Most common 1999 Dodge Ram Van problems
Share of the 47 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram Van complaints by model year
Best Ram Van years: 1995, 2002, 2003. Years to avoid: 1999, 2001. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Dodge Ram Van:
Safety belt cinching latch plate
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations.
What 1999 Dodge Ram Van owners say
Electrical system
This vehicle belongs to verizon communications. The Van had an under hood fire that originated in the ABS module area. The driver complained that the speedometer and instrument cluster were not working correctly. When diagnosing the complaint the mechanic discovered that the ABS module connector and wiring were burnt. Daimlerchrysler issued safety recall d20 in 2004 to address this problem but the recall repair has not corrected the problem. Verizon has had 29 incidents that occurred after the recall was performed. This is an unsafe condition that warrants further investigation and action.
This vehicle belongs to verizon communications. The Van had an under hood fire that originated in the ABS module area. The driver complained that the speedometer was not working correctly. When diagnosing the complaint the mechanic discovered that the ABS module connector and wiring were burnt. Daimlerchrysler issued safety recall d20 in 2004 to address this problem but the recall repair has not corrected the problem. Verizon has had 29 incidents that occurred after the recall was performed. This is an unsafe condition that warrants further investigation and action.
Brakes
Left my home for work and got to the second stop from my home and did not have sufficeint brakes to stop the Van. Brake pedal went all the way to the floor. Fter inspecting fluid resevoir, I determined the fluid level almost empty and started to look for leakage at wheel cylinders, etc. Found fluid below the ABS valving. It appears that the battery being right above the valving has allowed battery acid to deteriorate the brake lines. At least 5 lines appear to have corrosive damage. Looks like a very serious problem.
The ABS warning light and the brake warning light were illuminated. Scan tool data showed codes for"ABS pump stalled" were stored and active. Replacement of the ABS module and the ABS ehcu were required to repair the vehicle. Verizon has had many underhood fires in this model Van which originated in the ABS module area. Verizon feels that this is an unsafe condition which warrants further investigation and repair by daimlerchrysler.
Body & structure
While driving the Van the steering became uncertain, the Van would not respond to the wheel. Inspection revealed that the frame in front of the front wheels had rusted away leaving nothing for the steering box to attach to and allowing it to turn when it should have remained fixed. This prevented the wheels from steering. I also had a bracket which was part of the steering gear rust so that it broke off the frame earlier. The corresponding loss of control of the vehicle was very disturbing and I am thankful that no injury or accident resulted. I have owned many vehicles with rust problems which affected the appearance of the vehicle, but not the safety in a catastrophic manner. This Van is no longer able to be driven even though there is nothing wrong with every other part of the car. Looking online I have found many others with complaints about this same situation. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge b-Van station wagon. The contact stated that the entire front frame was completely rusted and had been eaten away by corrosion. In addition the contact was able to turn the steering wheel a full 360 degrees. The contact was driving the vehicle when the steering column collapsed and the vehicle stopped independently. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop where it was discovered that the entire front frame was completely corroded. The failure and the current mileages were 71,000.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Dodge Ram Van a good car?
Based on 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Ram Van rates avoid: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ram Van at the same age. It is one of the Ram Van years we suggest avoiding. 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 Van?
The electrical system — 12 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about wiring › front underhood. Next are the brakes (6) and body & structure (6).
How many recalls does the 1999 Dodge Ram Van have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Dodge Ram Van. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram Van?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 2002 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999 and 2001. See the full Dodge Ram Van years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Ram Van problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 21% 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.