Model year record

1998 Dodge Ram 1500 recalls & problems

The 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 has 1 safety recall and 520 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (102 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints520filed by owners

Crashes · fires66 · 16reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths56 · 8reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingMar 15, 2006

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 06E02400044,386 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
Fix: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.9 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	12 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	12 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.2 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	12 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.2 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD

13mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.9 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD

13mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 15 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD

12mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 15 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.9 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
StructureBody; Body › Bumpers	102	2	1	3	96,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly	89	8	0	5	84,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	64	10	0	7	120,585 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module	63	41	0	31	105,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	38	0	3	0	79,000 mi
SuspensionFront; Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint	36	1	0	1	74,460 mi
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	34	5	0	5	84,000 mi
Electrical systemHorn; Ignition	32	2	5	1	100,000 mi
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Linkages	29	5	0	7	90,825 mi
TiresTread/belt; Sidewall	27	3	0	1	149,500 mi
Unknown or other	24	1	0	2	84,500 mi
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch; Doors › Latch	17	1	0	1	92,400 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts
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.
Mar 22, 2024
Seat belts
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.
Jan 21, 2024
Structure › Body
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
Mar 3, 2021 · 82,000 miles
Structure › Body
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.
Mar 1, 2018 · 200,000 miles
Unknown or other
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.
Jan 1, 1998
Power train
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.
Jul 30, 2020 · 98,000 miles
Power train
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…
Jul 8, 2019 · 108,000 miles
Unknown or other1 injury
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.
Jan 2, 2019 · 155,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.