15 of the 134 complaints about the 1998 Dodge RAM 3500 are about the electrical system — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 106,089 miles.
15
Complaints
0
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME I HAVE REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, TWICE THE HARNESS BECAUSE IT MELTED TOGETHER. AND NOW TODAY HAVING TO REPLACE MARKER WIRE (GREEN WITH WHITE STRIPE) AND IT IS TO HOT TO TOUCH, THE WIRE HAS GONE STIFF AND HARD AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11155548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10643925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASHBOARD CRACKED AND CAVED IN WHEN I HIT A BUMP WHILE DRIVING APPROX 68 MPH ON THE FREEWAY (I- 15 NORTHBOUND THROUGH LAS VEGAS). PLASTIC FALLING INTO THE DASHBOARD AREA DISCONNECTED SEVERAL WIRES CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES. FREEWAY WAS WELL LIT ENOUGH FOR ME TO STOP SAFELY AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10253001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE RETAINING NUT FOR FIFTH-GEAR HAS FAILED. DEALER OFFERED REPAIR KIT... CONTAINED NEW MAIN SHAFT FOR TRANNY. COST WAS $3600.00, CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING OF THREAD TAPERING. THERE IS ALSO NO POWER BRAKES. ABS SEEMS TO NOT BE WORKING, RELIES ON PRESSURE FROM OIL TO BRAKE. IF PRESSED CONTINUOUSLY, WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. WIRING HARNESS BURNED UP AFTER DEALER WORK, FRANK SHOUPE OF GEORGETOWN KENTUCKY REFUSED TO REPAIR THEIR MISTAKE. SAID IT WAS MY FAULT, THEN REFUSED TO KEEP SPEAKING WITH ME. STATED REPLACEMENT WAS $2015.00, AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK;RECEIVED ONE FROM JUNKYARD IN MONTANA, TOOK THREE DAYS, AND $300.00.
NHTSA complaint #10249797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TL*- THE WIRING OF THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS SWITCH BURNED ON THE CONTACT'S 1998 DODGE RAM 3500. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. THE DODGE DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PRIOR YEARS VEHICLES AND THIS TRUCK WERE HAVING THE SAME FAILURES AND REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. HE CALLED DODGE, AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. HE HAD TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN COST.
NHTSA complaint #10182726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS, THE ALARM SUDDENLY SOUNDED. BY THE TIME THE DOOR WAS OPENED, SMOKE HAD FILLED THE CAB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE WIRES TO BURN. THE DEALER REPLACED THREE WIRING HARNESSES, THE FUSE BOX AND THE FUSES.
NHTSA complaint #10173707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
DT: THE CONTACT STARTED VEHICLE IN ORDER TO MOVE IT. THEN, HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE STARTER KEPT RUNNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THEY FOUND THE FUEL SHUT OFF SOLENOID SHORTED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #10145834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BURNING ODOR AND LIGHT SMOKE FROM DASHBOARD. ALL LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF. TURNED OF HEADLIGHTS AND BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE STOPPED. WENT TO DODGE DEALER TO CHECK FOR RECALL - MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 819 WAS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT ONLY APPLIED TO MODEL YEARS 1994 - 1997. THIS TRUCK WAS 1998 MODEL. PURCHASED NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND REPLACED THE BURNED SWITCH ALONG WITH SOME BURNT WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10040938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
1998-2001 B-VAN (DODGE FULL SIZE) BS CONTROL MODULE IS PROTECTED WITH A 40 AMP FUSE. A 10 GA. WIRE COMES OUT OF THE CONTROL MODULE THEN THE WIRE "Y"'S OUT TO TWO 14 GA. WIRES. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE ABS PUMP OR RELAY STICKS ON THESE VEHICLES. THEN ONE OF THE 14 GA. WIRES OVER HEATS AND STARTS THE WIRING HARNESS ON FIRE. THE 40 AMP FUSE DOES NOT BLOW. THE FIRE CONTINUES UNTIL THE ENTIRE VAN IS FULLY ENGULED IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #10037427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ELECTRICAL WIRES BECAME VERY HOT AND MELTED, AND SHORTED OUT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND DISABLED THE PARKING LIGHTS. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10015820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE CAME BACK THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHICH STARTED IN THE LEFT FRONT DASHBOARD AREA.*JB (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT#10-90-733)
NHTSA complaint #564293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE CAME BACK THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHICH STARTED IN THE LEFT FRONT DASHBOARD AREA.*JB (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT#10-90-733)
NHTSA complaint #564293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THIN STREAM OF WHITE SMOKE EMITTING FROM DASHBOARD. HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING WIRES TO BURN BEHIND DASH. VERY CLOSE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. HAVE HEARD OTHER DODGE PICKUP OWNERS HAVING SAME DIFFICULTY (AT LEAST 3 THAT I KNOW). PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM!
NHTSA complaint #723913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THESE ARE 2 TRUCKS OF THE SAME KIND WE OWNED THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE SAME WAY.
NHTSA complaint #715200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE MAIN FUSE WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #843733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.