Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
This 1999 Dodge Ram was sold to me by ozark Dodge in ozark, mo. This vehicle is a replacement for a 2001 that was a mechanical disaster. I had asked when I decided to accept their offer on the 1999 that they would do the following: change all fluids, alignment,and thoroughly go through this truck. 3 mos after the initial purchase I began having transmission problems. The transmission would slip and hunt for gears. I took it to aurora Dodge in aurora, mo. For the warranty repairs and they told me all repairs had been completed. There was also a note on the service order that the fluid had been previously poorly serviced. Which tells me that ozark Dodge didn't do a dam thing to this truck before they gave it to me to drive away!! I took the truck home and shortly thereafter (8 days) it began slipping and hunting for gears again. …
Repaired fuel injection system and charged me part of that which I assumed was covered under warranty seat belt has not been repaired they say it is not their problem but according to NHTSA, belts are manufacturer?s problem. Transmission: we were in traffic in March in houston tx when transmission decided not to work properly. Downshifting in traffic nearly causing a major accident .the Dodge place said it was the valve body which was not the problem at the time the band needed adjusting which cost $87.00 and they said it would cost 1300.00 to fix I pulled into traffic and it did it again 7 months later it is out of warranty so tried to remedy problem & ourself could not do. Called Dodge corp. And was told to take to dealership to see if they could help us financially fix this. We did they said they would except $200. …
I had stopped at a boat ramp to launch boat. I tied end of rope to bumber of truck and the other end to the boat. I then was going to back down to water until boat floated off trailer and then pull ahead, stop and get rope and tie boat to dock. The rope snagged on the bumber of truck so I pulled up, stopped, got out of truck and walked to back of truck. I got rope off of bumber and was coiling it on the front of the boat when the truck jumped into reverse and almost injured me twice. Once when it almost backed over me and once when I tried to get into it to put into gear, but was too late and truck entered water and sunk. Everyone says that I left gear in reverse, but how did I get out and walk to the back of the truck before it started to move?? I think transmission was defective and dangerous.
Transmission: dodges computer controls the torque converter for emissions and for gas mileage. After following dodges spects on service for the truck and no abuse to the truck we still loss the torque converter which than destroyed the transmission. Steering: at 30000 miles the seals in the steering gear box went out. At 81000 after repair earlier the shaft and seal went out and the gear box had to be replaced. Both problem we have been told are problem Dodge will not take responsibilty for but happen with most of this models trucks.
Fuel pump quit working.had to put a new injector pump on. Transmission has a cracked tail shaft adaptor. These are both unusual things to normally happen. Although the truck is out of warranty this time, I feel that this is the fault of the vehicle and was most likely a defect from the beginning. A hairline crack was discovered at a place where it could not have normally been damaged.
It's been driving without problems, but all of a sudden, the check engine light came up. Computer diagnostic told a problem on transmission/speed checking sensor. Upon further check at the repair shop, they found a lot of small metal debris around the speed checking sensor inside the transmission. Now transmission needs to be replaced.
The differential went out at 134 miles and again at 28,000 miles, I was on a third differential. At 46,000 miles the truck is whing and howling again and ready for a fourth differential. At 28,000 mile the windshield was fixed for a third time to finally stop it from leaking. The windshield repair started at 24 miles.
Dt*: the contact stated the transmission would slip from second to third gear and jump while in reverse. An independent repair shop determined the transmission needed to be rebuilt. Updated 03/03/06.
At 14000 miles the rear end was making grinding sounds, dealer replased berings,shims and seals with a flush job. Now at 56000 the rear end is doing the same, the now tell me that the side and pinion berings seals and shims are bad. This is not right that I should have to pay for this. I have not toed or have had any extra heavy load in the truck. At my milage the truck is hardly broken in, I drove my Chevrolet and Ford truck both 1/2 tons well over 200K miles and never a problem with the rear end. This one the Dodge Ram 2500 diesel in less then 60K the rear end goes two times. The other problems I had I did not make a big stink about them I was told that the truck was out of warranty. So I kept my mouth shut, but this rear end problem is the straw that broke the camels back. …
I leased this vehicle new , and for the last three years, every 10,000 miles approximately, I have had to take it into the dealer to have the tracker bar replaced, tie rod ends have also been replaced. The front end still shimmies terrible, and it is difficult to control at times. I also have had transmission trouble, and engine skipping constantly. I am very upset with the way I am treated at the dealer also. They were very nice to me when they wanted to sell the vehicle but every time I bring it in to them and ask why they can't fix it, they get huffy and try to put the blame on me. Now I could see if the vehicle were old, but it has had problems since I got it! I waited along time to be able to afford a Dodge pickup, and I am very disappointed, I should have gotten a Chevy. I tried to talk to the dealership about lemon lawing it but they won't talk to me .
Related recalls
Power train › Clutch assembly
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with gasoline engines and manual transmissions. The underbody hydraulic clutch line heat shield is too short, allowing the plastic clutch line material to be directly exposed to exhaust temperatures. It is possible to exceed the melting temperature of the clutch line material.
Remedy: Dealers will install the proper length heat shield.
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.
Transmission complaints in other Ram years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1999 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA has 58 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1999 Dodge Ram, 14% of the model year's 412 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (28 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Ram transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-190 (clutch assembly, Jul 16, 1999); NHTSA recall 99V-115 (clutch assembly, May 6, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Ram transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.