, seat belts locked up again and our boat weight pushed hitch into our truck destroying the hitch and wheel jack. The boat had to be towed ( $399) to be repaired and $150. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11024697, filed 2017-09, 104,091 miles

   “The consumer entered the vehicle, put on his seat belt and proceeded to drive home. While driving the consumer noticed that the belts tightened up. Then, he smelled smoke. The consumer looked down, and saw smoke coming from the under seat. The consumer pulled to the side of the road, unlatched the seat belt, looked under the seat, and saw smoke and fire coming from the plug. The problem occurred in the driver seat. The electric plug was unplugged to the seat belt. The plugs were replaced with a single stable plug.”

   NHTSA complaint #10061190, filed 2004-04, 111,023 miles

Buying note. Look closely at the dashboard condition first, since replacing it is costly, then have the brake lines and front-end components inspected and check the seat belts and air bag light. Service records for transmission work and brake fluid changes are worth asking for.

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.