Most common 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 problems
Share of the 610 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram 1500 complaints by model year
Best Ram 1500 years: 1997, 2005, 1998. Years to avoid: 2001. Compare all years →
What 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 owners say
Body & structure all 240 →
99 Ram 1500 caught fire while running heater! Cause of the fire is the defective dash material falling apart and the insulation fell onto the resistor located on top of the blower motor causing a interior fire. This was confirmed by myself a mechanic for over 30 years and a certified paint and body shop. Truck was in mint condition and now a total loss. The truck was in a stationary position in a college parking lot! Contacted manufactuer only reply was sorry for your loss. I know of several other vehicles in a 5 mile radius same make and model that the same thing happened too.
Typical problems with cracked plastic dashboard on 1999 Dodge Ram pickups (2) combined with failure of airbags to deploy. Both seem to be epidemic in proportion, unfortunately have experienced both. Dash is not safe with cracked, jagged plastic edges waiting to impale or slice you, assuming that flying peices wouldnt do even more harm if airbag had gone off. Same problem in dash on two personal vehicles, now reluctant to go anywhere in one that wasnt wrecked because airbag probably wont work in it either if something were to happen. I know mine isnt the only one, whover has controlling interest of Dodge this month needs to step up and address these issues. Ridiculous to think of replacing dash for $800 - 1200 with a part of no better integrity than the one it already had. …
Air bags all 61 →
Traveling 30 MPH on city street, when small 2003 Toyota 4wd pickup pulled out in front of me. I hit his drivers tire in middle of my grill. The airbags did not deploy. The seat belt locked and kept me from being seriously injured. The driver was cited by the police. My vehicle is totalled. Please see pictures. It has never been in an accident before.
Typical problems with cracked plastic dashboard on 1999 Dodge Ram pickups (2) combined with failure of airbags to deploy. Both seem to be epidemic in proportion, unfortunately have experienced both. Dash is not safe with cracked, jagged plastic edges waiting to impale or slice you, assuming that flying peices wouldnt do even more harm if airbag had gone off. Same problem in dash on two personal vehicles, now reluctant to go anywhere in one that wasnt wrecked because airbag probably wont work in it either if something were to happen. I know mine isnt the only one, whover has controlling interest of Dodge this month needs to step up and address these issues. Ridiculous to think of replacing dash for $800 - 1200 with a part of no better integrity than the one it already had. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 59 →
Vehicle's braking system seemed not to be working properly, taking longer distances to stop. A check of equipment showed all mechanical parts to be fit, and adjusted correctly. Continued to drive vehicle but then had small accident involving braking while going downhill. At this time it was determined I had no brake lights. Diagnostics of the brake light problem determined the combination switch in the steering column was the culprit and had failed, causing loss of brake lights and failure of the transmission to go into coast mode when the brake pedal was applied. This also results in the cruise function to not cancel when brakes are applied. There is no indication of failure through the instrument cluster for this fault. This seems to be a regular problem, as this part is back ordered at the Chrysler dealership. …
Am on third engine each time oil pump failed,and now this one is acting up, powertrain end of year built truck has a lot of 2000 parts on it, rear end seized up drive shaft broke rear yoak split in two, suspension tie rods and idle arms always breaking, two break disks 1 left side 1 right side broke, left one split right down the middle, the right side the center of the hub broke right out at the bearings riped right out
1999 Dodge Ram 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 13 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 a good car?
Based on 610 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Ram 1500 rates average: 15% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ram 1500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500?
The body & structure — 240 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the air bags (61) and transmission & drivetrain (59).
How many recalls does the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997, 2005 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001. See the full Dodge Ram 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.