Wrench.Pro

1998 Dodge Ram Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1998 Dodge Ram has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Dashboard cracking and disintegration.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1998 Dodge Ram.

Reported to NHTSA

Dashboard cracking and disintegration

STRUCTURE

99 NHTSA complaints · 2007-05 → 2020-12

“THE DASHBOARD ON MY 1998 DODGE RAM HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN INTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN SEVERAL PLACES. IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC ITSELF AS NO EXTERNAL SOURCES CAUSED THE DAMAGE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10424118
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD IS BEGINNING TO CRUMBLE INTO PIECES. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH DODGE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME COMPONENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10207949
“1998 DODGE RAM 1500....DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND SPREADING ACROSS ENTIRE LENGTH. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10192368

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt retractor lockup

SEAT BELTS

13 NHTSA complaints · 2007-04 → 2024-03

“The drivers side and passanger side seat belts are locked in the seats. There is no fix, you cant drive truck because you can not use the seat belts, they are made into the seats”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11573494
“1998 DODGE RAM 1500 SEAT BELTS REMAIN IN RETRACTABLE POSITION AND CANNOT BE USED ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. MILEAGE 80500 THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PULL ON THE SEAT BELTS THEY WILL NOT COME LOOSE FROM THE RETRACTABLE POSITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10362474
“SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE WILL NOT RELEASE RETRACTED BELTS TO ALLOW DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO WEAR SEAT BELTS. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND ILLEGAL TO PROPERLY OPERATE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10668110

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission and shifter failure

POWER TRAIN

14 NHTSA complaints · 2007-11 → 2020-08

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HIS WIFE WAS PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER INSTEAD SHIFTED INTO REVERSE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11343738
“I DRIVE A 98 DODGE RAM. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF OVERDRIVE ON IT'S OWN. I WILL BE REPLACING THIS TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2000.00”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10296655
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE GEAR WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10335045

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Frame and coil spring mount corrosion

SUSPENSION

6 NHTSA complaints · 2013-09 → 2018-03

“COIL SPRING TOWERS REINFORCEMENTS - AS PER THE RECALL FOR THE 1994 AND 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUPS (SAFETY RECALL 835) THE COIL SPRING TOWERS OF A 1998 HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE LEFT SIDE TOWER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11080034
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10586807
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME FRACTURED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10557331

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag clockspring and deployment failure

AIR BAGS

10 NHTSA complaints · 2007-11 → 2018-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY FAILED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10875934
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10863192
“I WENT OFF THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 65 MPH AND HIT A TREE, HEAD ON. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10439912

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Secondary hood latch failure while driving

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

7 NHTSA complaints · 2007-12 → 2020-12

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE HOOD LATCH BECAME DISENGAGED, CAUSING THE HOOD LID TO RELEASE AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10508762
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE HOOD DISENGAGED FROM THE LATCH MECHANISM AND CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10239959
“1998 DODGE RAM HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE GRILL, HOOD HINGES, AND INSULATION ARE DESTROYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10213864

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Corroded brake line failure

SERVICE BRAKES

11 NHTSA complaints · 2008-06 → 2018-09

“REAR BRAKE LINE IS WELL KNOWN TO FAIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10971986
“BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORRODED REAR BRAKE LINE!!!!! *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10286833
“MY REAR BRAKE LINE BY THE GAS TANK BLEW OUT TODAY. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10470687

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel line and fuel tank fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2008-09 → 2015-08

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10575912
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. HE LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10242851
“THE FUEL RAIL CONNECTOR HOSE {OR CROSSOVER HOSE} FAILED AND GAS LEAKED OUT ON TOP OF THE ENGINE CATCHING FIRE. *T”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10649945

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

843 crashes 1990–2024

How the 843 occupant deaths break down

613

driver deaths

224

passenger deaths

6

not recorded by seat

843

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1998 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

146

complaints mentioning a crash

23

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1998 Dodge Ram reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →