Most common 1998 Dodge Ram problems
Share of the 517 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram complaints by model year
Best Ram years: 2011, 2009, 2007. Years to avoid: 1996, 1998, 2001, 1997, 1999. Compare all years →
1998 Dodge Ram recalls (14)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
On certain van and wagon vehicles equipped with 4-wheel antilock brake systems (ABS), aftermarket batteries May leak electrolyte onto the ABS control module connector, which can compromise sealing integrity of the connector.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ABS control module connector for electrolyte damage and replace the connector as necessary. The recall will begin on September 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines only, the throttle linkage joints can corrode and cause the throttle to bind or stick.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rod ends and ball studs. Owner notification began July 29, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Air bags
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th VIN position) from May 16, 2000 through October 23, 2000; st.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began June 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed,…
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
On certain pickup trucks originally sold in or currently registered in the following "salt belt" states: maine, new hampshire, vermont, massachusetts, rhode island, connecticut, new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin,…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch. Owner notification began September 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within…
Trailer hitches
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with optional trailer hitch. The trailer hitch side brackets were manufactured using material with insufficient strength.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the trailer hitches and replace any trailer hitch showing signs of fatigue cracking. If no evidence of cracking exists, the dealer will install two reinforcement brackets.
Power train › Clutch assembly
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with manual transmission, v10 engines and four-wheel-drive transfer cases. Under sustained maximum rated vehicle load, while driving up a steep grade in four-wheel-drive low range in hot ambient conditions, the local exhaust temperature proximate to the hydraulic clutch line can…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.
Show 8 more recalls
Air bags
Vehicle description: vans and vans used for conversion. If a heavy object impacts the metal casing of the air bag electronic control module (aecm), located under the driver seat, the module could inadvertently deploy the air bags.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the aecm with a module that incorporates revised hardware and software on all affected vehicles.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with 5.9l - 24 valve diesel engine. The low pressure diesel fuel supply tube located in the engine compartment between the filter and the high pressure pump can fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low pressure diesel fuel supply tube.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with 5.9l - 24 valve diesel engine. An intermittent high engine idle condition can occur due to a malfunction of the vehicle speed sensor.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine controller software to correct erroneous speed sensor signals.
Structure
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. These vehicles May have been built with bolts that were not properly hardened. The bolts were used to attach the cab and the core support to the frame.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these bolts with properly hardened bolts.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: light duty trucks equipped with either a 8.0l v-10 engine or a 5.9l v-8 heavy duty gasoline engine. An exhaust system heat shield attaching screw is too close to the underbody fuel line. The line can rub against the screw, possibly causing fuel leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the underbody heat shield attaching screw and replace it with rubber adhesive. The chassis fuel line will be inspected for signs of wear and any tubes indicating wear will be replaced.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front seat belt buckles were not properly riveted to the support strap.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front outer seat belt buckles with buckles that have been properly riveted.
Service brakes, air › Disc › Rotor
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The brake rotor material strength is not sufficient causing a hub fatigue fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake rotors and if necessary, replace these rotors.
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built with power seat option. The driver's side front seat attaching riser welds were not correct.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side power front seat rise with a riser that was mig welded.
What 1998 Dodge Ram owners say
Brakes all 118 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram van with aftermarket bendix brakes (model number: 13481).the contact was driving 10 MPH when the brakes were applied but the vehicle did not respond, causing the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There were no injuries.the contact did not call the manufacturer of the vehicle or the brakes in regard to the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000. The VIN was not available.
My husband ordered this truck in late 1997. We purchased it new and have had numerous problems with the vehicle. The biggest problem we have faced is the transmission. Mid-April 1998 the first problems occured with slippage, the transmission cooling lines were replaced, one month later the torque converter went and repairs were made. Now at 51,000 miles and very little driving for the last 2 yrs (since my husband has been sick with cancer) it has blown again. The front seals are leaking profusely. The rear window was leaking so badly at one point the entire ceiling inside was soaded. The ABS computer went wacky on us early on also. The seatbelt has been twisted since we purchased the vehicle and we have not successfully fixed it. The extended warranty we purchased has gone out of business. I will not likely buy another Dodge ever again. Mercedes takes the cake.
Transmission & drivetrain all 86 →
We purchased a 1998 Dodge conversion van as our family vehicle. On sept 21,2000 my wife loaded our children, ages 7,6, & 2, into the vehicle. She then went & locked the house door. Our 2 year old got out of her car seat, went to the front of the van, & pulled down on the gear shift pulling it into gear. The vehicle rolled over a 3 foot wall, down a steep hill, through a 2 foot ditch, and then struck a telephone pole. Thank goodness no one was seriously injured, but this condition could have tragic. I own an insurance agency so I started to check around to see if this was a defect that the vehicle could be put into gear without first applying the brake. What I found out was shocking, I was informed by the Dodge dealer that this safety feature was an option on this vehicle, which I was not informed of at time of purchase , this is ludicrous!!! …
My husband ordered this truck in late 1997. We purchased it new and have had numerous problems with the vehicle. The biggest problem we have faced is the transmission. Mid-April 1998 the first problems occured with slippage, the transmission cooling lines were replaced, one month later the torque converter went and repairs were made. Now at 51,000 miles and very little driving for the last 2 yrs (since my husband has been sick with cancer) it has blown again. The front seals are leaking profusely. The rear window was leaking so badly at one point the entire ceiling inside was soaded. The ABS computer went wacky on us early on also. The seatbelt has been twisted since we purchased the vehicle and we have not successfully fixed it. The extended warranty we purchased has gone out of business. I will not likely buy another Dodge ever again. Mercedes takes the cake.
Air bags all 72 →
30mph, headon crash into steel stationary pole, neither driver nor passenger side airbags deployed. Driver sustained head/ neck back/ arm and knee injuries. Police noted neither air bag deployed and instructed us to contact the manufacture. Both paramedics and firefighters noted failure of airbags and said driver would not have sustained his head injury had they deployed. Contact with Chrysler Dodge; they sent rep to check truck. Two weeks later Chrysler Dodge sent us a letter stating the air bags functioned as they were supposed to, that they were in functioning order that their was no failure on their products (truck) part. A local Dodge dealer, sales manager told me on the phone that Dodge pu airbags should deploy at "10 MPH" in a headon crash, stationary object. …
Dt: the contact stated the driver's side air bag deployed. He did not hit anything prior to this incident. Chrysler sent an investigator on 11-29-05 and took pictures inside and out of the truck. Then, stated the truck did not appear to have been involved in an accident; thus, the truck was not damaged. Chrysler sent the contact a letter on 12-5-05 stating that the air bag light illuminated for a substantial period of time. Therefore, they were not responsible for the repairs. The contact stated the air bag light was not on prior to this incident, and that he was aware that if the air bag light illuminated it was an indicator that the air bag was not functioning properly. Therefore, it should not have deployed prematurely. When he had the car serviced at a local dealership they did not mention the air bag light illuminating. Updated 02/07/06.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Dodge Ram a good car?
Based on 517 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Ram rates avoid: 4.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ram at the same age. It is one of the Ram 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 1998 Dodge Ram?
The brakes — 118 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (86) and air bags (72).
How many recalls does the 1998 Dodge Ram have?
There are 14 recalls for the 1998 Dodge Ram, the most recent from April 12, 2004 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2009 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996, 1998, 2001, 1997 and 1999. See the full Dodge Ram years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Ram 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.