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 1999 Dodge Ram owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dt: the consumer states that 1999 Dodge Ram had a hood latch problem. The latch rusted and flew up while driving and cracked the windshield. The hood is now one sided and mashed. The windshield and the hood will have to be replaced. The consumer has been on the phone with Chrysler, and vehicle did not fall under the recall. Chrysler will not look at latch because it was after the recall date. The consumer was 26 days past the recall date and there was no accident because of it. The consumer took the truck to the dealer, and they told her that the latch was rusted. The consumer was going to have this repaired. The speed was 5-10 MPH.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Ram. While the vehicle was parked the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the front drivers side frame was extremely corroded. The contact stated the steering box, sway bar, pitman arm, spring and shock assembly, and bumper were all connected to the section of the frame that was corroded. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
I own 2 Dodge rams. One 1999 3500 and one 2001 2500 have broken dashboards. The dashboard have completely collapsed with large chunks of broken plastic falling through the hole and landing on my feet while driving. Dodge has done nothing to correct this. I was told it was not a recall item, and was given an estimate of around $800.00 to repair it. My 2 year old daughter also cut her hand on one of these pieces that fell out of the truck after I had opened the door. Thank you.
Right side of the dashboard was removed to repair the air conditioning. Dealership denied the problem, and agreed to repair it for 50% of the cost. Dealership caused the defect. The dashboard started cracking around in March/April 2004. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they indicated that the cracking was not there fault. The crack initially started on the passenger side near the screws by the windshield now there are several cracks on both sides of the dash.
The vehicle was not equipped with and undercarriage shield. The consumer felt the absence of the shield caused corrosion of many components under the hood. The front shock washer which held the shock assembly in place corroded, the fuel rail corroded and the manifold corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that there was no such part for the truck and if he installed one the trucks warranty would be void.
I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 and the dash is literally falling apart. I have talked to other owners of the same vehicle with the same problem and have been told that the manufacturer will not fix the problem. I think this is very irresponsible on the part of the Dodge and not to mention a safety issue. I have had to shut off my passenger side airbag because im afraid that I could be injured by flying debris if I were involved in an accident.
Crack in dash panel started about aug 2009, it has now became a full blow mess as large pieces have fallen into the wiring harness inside the dash. This could be a hazard if you roll down the window and some smaller pieces fly up into your face, or could set on wires and catch fire. I know of at least two other 1500's that are 98 and 2000 models doing the same thing as mine.
The dashboard in my 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 developed a small crack about a year and a half ago and has recently spread into a major busted up dash. Also, all the other interior plastic components must be made out of the same material as the dash and are just as brittle.
Vehicle's dash has cracked in numerous places (10+) some surrounding the passenger airbag. In an accident the airbag could be damaged or cut by the dash failures. In a worse case, parts of the dash could impale the passenger or driver in an accident.
The dash on my 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup is cracking horribly and falling apart. I'm afraid that in an accident, should the passenger airbag deploy, that it might cause the dash to fragment, sending shrapnel flying through the truck.
Body complaints in other Ram years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1999 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the body & structure of the 1999 Dodge Ram, 8% of the model year's 412 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Ram body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1999 Dodge Ram, though it has 9 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 1999 Dodge Ram body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to body & structure 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.