Total Complaints
42 filings
DODGE DODGE TRUCK · model year
42 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998DODGEDODGE TRUCK carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 DODGE TRUCK is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 3 filings, followed by structure (3) and electrical system:horn (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1998 DODGE TRUCK, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
42 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| STRUCTURE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT | 2 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 1 |
DODGE 1500 RAM SPORT PICK UP. DASH COVER BROKE IN PIECES. A WHILE LATER I NOTICE THE TWO FRONT SPEAKERS STOP WORKING, THE SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE DASH LIGHTS GO CRAZY, THE TOP 12 VOLT ADAPTER STOPS WORKING, ETC. ALSO SEAT BELTS DON'T RETRACT CORRECTLY, AND DRIVER SIDE BUCKLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Mileage: 97,348
DODGE 1500 RAM SPORT PICK UP. DASH COVER BROKE IN PIECES. A WHILE LATER I NOTICE THE TWO FRONT SPEAKERS STOP WORKING, THE SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE DASH LIGHTS GO CRAZY, THE TOP 12 VOLT ADAPTER STOPS WORKING, ETC. ALSO SEAT BELTS DON'T RETRACT CORRECTLY, AND DRIVER SIDE BUCKLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Mileage: 97,348
I OWN A1998 DODGE RAM TRUCK THAT I PURCHASED 5 YEARS AGO WITHIN THIS PAST YEAR IV NOTICED MY DASH BOARD CRACKING AND IT SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE TILL I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK A BIG CHUNK OF DASH BOARD BLEW UP AND HIT ME RIGHT IN THE FACE I ALMOST WRECKED MY TRUCK IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED IF THERE IS A DEFECT IN THESE DODGE TRUCKS DASHBOARDS THEY SHOULD LET THE OWNER OR PUBLIC AWARE SO THEY CAN BE FIXED. *TR
Mileage: 135,000
CRACKED AND BROKEN DASH. *TR
DEFECTIVE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT, IN 98 DODGE RAM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DODGE HEADQUARTERS, WHEN THE SEATBELTS FAILED THE FIRST TIME TWO YEARS AGO, HQ STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR LABOR ONLY, AND NOT REPLACE THE PART. DODGE REPLACED THE SEATBELT SENSOR WHICH IS ELECTRONIC UNDER THE SEATS, THE WIRES GET PINCHED OFF, WHEN THE SEATS ARE MOVED FORWARD AND BACK THEREFORE CREATING A SHORT IN THE WIRES, AND THUS THE SEATBELTS FAIL B/C THEY ARE ON AN ELECTRONIC WEIGHT SYSTEM. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY IT TAKES TO CONTINUALLY REPLACE THESE EVERY TWO YEARS, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO SINCE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 65,000
DEFECTIVE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT, IN 98 DODGE RAM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DODGE HEADQUARTERS, WHEN THE SEATBELTS FAILED THE FIRST TIME TWO YEARS AGO, HQ STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR LABOR ONLY, AND NOT REPLACE THE PART. DODGE REPLACED THE SEATBELT SENSOR WHICH IS ELECTRONIC UNDER THE SEATS, THE WIRES GET PINCHED OFF, WHEN THE SEATS ARE MOVED FORWARD AND BACK THEREFORE CREATING A SHORT IN THE WIRES, AND THUS THE SEATBELTS FAIL B/C THEY ARE ON AN ELECTRONIC WEIGHT SYSTEM. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY IT TAKES TO CONTINUALLY REPLACE THESE EVERY TWO YEARS, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO SINCE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 65,000
ON MARCH 8,2002 A SHORT TIME AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF USED 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE VIN # G WITH ONLY 41,950 MILES. IN FEBRUARY ,2002 THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD PRONOUNCED TAPPING SOUND. AFTER I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER PLAZA MOTORS OF BROOKLYN INC.(AKA) PLAZA DODGE LTD. AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACE. AND THE DEALER ABOVE INSTALLED A USED ENGINE FROM VIN#R WITH 58,310 MILES AND LESS THEN 12 MONTHS THE SECOND ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAIL. THEN THE TRANSMISSION. BASE ON THE INFORMATION ABOVE AND THE REPORTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THESE DEFECTS AS A REAL TIME SAFETY PROBLEM. *NM
