Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Dodge Ram
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Dodge Ram has 17 NHTSA recall campaigns and 483 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E060000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V185000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/ABS MODULE CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V161000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/THROTTLE LINKAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V153000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/CLOCKSPRING MATERIAL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V040000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/HOOD LATCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V107000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/TRAILER HITCH BRACKET NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V115000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V002000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V209000 CHRYSLER/HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V208000 CHRYSLER/CAB/FRAME BOLTS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V207000 CHRYSLER/FUEL LINE LEAKAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V182000 CHRYSLER/FUEL LINE LEAKAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V105000 CHRYSLER/SEAT BELT BUCKLES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V075000 CHRYSLER/WHEEL SEPARATION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 105 complaints
- Power Train 80 complaints
- Air Bags 66 complaints
- Electrical System 48 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 38 complaints
- Suspension 29 complaints
Of the 483 complaints on file, 79 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 483 complaints, owners report 52 injuries and 3 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Dodge RAM has a moderate number of recalls and complaints. Issues with brakes and powertrain are among the most reported, with 17 recall campaigns indicating a need for attention. However, many recalls involve aftermarket parts, limiting the impact on the overall reliability rating. The data is not sufficient to suggest frequent catastrophic failures, leading to an 'average' rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 60,000–100,000 miles | $200–$750 | common |
| Powertrain | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
| Air bags | Unknown | $400–$1,200 | 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.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake system inspections
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Cooling system checks
- Suspension and steering inspection
- Air filter replacement
- Battery health inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual brake noises
- Transmission slipping
- Airbag warning light
- Engine overheating
- Steering vibration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Dodge Ram at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.