Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Dodge Ram 1500
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 520 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #06E024000 REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 102 complaints
- Power Train 84 complaints
- Air Bags 62 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 55 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 33 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 shows a below-average reliability with 520 total complaints and one recall. The common issues include structure, power train, and airbag problems. Limited recall data points to broader reliability concerns, though complaint detail is limited without precise failure mileages or costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| structure | Unknown | $300–$1,200 | common |
| power train | Unknown | $400–$1,500 | common |
| air bags | Unknown | $200–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Change engine oil regularly
- Inspect and rotate tires
- Replace brake pads and shoes
- Check and top off fluid levels
- Inspect suspension and steering
- Replace air and fuel filters
- Regular transmission servicing
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Rattling noises in the body
- Unresponsive transmission
- Airbag warning light
- Brake pedal sinking
- Rough engine idle
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.