Mileage: 42
ON MARCH 8,2002 A SHORT TIME AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF USED 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE VIN # G WITH ONLY 41,950 MILES. IN FEBRUARY ,2002 THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD PRONOUNCED TAPPING SOUND. AFTER I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER PLAZA MOTORS OF BROOKLYN INC.(AKA) PLAZA DODGE LTD. AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACE. AND THE DEALER ABOVE INSTALLED A USED ENGINE FROM VIN#R WITH 58,310 MILES AND LESS THEN 12 MONTHS THE SECOND ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAIL. THEN THE TRANSMISSION. BASE ON THE INFORMATION ABOVE AND THE REPORTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THESE DEFECTS AS A REAL TIME SAFETY PROBLEM. *NM
Mileage: 42
I OWN 1998 DODGE SPORT FULL SIZED PICKUP THAT HAS A LOUD BANG WHEN TURNING CORNERS. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THE TRUCK IS COVERED UNDER SOME RECALL THAT WAS POSTED IN THE PAST. *BF *NM THE SHAKING WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING. *SC *TC *JB
I OWN 1998 DODGE SPORT FULL SIZED PICKUP THAT HAS A LOUD BANG WHEN TURNING CORNERS. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THE TRUCK IS COVERED UNDER SOME RECALL THAT WAS POSTED IN THE PAST. *BF *NM THE SHAKING WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING. *SC *TC *JB
AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT BEFORE CHANGE THE BALL JOINTS THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AND SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE COST. THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING ME THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE FINE. THE REASON I WENT TO MY MECHANIC WAS BECAUSE I HAD HAD MY VEHICLE ALIGNED FOUR TIMES IN THE FIRST 30,000 MILE AND MY TRUCK STILL PULLED TO ONE SIDE. THAT WAS WHEN I WENT TO AN UNBIASED PARTY TO TELL WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I HAD THIS REPAIR WORK DONE IN LATE 2002 OR EARLY 2003. *AK
Mileage: 40,000
I HAVE A '98 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK WITH APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES ON IT. THIS PAST JUNE I HAD TO REPLACE A FRONT END BALL JOINT ON THIS VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE SAME SYMPTOMS ARE STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN THAT ACCOMPANIED THE LAST BALL JOINT PROBLEM. SO IT'S LIKELY I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ANOTHER ONE OF THE JOINTS ON THE SUSPENSION OF THIS TRUCK IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CONSIDERING THERE COULD BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES WITH BALL JOINT FAILURE (THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSING AT HIGH SPEED) THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REQUIRE DODGE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BY IMPROVING THE DESIGN OF THESE JOINTS AND ISSUE A RECALL. I URGE THE NTSB, NTSA, OR WHOEVER TO INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. IF YOU RESEARCH THE WEB, YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES. *LA
Mileage: 52,000
I HAVE A '98 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK WITH APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES ON IT. THIS PAST JUNE I HAD TO REPLACE A FRONT END BALL JOINT ON THIS VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE SAME SYMPTOMS ARE STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN THAT ACCOMPANIED THE LAST BALL JOINT PROBLEM. SO IT'S LIKELY I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ANOTHER ONE OF THE JOINTS ON THE SUSPENSION OF THIS TRUCK IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CONSIDERING THERE COULD BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES WITH BALL JOINT FAILURE (THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSING AT HIGH SPEED) THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REQUIRE DODGE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BY IMPROVING THE DESIGN OF THESE JOINTS AND ISSUE A RECALL. I URGE THE NTSB, NTSA, OR WHOEVER TO INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. IF YOU RESEARCH THE WEB, YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES. *LA
