The 1998 Dodge Ram has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,553,319 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 644 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC04V1850002004-04-1244,588 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN VAN AND WAGON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), AFTERMARKET BATTERIES MAY LEAK ELECTROLYTE ONTO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR, WHICH CAN COMPROMISE SEALING INTEGRITY OF THE CONNECTOR.
Consequence
THIS MAY ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE CONNECTOR, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTROLYTE DAMAGE AND REPLACE THE CONNECTOR AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES ONLY, THE THROTTLE LINKAGE JOINTS CAN CORRODE AND CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BIND OR STICK.
Consequence
THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ROD ENDS AND BALL STUDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
AIR BAGS01V1530002001-05-08216,100 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT…
Consequence
WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 2001. ALSO SOME 1997-200 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON…
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS,…
Consequence
IF THE PRIMARY LATCH IS NOT ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL TRAILER HITCH. THE TRAILER HITCH SIDE BRACKETS WERE MANUFACTURED USING MATERIAL WITH INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH.
Consequence
BRACKETS BUILT WITHOUT PROPER MATERIAL COULD FATIGUE AND FRACTURE IN THE AREA WHERE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTS TO THE FRAME.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRAILER HITCHES AND REPLACE ANY TRAILER HITCH SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE CRACKING. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CRACKING EXISTS, THE DEALER WILL INSTALL TWO REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS.
POWER TRAIN99V1150001999-05-068,883 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
THE FLUID COULD IGNITE ON THE HOT EXHAUST POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
AIR BAGS99V0020001999-01-0746,193 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VANS AND VANS USED FOR CONVERSION. IF A HEAVY OBJECT IMPACTS THE METAL CASING OF THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM), LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT, THE MODULE COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS.
Consequence
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AECM WITH A MODULE THAT INCORPORATES REVISED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V2090001998-09-0830,747 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.9L - 24 VALVE DIESEL ENGINE. AN INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE CONDITION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR.
Consequence
THIS CREATES A SIGNAL WHICH IS MISINTERPRETED BY THE ENGINE CONTROL SOFTWARE, CAUSING A HIGH IDLE SPEED CONDITION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROLLER SOFTWARE TO CORRECT ERRONEOUS SPEED SENSOR SIGNALS.
STRUCTURE98V2080001998-09-0812,400 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH BOLTS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY HARDENED. THE BOLTS WERE USED TO ATTACH THE CAB AND THE CORE SUPPORT TO THE FRAME.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW THE CAB TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE BOLTS WITH PROPERLY HARDENED BOLTS.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V2070001998-09-0825,014 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.9L - 24 VALVE DIESEL ENGINE. THE LOW PRESSURE DIESEL FUEL SUPPLY TUBE LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN THE FILTER AND THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOW PRESSURE DIESEL FUEL SUPPLY TUBE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A 8.0L V-10 ENGINE OR A 5.9L V-8 HEAVY DUTY GASOLINE ENGINE. AN EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT SHIELD ATTACHING SCREW IS TOO CLOSE TO THE UNDERBODY FUEL LINE. THE LINE CAN RUB AGAINST THE SCREW, POSSIBLY CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD ATTACHING SCREW AND REPLACE IT WITH RUBBER ADHESIVE. THE CHASSIS FUEL LINE WILL BE INSPECTED FOR SIGNS OF WEAR AND ANY TUBES INDICATING WEAR WILL BE REPLACED.
SEAT BELTS98V1050001998-05-144,200 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE NOT PROPERLY RIVETED TO THE SUPPORT STRAP.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE REDUCED STRENGTH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTER SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH BUCKLES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY RIVETED.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR98V0750001998-04-081,550 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE BRAKE ROTOR MATERIAL STRENGTH IS NOT SUFFICIENT CAUSING A HUB FATIGUE FRACTURE.
Consequence
THIS FRACTURE CAN RESULT IN CRACK PROPAGATION AROUND THE WHEEL MOUNTING BOLT CIRCULE ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE ROTORS AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THESE ROTORS.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
64
13crashes1fires6injuries2deaths
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
47
40crashes32injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
40
1crashes1fires2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
34
1crashes1deaths
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
22
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
20
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
18
6crashes4injuries
AIR BAGS
16
5crashes5injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13
2crashes3injuries
TRAILER HITCHES
12
Total complaints644
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the brake pedal went to the floorboard when depressed. The brake indicator light also illuminated. The brakes also failed intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the brake pedal went to the floorboard when depressed. The brake indicator light also illuminated. The brakes also failed intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram van with aftermarket bendix brakes (model number: 13481).the contact was driving 10 mph when the brakes were applied but the vehicle did not respond, causing the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There were no injuries.the contact did not call…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram van with aftermarket bendix brakes (model number: 13481).the contact was driving 10 mph when the brakes were applied but the vehicle did not respond, causing the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There were no injuries.the contact did not call…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked he noticed the dash board of the vehicle was cracked badly. The contact stated that the weather was not hot and was not a factor with the vehicle dash board defect. The contact had pieces of the dashboard…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram. The contact stated that the brake lights and interior lighting fail to dim when the vehicle is turned off. Prior to the failures, she noticed that the instrument panel lights would not dim. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram. The contact stated that the brake lights and interior lighting fail to dim when the vehicle is turned off. Prior to the failures, she noticed that the instrument panel lights would not dim. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge ram. The contact stated that the brake lights and interior lighting fail to dim when the vehicle is turned off. Prior to the failures, she noticed that the instrument panel lights would not dim. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Dodge Ram as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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