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 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the brake pedal went to the floorboard when depressed. The brake indicator light also illuminated. The brakes also failed intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for a diagnostic test and the contact was informed that the braking system was functioning properly but the failures were causing by an electric component. The vehicle was at the dealership for repair at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 115,000.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that the brake lights and interior lighting fail to dim when the vehicle is turned off. Prior to the failures, she noticed that the instrument panel lights would not dim. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 132,216. Updated 07/28/09. Updated 07/30/09.
Within 3 days of buying the Dodge truck, while traveling down the road the gauges would malfunction and the truck would die. You could put it in neutral and restart it. It was taken to the shop and nothing was found wrong. This continues. Then we started blowing breakers and fuses that run brake lights and blinkers. Took to the shop. Found nothing. Just replaced breakers and fuses 3 times in 2 weeks. Now the check engine light comes on and motor dies going down the road. We have now had to buy a new apps sensor which cost us 613.61 because truck is now out of warranty without ever being fixed. This electrical problem has been and still is a safety hazard to everyone. It could cause a serious accident which Chrysler refuses to acknowledge. I know of another vehicle like mine in california that has had the same problems as mine and also one in fayetteville, ar. …
I have an ongoing problem with preignition (spark knock) in my 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 318 cid/5.2l motor. .at 24,896 miles, my dealer re-programmed the PCM and re-routed the spark wires. The spark knock continued. At 35,067 miles, the dealer adjusted the timing; I didn't think this could be done. The spark knock continued. At 43,281 miles, the dealer replaced the intake plenium gasket. The spark knock continued. At 45,093, the dealer replaced both engine heads. The spark knock continued. At 57,452 miles, I installed a colder thermostat and this helped somewhat, but the spark knock returned. And, today at 74,834 miles I installed a set of truck spark plugs to see if that will help. The bottom line is that this truck has an inherint defective design in the engine which is being prematurely worn out due to spark knock. …
Spark knock noticed, vehicle taken to nearest Dodge dealership(colonial dr., orlando,fl). Vehicle was evaluated by computer diagnostic system and road test: reported as normal. On further insistance and discussion, service tech found intake manifold gasket was defective and would need replacement. It was also mentioned by this dealership, as well as by several other mechanics, that this is a problem Dodge is having on v-6 and v-8 style engines. This problem has become so widespread that Dodge has published bulletins on repair of this defect. Dodge has also agreed to repair this defect in the v-6 engines. Since I am the owner of a v-8 engine that this defect also exists, I feel Dodge is responsible for the failure of the part in my engine and I should be compensated for the diagnostic test and repair of engine manifold plenum pan gasket. Thank-you for your assisstance in this matter.
The truck we purchased had a towing package as ordered. What they didn't tell us is that the wiring isn't heavy enough for prolonged use. We tow a 50' trailer with our truck for a living. Right after we purchased it we had to replace the trailer relay switch and then many, many fuses. Then we started smelling hot wiring. The headlight switch was hot and lights inside started going light to dark. Then they went out completely. We lost all truck lights and trailer lights going down the highway at 55 miles an hour. We took it into the dealership and they had to replace the main truck wiring harness and the light switch and the short pigtail between them. Dodge knows this has been a common problem with rams used for towing. The consumer was experiencing wiring problem ( not heavy enough wires) with all three vehicles owned.
I have a Dodge Ram 1500 wagon 1998, and I have been experiencing alot of problems with the transmission and keeps stalling whenever I turn the wheel to the right side. This is very weird and the mechanics do not understand this complaint. The ABS light has been coming on for a while and no one knows why either, but I do not see any recalls on this problem either. Can you help me resolve this matter. I have replaced the door locks on each door at least twice in this van and it has cost alot of money, I think by now this should have been recalled on this vehicle as well. Please help me with this vehicle, I love riding it but it has been having alot of the same riding and maitenance problems and no one knows why or understands why it keeps coming back after fixing them multiple times. Thank you, the dealerships do not help either.
When trying to use the horn, you have to push so hard that it is almost impossible to get it to work without going off the road. The rubber covering the steering wheel center is way to hard to operate the horn. I have been told by other people with '98 Dodge truck, rams that the only way to fix the problem is to install a '99 Ram airbag assembly. I am going to be going to my dealer in a couple of weeks and I am going to see what they can do about this problem. It would make it a lot easier if the NHTSA would do something about this problem since I have heard that dealers refuse to fix the problem in many cases.
I have had trouble with the headlight switch it has burned out twice and I have had to have it replaced twice my speedometer doesn't work until it says that I am going 25 miles per hour the brake light on the dash is now on all the time I have also noticed that my door locks are power and as long as you lock and unlock them from the passenger side they work fine but the driver side doesn't work all the time I would like to know if any of these could be some kind of defect that have or will be recalled
I think that a horn that requires so much effort that it is useless is a safety problem. Although the dealer and the company district representitive say that the all of the 1998 horns are like that. Something can be done. Chrysler says in their specs that the horn should operate at 2 lbs of pressure not, the 10 lbs or more that they really take. I would like to know why, if there is no problem (they claim) did they fix it for 1999. Same steering wheel and pad but it now works.
Electrical complaints in other Ram years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Dodge Ram, 10% of the model year's 517 complaints. The component named most often is horn (35 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Ram electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1998 Dodge Ram, though it has 14 recalls for other components. 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 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 132,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries and 1 death 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.