Mileage: 52,000
THE PRIMARY TRANSFER PUMP HAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE ROTARY VANS FILTER WIRE MESS. THE ENDS ARE NOT WELDED. THE WIRE MESS WEAVE ENDS ARE UNDO DUE TO NORMAL DIESEL VIBRATION. THE WIRE MESS FILTER ENDS ARE HITTING ROTARY VANE PUMP. THE RUBBER SEAL MATERIAL IS VERY HARD WITH NO ELASTIC SPRING TO IT. THIS VERY DANGEROUS PUMP DESIGNED. THE MAIN INJECTION WILL LOSE POWER WITH NO WARNING. THE PUMP UNIT IS MADE BY CARTER PART#43188C27B 12 VDC IS POWER SOURCE. THE PUMP IS SOLD THROUGH MOPAR BY CUMMINS ENGINE. THE NEW PUMP #05080885AA PUMP FUEL SECOND #14073001. THE REPLACEMENT COST IS $160.88. ITS DEALER ITEM ONLY. THE LABOR TIME TO INSTALL IS 1 HOUR 65$ TO $75 IS STANDARD CHARGE TO INSTALL THIS UNIT. THE FUEL PUMP DOES NOT COME WITH NEW COPPER GASKETS IT REQUIRE AT LEAST FOUR TO SEAL THE FUEL FITTING. THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER IT DUE TO NO ROAD SIDE TOW. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,740 MILES VID [XXX]. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT
Mileage: 67,741
THE PRIMARY TRANSFER PUMP HAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE ROTARY VANS FILTER WIRE MESS. THE ENDS ARE NOT WELDED. THE WIRE MESS WEAVE ENDS ARE UNDO DUE TO NORMAL DIESEL VIBRATION. THE WIRE MESS FILTER ENDS ARE HITTING ROTARY VANE PUMP. THE RUBBER SEAL MATERIAL IS VERY HARD WITH NO ELASTIC SPRING TO IT. THIS VERY DANGEROUS PUMP DESIGNED. THE MAIN INJECTION WILL LOSE POWER WITH NO WARNING. THE PUMP UNIT IS MADE BY CARTER PART#43188C27B 12 VDC IS POWER SOURCE. THE PUMP IS SOLD THROUGH MOPAR BY CUMMINS ENGINE. THE NEW PUMP #05080885AA PUMP FUEL SECOND #14073001. THE REPLACEMENT COST IS $160.88. ITS DEALER ITEM ONLY. THE LABOR TIME TO INSTALL IS 1 HOUR 65$ TO $75 IS STANDARD CHARGE TO INSTALL THIS UNIT. THE FUEL PUMP DOES NOT COME WITH NEW COPPER GASKETS IT REQUIRE AT LEAST FOUR TO SEAL THE FUEL FITTING. THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER IT DUE TO NO ROAD SIDE TOW. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,740 MILES VID [XXX]. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT
Mileage: 67,741
I, NEAL DARSTEIN, AM A PROUD OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT LARAMIE. I HAVE A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ABILITY TO USE MY HORN. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AS THIS IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN CLEARLY WITHOUT ACTUALLY DEMINSTRATING EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY TRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL PAD (WHICH IS WERE THE HORN IS LOCATED) IS VERY STIFF/SOLID MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO "USE" OR "SOUND" MY HORN IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. I FEEL IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. EVERY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE EASY ACCESSIBITY AND USE OF HORN. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.
Mileage: 20
NOTICE A OIL RESDUE ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. POSSIBLE COMING FROM THE A/C SYSTEM, SECOND OPINION SAID IT WAS COMING FROM THE EVAPERATOR COIL. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER A LOT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASH AND THE A/C STOP COOLING.
WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND ROAD HAD ICY SPOTS. HIT ONE ICY SPOT, BUT RETAINED CONTROL. THEN, HIT ANOTHER ICY SPOT AND LOST CONTROL/ WENT INTO A DITCH ON PASSENGER'S FRONT. VEHICLE WENT AIR BORNE AND HIT FRONT OF VEHICLE ON GROUND. IT THEN ROLLED TWICE. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE LANDED ON ITS PASSENGER SIDE. DRIVER WAS STRAPPED IN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
POOR DESIGN OF HORN CAUSES DRIVER TO USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOUND THE HORN, SOMETIMES WILL NOT ACTIVATE.
TRUCK HESITATES AND BUCKS BETWEEN 40-60 MPH, AT TIMES SEVERE, MFGR CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM, FUEL MILEAGE GETTING WORSE OVERTIME. *AK
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.