Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500. While driving at any speed, the air bag light remained illuminated and the horn sounded without being promoted. In addition, the contact heard a noise under the vehicle. The contact noticed that the metal parts that held the wheels were corroded and caused the spare tire to detach. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the entire dashboard cracked and pieces were falling off. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
The upper interior dash panel cracking into many piece. During accident the panel will come a flying missile of parts hitting occupancies in the compartments and small children. I wand the Chrysler corporation to repair it asap. Its accident waiting to happened.
Upon removal of dashboard to replace heater and evaporator cores while removing the dashboard it crumbled into dust the dash had no visible cracks until view from below seeing about 200+ cracks from dashboard becoming brittle from being improperly made, this occurs with all Dodge Ram dashboards from years 94-98.5 and yet no recall has been made, had this dash shattered while driving or in a crash I could have had lots of sharp plastic cuts from the shattered dashboard but it seems that the NHTSA doesn't respond to the amount of people submitting the same problem. Cost to replace dash is $600 from dealer with the same dashboard that will last approx 3 years according to dealership.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the dashboard exhibited several fragmented pieces. In addition, the faulty horn switch was no longer being produced as an individual part and was currently being manufactured as one assembly part with the combination of the horn switch and frontal air bag. The contact stated that the part was more costly. The vehicle was not repaired. An authorized dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Cracked dash on 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck. Crack is about 6 inches long and working its way down to where the airbag is stored. No particular event LED to the dash cracking, it just started one day and has increased in size over time. This is a common issue and several other people with the same vehicle have the same problem. I would like Dodge to replace the dash as I am concerned about airbag deployment.
Plastic dashboard materials are defective. 1998 year model Dodge Ram 2500hd 24v dsl 4x4 qc sb truck...dash started getting very brittle after only 6 years of use... Recently had to access the A/C evaporator core...and the dashboard literally crumbled. I've seen my share of cosmetic dashboard cracks...but this is complete and utter structural failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated the entire length of the dashboard had numerous hairline cracks. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Dashboard is seriously cracked and broken, chunks are missing, cracks go from front all the way to the windshield, giving vehicle to son next year, worried pieces of plastic May fly into his eyes, and it looks embarrassing also.
Dashb oard of vehicle became brittle and was falling down into istrument wiring. Dash board cracked and breake off in large pieces that could possible cause injury if vehicle was involved in a traffic crash.
Body complaints in other Ram 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1998 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the body & structure of the 1998 Dodge Ram 2500, 10% of the model year's 225 complaints. The component named most often is body (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1998 Dodge Ram 2500. 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 2500 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 130,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 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.