Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
While driving around a corner at approximately 15mph the sway bar fell out. Drove to dealer & mechanic noticed the sway bar hanging & had to repair it. The 2nd incident: had lost steering control & hit a tree. Neither air bag deployed upon impact.
My 1998 Dodge Ram equipped with an automatic transmission shifts into neutral when hitting hard bumps in the road. Chrysler district manager says all Dodge rams do this and I ought to drive a little slower. The ABS brakes have also fairled on a steep decline. The noise from the front end was horrendous and the wheels continued to roll with no effort to stop. Also the front end of this truck cannot be aligned. Dodge has attempted to correct the problem by installing aftermarket ball joints, however problem still exists and I have gone thru 3 sets of tires. If all Ram trucks shift into neutral then all should be off the road as mine is. I have received several calls from other owners having the same problem.
The defect is in the alignment of the truck and the engine. With the alignment set to manufacturer's specifications the truck still pulls out of the driving lane. Within ten seconds the truck will completely vacate the lane. The second problem is the engine has a "stumble" or miss-fire at idle. Again the manufactures states the engine is also within guidelines. The dealer claims there is an industry standard for alignment, but provides no written documentation on what the standards are or what the manufacturer's acceptable tolerances are specifically. Do you have anything which indicates alignment standards and engine timing.
Rear suspension clunks on turns with ligth/no load in bed. Sounds like the gas tank shifting side to side or spring pack noise. Other owner's I've talked too have same problem. The rear sliding glass window leaks at the top at highway speeds in heavy rain. The two tone paint is fading. You can see the bottom color through the top color. Also, I've hear from several other owners about premature front ball joint failures although I haven't had this problem yet.
The vehicle vibrates (up/down) severely in the 40-45mph and 60-65mph range. Since the original tires were fairly worn, new tires were purchased and were force balanced by the dealership. The problem still persists with no solution in sight. Correspondence with daimler/Chrysler has not raised any concern or interest on their part. There is currently one other complaint in the odi database identical to this one.
Consumers vehicle ran into a trailer on his property and ABS was defective, also brake drums were rusted, dealership was aware of problem. Consumer stated that headache bar and fuel tank, tires, fuel filter, steering stabilizer, front shocks, rear shocks, air filter, rear axle seal and fluid, rear transfer case seal and u-joints in rear drive shaft failed and replaced.
Vehicle pulls hard to the right when braking. The dealer and a local repair shop claims it is due to a worn front track bar, failing u-joints, and sway bar links. These parts should not be wearing out at this low of mileage. I am concerned with the upcoming winter driving conditions that loss of control is possible due to the poor handling with the defective parts.
When applying brakes downhill and going over a bump on pavement ABS system releases. Will not grab again until vehicle is on level ground. Taken to dealer 3 times, said vehicle operated as it should, and ABS system was fine. Disconnecting speed sensor, eliminates the problem, but it is potentially dangerous.
Consumer expriencing on going problem with transmission jumping out of gear intermittently. Vehicle been in/out dealer shop on five occasions and problem still occurs. Dealer/mfr. Notified. The front right spring failed. The relay rod and the camber malfunctions.
Vehicle vibration, some at 22mph, worst at 43mph, dealer balanced tires 1st time in, still vibrated. Took back in 4 weeks later, dealer said 3 tires were way out of balance. Balanced again, still vibrates. Vibration intensity changes when wheels are rotated.
Suspension complaints in other Ram years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1998 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the suspension of the 1998 Dodge Ram, 6% of the model year's 517 complaints. The component named most often is front (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Ram suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to suspension 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.