Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Drove my 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 to empty my trash, started back home and had driven less than 1/4 mile when the truck hesitated like it was going to stall out and there was some smoke beginning to come up through dash area on drivers side. Thinking I might have a busted radiator hose I immediately pulled over in the yard of person doing repair work on an old building. When I opened my truck door on drivers side flames shot between the inside of the door and seat. I jumped out of the truck but was not injured. The man saw flames shooting from the truck and I was very fortunate he had a fire extinguisher. He kept spraying the truck under the hood and was able to get the fire under control just as the volunteer fire department truck showed up. There were a lot hot spots and the fireman kept spraying it with water until it finally quit smoking. …
My son was driving on hwy 78 when the pickup lunged a couple of times. He was going to pull off the road to check for a problem. He had the cruise set so he thought it might be transmission problems. He looked in the rear view mirror for traffic behind him and saw flames and smoke coming from between the cab and the bed. He immediately pulled off and told his finance to get her baby out because they were on fire. When he opened his door the flames errupted into the cab and he had dive out through the flames. The pickup exploded about one minute after they got out. They lost everything in the truck.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving 75 MPH, the instrument panel and exterior lights flickered on and off and then dimmed completely. As of September 19, 2007, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and stated that the fuse box melted, which be believed was the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000 and current mileage was 145,000.
While my wife was sitting with the truck on, in park, it burst in to flames. The entire front and cab of the truck was burned. It was a total loss. Electrical problems are suspected by the fire dept. Very scary and very dangerous!!!
Truck setting still in yard, horns starting blowing without anyone around, pulled fuse to stop. Two shops have been unable to diagnose problem. Horns do not work at all now. Replaced with new horns and still don't work.
I understand that there was a recall of defective clocksprings that disabled airbags in certain Dodge products (safety recall 982)(NHTSA identification number 01v-153). The recall included vehicles in the VIN last 8 digits ws501493 to ws771681. My 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 has a last eight digits of [redacted]. Thus, it does fall within the range of recalled VIN numbers. However, for some reason my truck is not described as one of those recalled. However, I have an airbag light that is on and the steering wheel mounted cruise control does not work it seems to me that both of these are indications of a defective clockspring just as on the recalled vehicles. I would like to know why I have not received a recall notice and why my vehicle make model and year is not described as recalled even though the last eight VIN digits falls within the range of those recalled for this defect. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the horn failed. The contact had to apply excessive force to the steering wheel in order for the horn to activate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician advised that the air bag and horn contact unit needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 2,300 and the current mileage was 65,000.
I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. Like many of these trucks my dashboard is literally breaking apart and collapsing. I have read on line where this is very common with my vehicle. My truck has an airbag built in the dash board and I am concerned that a sharp plastic shard could cause severe bodily injury if the airbag is deployed or if the airbag will even work since the dash board has caved in. Dealers are not willing to fix this problem. I am also concerned that the dashboard wiring could catch fire.
Back in May 08 speed sensor went out then ABS sensor went out a few days later causing no power brakes and could have cause my wife to have a wreck. Both replaced. Now getting engine codes for o2 sensors and truck sputters and cuts out and will not accelerate over 30 MPH. Replaced sensors. Now receiving codes for PCM and now replacing. This is beginning to concern me. Will the next problem cause an accident.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving 70 MPH the service and ABS warning illuminated and he heard a humming sound coming from the right side of the vehicle. The mechanic stated that there was an electrical short, which caused the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 132,000. Return usps, made 2nd attempt 08/07/07 failed.
Electrical complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500, 6% of the model year's 520 complaints. The component named most often is horn (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 5 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.