NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 520 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Dodge dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1998 Dodge Ram 1500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 520 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500, describing incidents dated November 1, 1997 to March 22, 2024.

Most-cited components

Structure 102 complaints
Power Train 84 complaints
Air Bags 62 complaints
Service Brakes 62 complaints
Engine 34 complaints
Electrical System 32 complaints

Of the 520 complaints on file, 66 report a crash and 16 a fire; across all 520 complaints, owners report 56 injuries and 8 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11579005 · Filed March 22, 2024
The seatbelt timer module is failing, resulting in the seatbelts staying locked even when fully retracted. This means sometimes I as the driver as well as my front seat passenger cannot buckle up and drive the vehicle safely. I have not reproduced or confirmed this issue with a dealership or…
ODI #11573494 · Filed February 22, 2024
The drivers side and passanger side seat belts are locked in the seats. There is no fix, you cant drive truck because you can not use the seat belts, they are made into the seats. No one sells part for it. The seat belts will not extend. The seat belts just stopped working, no warning.
ODI #11404603 · Filed March 24, 2021
I PURCHASED A TRUCK ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAD TO REPLACED SO MANY THINGS ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 72,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. I ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH IT. I ENDED UP RUNNING CARFAX ON IT AND FOUND…

Read all 520 complaints

Owner-reported

1998 Dodge Ram 1500 mileage at failure

222 of the 520 complaints on file for the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Structure	Median 95,000 miles	Middle half 70,000–130,000 miles	Based on 70 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER

NHTSA #06E024000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported March 15, 2006 · K&N ENGINEERING, INC.

Potentially affected: 44,386 vehicles

Owners notified April 20, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Safety consequence

A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.

Manufacturer remedy

K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

520 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500.

Seat Belts

ODI #11579005

Incident: March 22, 2024 · Filed: March 22, 2024

The seatbelt timer module is failing, resulting in the seatbelts staying locked even when fully retracted. This means sometimes I as the driver as well as my front seat passenger cannot buckle up and drive the vehicle safely. I have not reproduced or confirmed this issue with a dealership or independent service center. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance agency. A red seatbelt warning light will appear when the seatbelts lock up and goes away when it unlocks.

Seat Belts

ODI #11573494

Incident: January 21, 2024 · Filed: February 22, 2024

The drivers side and passanger side seat belts are locked in the seats. There is no fix, you cant drive truck because you can not use the seat belts, they are made into the seats. No one sells part for it. The seat belts will not extend. The seat belts just stopped working, no warning.

Structure

ODI #11404603

Incident: March 3, 2021 · Filed: March 24, 2021

I PURCHASED A TRUCK ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAD TO REPLACED SO MANY THINGS ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 72,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. I ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH IT. I ENDED UP RUNNING CARFAX ON IT AND FOUND OUT THE ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BACK TWO WEEKS BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. IT HAD ORIGINALLY 167,000 MILES

Structure

ODI #11378640

Incident: March 1, 2018 · Filed: December 9, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED AN OCCUPANT SUSTAINED AN INJURY DUE TO THE SHARP DASHBOARD PIECES. THE CONTACT CALLED PIEDMONT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AEV (4015 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 305-4234) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOARD COULD BE REPLACED OR A CAP COVER INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11377405

Incident: January 1, 1998 · Filed: December 1, 2020

TO DATE, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, HOWEVER A RECALL WAS ISSUED SAYING THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MUST BE REPLACED, AS IT CAN FLY OPEN. WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE RECALL.

Power Train

ODI #11343738

Incident: July 30, 2020 · Filed: August 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HIS WIFE WAS PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER INSTEAD SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT USED A BRICK TO CHOCK THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Power Train

ODI #11231648

Incident: July 8, 2019 · Filed: July 13, 2019

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. I GOT OUT AND WAS LOOKING WHAT HAPPEN THE PION NUT CAME OFF THE PION GEAR LOCKING UP THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE ENDED UP SOMEONE GETTING HURT AND OR KILLING SOMEONE IN A CRASH. THE TRUCK IS VERY WELL TAKING CARE OF AND HAS 108K MILES LOW FOR ITS AGE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE BUT ON THE 05 DODGE RAM TRUCK'S THAT WAS MADE IN 04 IS WHAT SOMEONE TOLD ME

Unknown or Other

ODI #11165599

1 injury

Incident: January 2, 2019 · Filed: January 3, 2019

YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PULL THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITHOUT YOUR FOOT BEING ON THE BREAK. PLUS THE EMERGENCY BREAK DOES NOT WORK AS WELL.

Engine

ODI #11151692

Incident: November 15, 2017 · Filed: November 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, SPUTTERED, AND ALMOST STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE SECTION OF THE ENGINE HAD AN ALUMINUM PLATE THAT BECAME WARPED WITH USAGE. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND REPLACED THE GASKET SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE DEALER (VALLEY DODGE, 320 LEE JACKSON HWY, STAUNTON, VA 24401, (540) 213-8800) CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,156. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Service Brakes

ODI #11128133

Incident: July 18, 2018 · Filed: September 7, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AND FIAT AT 200 AUTOMALL DR ROSEVILLE, CA 95661. AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TT*JB

Other Dodge Ram 1500 model years

Check your 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Ram 1500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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