Complaints
134
Crashes
13
Fires
17
Injuries
14
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Dodge 3500 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#19 complaints
Manual Transmission
Avg mileage:107,384 mi
Fires:1
#29 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:65,700 mi
Crash-related:4
#38 complaints
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Avg mileage:78,784 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Dodge 3500.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Transmission | 9 | — | 1 | 107,384 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 | 4 | — | 65,700 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 8 | — | 2 | 78,784 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 | 6 | — | 88,500 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 6 | — | 3 | 174,750 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 5 | — | 1 | 165,558 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Diesel Fuel System | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Solenoid | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Manual Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
107,384
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
9
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,700
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
78,784
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,500
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
174,750
Electrical Faults
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
165,558
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Diesel Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking-Brake Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Solenoid
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Dodge 3500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge 3500 Years
1998 Dodge 3500 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Dodge 3500 reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1998 Dodge 3500 has 134 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Manual Transmission with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Dodge 3500?
Top reported problems: Manual Transmission (9 complaints, avg 107,384 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (9 complaints, avg 65,700 mi); Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch (8 complaints, avg 78,784 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Dodge 3500?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 106,450 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Dodge 3500?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Dodge 3500 include 13 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 14 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Dodge 3500 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Dodge 3500 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Dodge 3500?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge 3500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Dodge 3500
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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