15 of the 310 complaints about the 1998 Dodge RAM 2500 are about the engine — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 95,500 miles.
15
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
I WAS PULLING A CAR FROM INDIO CA TO PHX. AZ WHEN IT STARTED TICKING AND SMOKEING AND LOST POWER I PULLEDOVER CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS 2 QUARTS LOW IT HAD NEVER USED OIL BEFORE THIS IT NEVER GOT HOT THOUGH I SLOWED WAY DOWN AND BARELY MADE IT HOME.
NHTSA complaint #10959024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH, A SMOKE SMELL WAS NOTICED IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH NO FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND REMOVED THE MOTOR TO THE ELECTRIC SEAT WHICH MELTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALLS, # 04V185000, 98V207000, REGARDING THE ABS MODULE AND THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10152372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500 TRUCK. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED ONE BLOCK FROM OUR HOME. THE TRUCK JUST DIED AND A LOT OF SMOKE WAS RELEASED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. A FEW MOMENTS LATER FIRE ERUPTED AND THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10146517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ALREADY INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MEINEKE BECAUSE OF A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED INSPECTION DUE TO NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE. *TS THE MEINEKE TECH STATED THAT EH VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECT DUE TO NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS. THE VEHICLE NEEDS 2 WHEEL BEARINGS, TRACK BAR, STEERING SHOCK, 2 HUB ASSEMBLIES, BRAKE LINES, OXYGEN SENSOR AND A NEW LICENSE PLATE BULB. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO GET HIS MONEY BACK BUT THEY REFUSED.
NHTSA complaint #10138857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
DODGE DIESEL LIFT PUMP FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10118347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
I DROVE THE TRUCK AS NORMAL AND THE BLOCK DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE RIGHT SIDE THE FAILURE IS THE WATER JACKET OF THE BLOCK THAT KEEPS THE COOLING FLUID INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS MEANS I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK WITHOUT FILLING THE COOLING FLUID EVERY 300 MILES. THIS IS A 53 BLOCK MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE!!!!! I CONTACTED DODGE AND THE SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I WILL NEED A NEW BLOCK/ENGINE...$6500 FOR A NEW ONE..$3500 FOR USED.
NHTSA complaint #10109820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY 1998 DODGE RAM 2500 TRUCK'S ENGINE, WITH JUST OVER 56,000 MILES ON IT, EXPLODED INTERNALLY. MY MECHANIC, COLONIAL AUTO REPAIR OF DANBURY CT. STATED THE BOLTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LOOSENED AND ALLOWED AIR AND FOREIGN SUBSTANCES TO LEAK PAST A GASKET INTO THE CYLINDARS. THE RESULT WAS MY ENGINE PISTON LITERALLY EXPLODED IN THE CYLINDAR, WHICH RESULTED IN MY HAVING TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10088607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
1998 DODGE TRUCK ATE THE INJECTOR PUMP WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THIS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, BRAKES AND STEERING IF IT HAPPENS AT HIGH SPEEDS OR WHEN CARRYING LARGE LOADS AS I DO WHEN ON THE JOB.
NHTSA complaint #10042921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, BUT NO SIGN OF LEAKAGES. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INTERNTIONALLY WITH HELD THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH V-10 ENGINE TO AVOID RECALL. ACCORCING TO THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM INTERNET, THE MANUFACTURER HAD INDICATED THAT THE V-10 HEADS AND CRANKSHAFT COULD EXPERIENCE HAIR LINE CRACKS CAUSING INTERNAL COOLANT LEAKAGE. SPARK PLUGS FAILED. FRONT BRAKE PADS FAIED. LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #884967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, BUT NO SIGN OF LEAKAGES. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INTERNTIONALLY WITH HELD THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH V-10 ENGINE TO AVOID RECALL. ACCORCING TO THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM INTERNET, THE MANUFACTURER HAD INDICATED THAT THE V-10 HEADS AND CRANKSHAFT COULD EXPERIENCE HAIR LINE CRACKS CAUSING INTERNAL COOLANT LEAKAGE. SPARK PLUGS FAILED. FRONT BRAKE PADS FAIED. LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #884967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN ENGINE STALLS THERE IS A LOSS OF STEERING & BRAKING. I HAVE TAKEN TRUCK TO TWO DEALERS THEY STATE NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. TRUCK STILL STALLS!!
NHTSA complaint #741162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST--BOLTS, NUTS.
NHTSA complaint #609137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL LEAK ONTO R/F AXLE,WHEEL AND FENDER AREA. YH
NHTSA complaint #606733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IS THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT A 17 DEGREE DECLINE THE ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK OIL OUT OF THE BREATHER TUBE BECAUSE OF THE TILT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #831614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
FRACTURE IN THE EGR TUBE CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #540902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.