Complaints
644
Crashes
94
Fires
9
Injuries
65
Fatalities
3
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Dodge Ram Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#164 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Crash-related:13
Fires:1
#247 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:75,000 mi
Crash-related:40
#340 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:69,500 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Dodge Ram.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 64 | 13 | 1 | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 47 | 40 | — | 75,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 40 | 1 | 1 | 69,500 mi | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 34 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 22 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 20 | — | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 18 | 6 | — | — | |
| Airbags | 16 | 5 | — | 101,267 mi | |
| Trailer Hitches | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 | — | — | 43,552 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 6 | — | — | 70,403 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 6 | 2 | — | 88,025 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 6 | 3 | — | 72 mi | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 6 | — | — | 133,500 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 5 | — | 1 | 150,000 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 5 | — | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 5 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
64
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
47
complaints
Crashes
40
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,000
Automatic Transmission
40
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
69,500
Electrical System:Horn
34
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
18
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
16
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,267
Trailer Hitches
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
43,552
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,403
Hydraulic Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,025
Steering Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
133,500
Wheel Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
150,000
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Dodge Ram. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Ram Years
1998 Dodge Ram — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Dodge Ram reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1998 Dodge Ram has 644 NHTSA complaints, 94 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 64 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Dodge Ram?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (64 complaints); Air Bags:Frontal (47 complaints, avg 75,000 mi); Automatic Transmission (40 complaints, avg 69,500 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 Ram?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,732 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 Ram?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Dodge Ram include 94 crash-related reports, 9 fire reports, 65 injuries, and 3 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 Ram have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Dodge Ram 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 Ram?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1998 Dodge Ram shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Ram reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Dodge Ram
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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