1999 Dodge RAM 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a cracked, crumbling dashboard, corroded brake lines that fail and let the pedal go to the floor, and in diesel trucks a fuel injection pump that quits and kills power. Many reports come at relatively low mileage and are spread across years of ownership, so condition matters more than age alone; several complaints note cold-climate road salt for the brake lines and sun exposure for the dash.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard breaking apart

   • 65 complaints (21%)
   • median 99,800 mi at 9.0 yrs old (47 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2023

   Owners describe cracks starting near the defroster vents or above the instrument cluster and spreading until pieces break off or the dash pulls free of its mounts. Some report sharp edges cutting hands, and others worry that loose plastic exposes wiring and the passenger-side airbag area; a few say the loose pieces interfered with ventilation controls or chafed wiring. Dealers generally told owners it was not covered or attributed it to climate and sun exposure, and complaints note replacement dashes cracking as well. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 180,000 miles, often after several years in hot, sunny climates and even on garage-kept trucks.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the top and sides of the dash for hairline cracks, missing trim and loose mounting points, and check that vents, radio and cluster controls still work. Ask whether the dash has been replaced and whether wiring behind it has been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is my second complaint regarding dash board. The dash started cracking with just 30,000 miles on truck, when I put in compliant to NHTSA. Now 109,000 the electrical, air bags, computer harness wiring are exposed with a intermittent stalling and a guessing game from authorized Dodge dealers as to what might be the issues. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11058145, filed 2018-01, 100,000 miles

   “Cracked dashboard. I cut my finger on the sharp edge of the cracked dashboard. I started doing research on repairing or replacing the dashboard so none of my children would injure themselves like I did. My research found that there is a widespread problem with Dodge ram dashboards cracking,so I decided to file a complaint.”

   NHTSA complaint #10509832, filed 2013-04, 110,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Rusted brake lines leaking or bursting

   • 16 complaints (5%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Complaints describe steel brake lines rusting through, most often along the frame rail above or behind the fuel tank, and then leaking or bursting so the pedal drops to the floor. Owners frequently mention road salt in northern states and note the lines looked fine until a hard stop or a leak was found. In several reports the truck was towed and the whole line from the master cylinder back had to be replaced. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 130,000 miles, commonly on trucks driven where roads are salted.

   What to check: Have a mechanic look at the hard brake lines above and behind the fuel tank and along the frame for pitting or rust, and ask whether any lines have been replaced. A firm pedal on a test drive is not proof the lines are sound.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear brake line on my 99 Dodge truck failed behind the tank on the frame rail due to rust. I had an emergency stop and the pedal went all the way to the floor. After inspection the rusted hard line had a pinhole in it from the added pressure of the emergency stop. I was able to avoid the collision but if I would have had a trailer it would have been a different story.”

   NHTSA complaint #10280429, filed 2009-08, 188,641 miles

   “The hard brake line on my truck rusted through just behind the fuel tank causing loss of braking while driving. This appears to be a serious problem on most or all 1996 and newer Dodge trucks. After searching the web I found thousands of other Dodge truck owners with the identical problem. Is there a recall to notify owners and correct this serious problem? My truck has no other rust and has been garage kept since new. The entire brake line from the master cylinder to the rear of the vehicle needs to be replaced and the system bleed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10169272, filed 2006-09, 72,110 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Diesel fuel injection pump failure and stalling

   • 53 complaints (17%)
   • median 85,200 mi at 6.2 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2023

   Owners of diesel trucks report the engine quitting without warning, sometimes while towing or at speed, leaving no power assist for steering or brakes. In some accounts a failed lift pump was replaced first and the injection pump followed shortly after, and owners describe the repair as expensive. Complaints also mention long searches for the cause before the pump was identified. Reported from roughly 12,000 to 200,000 miles, with several cases while towing or in traffic.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records covering the lift pump and injection pump, and note any history of stalling or hard starting. A pre-purchase inspection by a diesel specialist is worth the cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel injector pump failed just before entering the freeway, was towing stock trailer when I lost all power. Had to have the 1999 Dodge 2500 diesel towed along with the stock trailer, the cost is $3150.00 for the fuel injector and $124.00 for towing. I searched the internet and found numerous complaints on this same issue and not only on the 1999 model, so I called Dodge to find out if there was a recall issued, the answer was no! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10255081, filed 2009-01, 137,000 miles

   “Fuel injector pump stopped working and from all of information I found it seemed to me it should have been a recall. We had a accident in 2005 from the stalling of the pump, and was told by the body shop it was the cause of the wreck. We have spent money on sensors trying to repair to finally be told that the vp-44 code was the fuel injector pump, and will need to be replace and that certain companies have made a special part to repair this and could prevent this from happening. Why can't Dodge repair? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10191787, filed 2007-05, 180,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Seat belts stuck locked or retracted

   • 15 complaints (5%)
   • median 140,000 mi at 12.1 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2018

   Owners describe front seat belts that lock in the retracted position and cannot be pulled out, or tighten on occupants and stay tight, with the belt warning light on. Several complaints point to the seat belt control timer module under the front seat and say the part is no longer made or on back order, leaving the belts unusable. One report describes the shoulder belts cinching on both front occupants while driving. Reported from about 80,000 to 200,000 miles, occurring randomly whether parked or moving.

   What to check: Pull each front belt out fully and let it retract several times, and confirm the warning light behaves normally. Ask whether the seat belt timer module has been replaced, since replacement parts can be hard to source.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 17 year old son had an accident in a 1999 Dodge 2500 ram truck and the airbags did not deploy. He hit several trees and the insurance company has considered the truck neftr . We contacted Dodge concerning this, they told us they would send a representative to inspect the truck and tell us why the airbags did not deploy. His seat belt also did not work properly. We have spoken with Dodge again and they have no intention of sending anyone to look at our truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10023916, filed 2003-06, 83,000 miles

   “On several occasions front seat beat retractors have stuck not allowing driver or passenger to use them. They will do this on every several months and then will act normal for a period. Dealer stated that it has to do with heavy braking and that the two seat belts operate independent of each other, but when one locks the other is also locked. We are of course a seat belt law state and hate being in violation of sc law. My mechanic has told me a recall was issued but unable to verify that fact.”

   NHTSA complaint #10174254, filed 2006-11, 160,000 miles

Buying note. Check the dash, brake lines and frame for cracking and rust before anything else, since those are the most frequently reported problems and the most expensive to correct. On diesel trucks, ask for records on the lift pump and injection pump, and confirm the seat belts retract and lock normally.

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.