NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Dodge Ram 3500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Dodge Ram 3500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 105 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 3500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1998 Dodge Ram 3500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Ram 3500, describing incidents dated June 19, 1998 to December 1, 2018.

Most-cited components

Power Train 19 complaints
Service Brakes 18 complaints
Electrical System 14 complaints
Exterior Lighting 14 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 10 complaints
Air Bags 9 complaints

Of the 105 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 105 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11155548 · Filed December 3, 2018
AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME I HAVE REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, TWICE THE HARNESS BECAUSE IT MELTED TOGETHER. AND NOW TODAY HAVING TO REPLACE MARKER WIRE (GREEN WITH WHITE STRIPE) AND IT IS TO HOT TO TOUCH, THE WIRE HAS GONE STIFF AND HARD AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE THIS TIME.
ODI #11045458 · Filed November 12, 2017
DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND DISINTEGRATING
ODI #11011839 · Filed July 31, 2017
DASHBOARD IS DISINTEGRATING AND HAS SHARP SHARDS THAT CUTS HANDS WHEN CLEANING IT.

Read all 105 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998 Dodge Ram 3500 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE02-049: TIRE VALVE
Closed October 1, 2002

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

CHASSIS TIE RODS

NHTSA #08E027000 · Steering — Linkages — Tie Rod Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported March 28, 2008 · AFFINIA GROUP, INC.

Potentially affected: 5,700 vehicles

Defect description

AFFINIA IS RECALLING 5,700 AFTERMARKET CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 28, 2006 THROUGH MARCH 17, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON MY 1998 AND 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE DUST SEAL SUPPLIED WITH THE CHASSIS TIE RODS WERE MANUFACTURED TO THE WRONG SPECIFICATION. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE DUST SEAL MAY PREVENT THE BALL STUD OF THE CHASSIS TIE ROD FROM PROPERLY SEATING INTO THE TAPER OF THE VEHICLE STEERING KNUCKLE DURING AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION.

Safety consequence

IF THIS CONDITION REMAINS UNDETECTED, THE BOLT CAN EVENTUALLY UNSEAT COMPLETELY, CAUSING THE AFFECTED WHEEL TO DISENGAGE FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

AFFINIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AFFINIA AT 734-827-5400.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET BRAKE PARTS CHASSIS TIE RODS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE RAM TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER, LLC.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 3500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

105 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Dodge Ram 3500.

Electrical System

ODI #11155548

Incident: December 1, 2018 · Filed: December 3, 2018

AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME I HAVE REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, TWICE THE HARNESS BECAUSE IT MELTED TOGETHER. AND NOW TODAY HAVING TO REPLACE MARKER WIRE (GREEN WITH WHITE STRIPE) AND IT IS TO HOT TO TOUCH, THE WIRE HAS GONE STIFF AND HARD AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE THIS TIME.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11045458

Incident: June 14, 2017 · Filed: November 12, 2017

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND DISINTEGRATING

Unknown or Other

ODI #11011839

1 injury

Incident: July 18, 2017 · Filed: July 31, 2017

DASHBOARD IS DISINTEGRATING AND HAS SHARP SHARDS THAT CUTS HANDS WHEN CLEANING IT.

Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11011520

Incident: September 30, 2003 · Filed: July 30, 2017

DEFROSTER WON'T WORK DUE TO BROKEN DASH

Unknown or Other

ODI #11010286

Incident: January 1, 2000 · Filed: July 24, 2017

BROKEN DASH. I BOUGHT TRK NEW IN 98. IN 2000 I FOUND A CRACK IN MY DASH. I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THE SERV. MNGR. ADVISED IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I DID NOT REPLACE DASH AS IT WAS QUOTED AS OVER 750 TO R/R. OVER YEARS IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. FOR LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SMALL PIECES OF THE DASH WOULD BLOW OUT OF THE A/C VENTS STRIKING ME IN THE FACE WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE.

Steering; Suspension; Service Brakes

ODI #10850744

Incident: March 3, 2016 · Filed: March 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED. THE ANTI-BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING FAILED DUE TO THE TIE RODS AND THE WHEEL HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE TIE RODS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E027000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

Power Train; Exterior Lighting; Service Brakes

ODI #10839514

Incident: March 1, 2016 · Filed: March 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL SITTING IN PARK AND THE TRANSMISSION BUCKED TRIED TO GO FORWARD EVEN AGAINST THE BRAKES

Steering; Suspension

ODI #10664549

Incident: June 24, 2014 · Filed: December 16, 2014

DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP A GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR SWITCH TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS THRUST AROUND IN MY SEAT AND ITEMS FROM UNDER THE BACK SEAT WERE THROWN FORWARD INTO THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. VEHICLES AROUND ME ALSO NOTICED AND SLOWED DOWN AND STEERED CLEAR OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW TO A STOP AT THE CURB AND IT STOPPED. THAT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT. I DID LOOK OVER THE FRONT END AND FELT THE TIE-RODS, ECT TO TEST AND EVERYTHING IS TIGHT AS IT SHOULD BE AND NOTHING VISIBLE TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. IT HAS OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY SINCE THOSE INCIDENTS IN JUNE AND THE SPEED SEEMS TO BE LESS EACH TIME. I HAVE AVOIDED DRIVING IT FOR FEAR I WILL WRECK AND KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND IT IS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR AND DID A RECALL ON. BUT, THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER ALL SECOND GENERATION DODGE PICKUPS, SUCH AS MINE. THIS MUST BE NOTICED AND THE RECALL MUST COVER ALL TRUCKS IN THE SECOND GENERATION CLASS AS WELL. I WILL SUE IF I WRECK THIS TRUCK DURING A DEATH WOBBLE. *TR

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #10643925

Fire

Incident: July 1, 2013 · Filed: October 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING MELTED TO THE CONNECTOR AND THE INTERNAL SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10487297

Incident: December 15, 2003 · Filed: December 4, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DRIVER STOPPED AND MERGED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Other Dodge Ram 3500 model years

Check your 1998 Dodge Ram 3500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Ram 3500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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