Dodge Ram Complaints (1998)

1,390 consumer complaints on file.

#10664079December 13, 2014
STRUCTURE
DASH BREAKING APART, LEAVING SMALL AND LARGE SHARDS OF VERY SHARP PLASTIC POINTING TO PASSENGERS/DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10651275October 30, 2014
STEERING
THE PIVOT POINT IN THE STEERING SYSTEM ALLOWS THE WHEELS IF NOT IN PERFECT CONDITION, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN INWARDS. THIS INWARD MOTION THE FRONT WHEELS PERFORM AT 40 MPH-50MPH IS UNACCEPTABLE. ALSO THE DASHBOARD CRACKS LIKE PEANUT BRITTLE, ALLOWING PIECES OF SHARP HARD PLASTIC TO FLY INTO THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH AS PER STANDARD NO. 219 IS NOT MEETING REGULATIONS. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, METAL IS NOW EXPOSED TO THE PASSENGERS DUE TO THIS CRACKING AND BREAKING APART. DO SOMETHING BEFORE PEOPLE GET SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE CHRYSLER WANTS TO MAKE MONEY. HELP US. THIS IS A LEMON 2ND GENERATION RAM MODEL AND NO ONE IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10649945October 25, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL RAIL CONNECTOR HOSE {OR CROSSOVER HOSE} FAILED AND GAS LEAKED OUT ON TOP OF THE ENGINE CATCHING FIRE. *T
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10643879October 10, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE VIA THE BRAKE OR BY HITTING OFF ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IF I PUT THE CLUTCH IN THE ENGINE WAS IDLING AT 2300 RPMS. THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK ON AND I COULD NOT SLOW DOWN... I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESET. MY CLUTCH AND BREAKS GOT A LITTLE BURNT UP MAKING IT HOME THAT NIGHT...AS THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. ONE I MADE IT HOME I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND MANUALLY JIGGLED THE THROTTLE LINKAGES ON THE SIDE OF THE INJECTION PUMP. RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESET UNTIL CRUISE CONTROL WAS USED AGAIN.... THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE THROTTLE STICKING AT SUCH HIGH SPEED... SO I LOOKED INTO SAFETY RECALLS #B15 THINKING GREAT MY TRUCK IS COVERED... ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. ALSO THE FUEL HEATER RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND IT SO HAPPENS IN THE LAST 4 MOTH HAVE TO DO THE FUEL HEATER DELETE BECAUSE THE WIRING AND PLASTIC PIECE WAS ALL BURNT UP. LOOKS LIKE THESE TRUCKS ARE HAVING A SECOND ROUND OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR SAFETY RECALL ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10643925October 10, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING MELTED TO THE CONNECTOR AND THE INTERNAL SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630395September 3, 2014
TIRES
I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON HIGHWAY 70 AND HAD THE TIRE SEPARATE AND EXPLODE. I THEN WENT IN AND HAS THE TIRE REPLACED. THIS THEN AGAIN HAPPEN A SECOND TIME WITHIN 500 MILE BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. YOU CAN SEE THOUGH THE TREAD WHERE THE STEEL BELTS ARE SHOWING AND STICKING OUT THOUGH THE TREAD. SAME MAKE MODEL AND LIFE OF TIRE. ~4 YEARS OLD AND ~40000 MILES. THE TIRE IS 5 YEAR 60000 MILE TIRE. MY WEAR IS ONLY HALF LIFE. I REPLACED THE FIRST TIRE UNDER THERE PRORATING BUT THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN I TRY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THEY IS NOT JUST ISOLATED INCIDENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE TIRE ARE GOOD, IT YOUR PROBLEM NOT MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. THEY SAID THEY WILL ONLY PRORATE AND WILL NOT INVESTIGATE IN TO ISSUE OF IT POSSIBLY BEING A MANUFACTURER FAULT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615078July 21, 2014
AIR BAGS, STEERING:COLUMN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT MADE CONTACT WITH ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED AN INJURY TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO REMEDY WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE AIR BAG MODEL NECESSARY FOR THE REPAIR IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT A HORN. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. UPDATED 11/6/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10594683May 28, 2014
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS SERIOUSLY CRACKED AND BROKEN, CHUNKS ARE MISSING, CRACKS GO FROM FRONT ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD, GIVING VEHICLE TO SON NEXT YEAR, WORRIED PIECES OF PLASTIC MAY FLY INTO HIS EYES, AND IT LOOKS EMBARRASSING ALSO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586807May 6, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING BRACKET ON BOTH SIDES WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586455May 4, 2014
STRUCTURE
UPPER DASH TOTALLY GONE AND BEZEL AROUND CLUSTER CRACKED AND FALLING APART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583660April 19, 2014
SEAT BELTS
FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NO LONGER RELEASE THEREFORE CANNOT BE USED ANYMORE. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE AND IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AT DEALERS OR ANYWHERE ELSE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU CANNOT USE YOUR SEAT BELTS ANYMORE. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL DODGE TRUCKS WITH THE SEAT BELTS MOUNTED IN THE SEAT BACKS THAT USE THIS MODULE FOR PROPER OPERATION. THERE ARE A TON OF PEOPLE POSTING ON THE INTERNET HAVING THIS SAME SEAT BELT LOCK UP PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10582984April 15, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 THE HOLE DASH IS FALLING IN CRACKS ALL OVER WITH A FEW BIG HOLES I'VE SEEN THAT THIS IS A DODGE ISSUE THAT DODGE HAS NOT FIXED OR HAS NOT MADE ATTEMPTED TO FIX. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575912March 31, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING AND MELTING THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572941March 17, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 45MPH ROAD AND THE TRUCK WAS NOT SHIFTING SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE SHUT IT OFF TURNED IT BACK ON THE CHECKED ALL THE GEARS AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE THEN I TRIED DRIVING AGAIN AND IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WILL NOT START AND THE ENGINE MAKES A WEIRD RUMBLE NOISE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567788March 7, 2014
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500, I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE DODGES AND READ ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET, THE FRONT LOWER AXLE MOUNT ROTS OUT DUE TO POOR DESIGN LEAVING NOTHING TO HOLD THE SPRING IN PLACE MY COIL MOUNT IS ROTTED OUT AND THERE IS BARELY ANY LEFT OF IT, AND DODGE NOR DO ANY AUTO PART STORES SELL COIL MOUNTS TO REPLACE IT THE MOUNT IS WELDED DIRECTLY ON THE AXLE SO THE AXLE HOUSING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, THIS IS VERY UNSAFE IF THE AXLE WERE TO GIVE OUT DEW TO THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565229February 21, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IS LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTING BECAUSE OF THIS, THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT, HOWEVER IS THE COIL SPRING FRONT MOUNTS, OR BUCKETS THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM SPRINGS TO THE FRONT AXEL ASSEMBLY. DODGE HASN'T OFFERED TO RECALL DODGE TRUCKS TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, WHEREBY THE COIL MOUNTS WERE INSUFFICIENTLY COATED, AND IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TO TRAP SALTY WATER IN THEM TO ACCELERATE THE OXIDATION PROCESS. THIS IS NOT UNLIKE THE SAFETY ISSUE FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS HAD WITH THEIR AXLES THAT TRAPPED SALTY WATER DURING WINTER AND CAUSED THEM TO ROT OUT AND SNAP CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH. MY CLOSE FRIEND WHO OWNS A MID 1990'S DODGE RAM TRUCK, WHO HAD HIS COIL SPRING BUCKET ACTUALLY FAIL CAUSING HIS FRONT END TO LUNGE FORWARD, HE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED SO HE WASN'T INJURED. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY DATA ON INJURIES RELATED TO FAILURE OF THE COIL SPRING MOUNTS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVEN'T OCCURRED. DODGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO AT THE VERY LEAST, PROVIDE A KIT TO TRUCK OWNERS THAT REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564854February 18, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF ONE MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563484February 8, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1998.5 24VALVE CUMMINS DIESEL, ONE OWNER WITH FACTORY ECM (799) UPDATE, NEVER ANY "CHIPS". ON COLD START UP, EVERYTHING NORMAL UNTIL I GO TO TAKE OFF, ANY APPLICATION TO THE ACCELERATOR AND AS IF I PUT THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, TRUCK WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL EITHER I REMOVE MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE PEDAL, OR THE GOVERNOR KICKS IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562224January 30, 2014
SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRUCK WAS PARK BOTH TIMES..ONE TIME OVER NIGHT..THEN SECOND TIME PARKED AT WORK FOR 8 HOURS..WENT TO GET INTO TRUCK, NOTHING HAPPEN , NO SEAT BELT WAS WORKING.. WHY THERE NO RECALL ON SOMETHING LIKE SEAT BELT A BIG SAFETY ISSUE?? THERE WAS NOTHING I DID WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559427January 10, 2014
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRINGS THAT DISABLED AIRBAGS IN CERTAIN DODGE PRODUCTS (SAFETY RECALL 982)(NHTSA IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 01V-153). THE RECALL INCLUDED VEHICLES IN THE VIN LAST 8 DIGITS WS501493 TO WS771681. MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS A LAST EIGHT DIGITS OF [XXX]. THUS, IT DOES FALL WITHIN THE RANGE OF RECALLED VIN NUMBERS. HOWEVER, FOR SOME REASON MY TRUCK IS NOT DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THOSE RECALLED. HOWEVER, I HAVE AN AIRBAG LIGHT THAT IS ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK IT SEEMS TO ME THAT BOTH OF THESE ARE INDICATIONS OF A DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING JUST AS ON THE RECALLED VEHICLES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND WHY MY VEHICLE MAKE MODEL AND YEAR IS NOT DESCRIBED AS RECALLED EVEN THOUGH THE LAST EIGHT VIN DIGITS FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF THOSE RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. CAN THE RECALL OF THIS BE STUDIED FURTHER AND EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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