1999 Dodge RAM 1500 Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 39about this part
- Share
- 6%of 610 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 59,800miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 39 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1999 Dodge RAM 1500, 6% of the 610 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 59,800 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Manifold gasket sucked in.. Causing spark knocking. Headlight not working properly due to bad ground. Chrysler fixed headlight at no charge, however, told me there was a TSB on manifold gasket and still charged me for repairs.. They stated that they did not have to fix because they remodeled the engine. Female subject at chrysler headquarters hung up on me.”
NHTSA complaint #10005863, filed 2003-02, 35,000 miles“I bought a 1999 Dodge RAM 1500 pickup with a 5.2 liter engine from swift Dodge in davis, ca in december of 1998. The first day, I noticed that it had a spark knock or ping when accelerating up the slightest grade. With the air conditioner on or when pulling a small trailer, the knock was worse. I complained about it everytime I took my truck in for service at the dealership. The manifold gasket was replaced twice by the deaer, and I was told that would fix it. It didn't. …”
NHTSA complaint #10078966, filed 2004-06, 2 miles“I own a 1999 Dodge ram regular truck with short bed and it accelerated while I was driving on a highway. At first I thought I hit the cruise control by mistake, but I checked and cruise the light was off. It engine kept ramming and hitting high speeds and I could not stop the vehicle and I almost crashed into other cars. I managed to pull off at an exit and put on the brakes as hard as I could, but it did not stop the truck. Eventually, I had to put the car in park while driving. Eventually the car stopped and I immediately turned off the engine. …”
NHTSA complaint #10157921, filed 2006-05, 98,000 miles“Engine failure, 1999 Dodge 5.2 liter v8. Purchased used vehicle with 75,000 original miles in 2003. Truck in very nice condition, and well maintained. Last week on a daily drive it seems a coonecting rod snapped and blew through the oil pan. The engine is now garbage. I previously owned a 1987 Dodge ram pick-up and regretfully sold it with a mere 175,000 mile on it. That truck would run rings around the new ram tough junker sitting in my driveway. I would request Dodge to give me a more dependable engine, like the one in my 1987. …”
NHTSA complaint #10082555, filed 2004-07, 88,000 miles“I have owned two 1999 Dodge RAM 1500 pickups. One had a 5.9l and one had a 5.2l. Both vehicles experienced a failure of the ventilation servo (switches cold-warm-hot air mix) and both experience cracked heads. All occurrences happened between 90,000 miles and 100,000 miles. As for the cracked heads neither vehicle had ever overheated, and had always actually run fairly cool.”
NHTSA complaint #10116149, filed 2005-03, 95,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10223854Sep 7, 2016Service - Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket. This applies…
- 10191455Sep 7, 2016Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket. This applies to Cummins 5.9L and 6.7L engines only.
- 10191460Feb 26, 2016Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
- 10139009Feb 13, 201368069384A$, R8069384A$, 68086182A$, R8027067A$, RL002012A$ - Gasket, Cylinder Head Cover Before replacing injectors for Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0201, P0202, P0203, P0204…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 8 | 1% |
| 2011 | 5 | 1% |
| 2010 | 13 | 3% |
| 2009 | 9 | 1% |
| 2008 | 8 | 1% |
| 2007 | 13 | 3% |
| 2006 | 21 | 3% |
| 2005 | 77 | 7% |
| 2004 | 116 | 11% |
| 2003 | 56 | 5% |
| 2002 | 58 | 7% |
| 2001 | 51 | 5% |
| 2000 | 25 | 5% |
| 1999 | 39 | 6% |
| 1998 | 35 | 7% |
| 1997 | 20 | 6% |
| 1996 | 32 | 11% |
| 1995 | 13 | 6% |
| 1994 | 5 | 4% |
| 1991 | 2 | 29% |
Other parts of the 1999 Dodge RAM 1500
240 complaintsAir bags
61 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
59 complaintsBrakes
56 complaintsOther or unknown
54 complaintsElectrical system
36 complaintsSteering
32 complaintsSuspension
31 complaintsSeat belts
24 complaintsTires
17 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
16 complaintsEquipment
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Dodge RAM 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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