Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1998 Dodge RAM Club CAB
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Steering
321.4%
Engine & Cooling
321.4%
Median failure at 90,506 miles
Airbags
214.3%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Tires
17.1%
Median failure at 93,250 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
17.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
17.1%
Body & Structure
17.1%
Median failure at 54,000 miles
Brakes
17.1%
Median failure at 12 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
17.1%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
240.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
120.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
120.0%
150,000+ miles
120.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 1999peak 3Aug 2011
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Ozark, ALCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE PASSING A VAN ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VAN THAT RAN STOP SIGN AND PUSHED FRONT END OF 1998 DODGE CLUB CAB P/U INTO THE FRONT SEAT AREA. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED RESULTING IN INJURIES TO MYSELF AND STEP SON. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. INFORMED CHRYSLER OF ACCIDENT AND THE RESULTS(INJURIES) AND THEY MORE OR LESS LAUGHED AT ME BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ALREADY SOLD MY VEHICLE FOR SCRAP. WITHOUT THE VEHICLE THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS ON THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I INFORMED CHRYSLER THAT I HAD PICTURES OF THE TRUCK BUT THAT WASN'T SUFFICIENT FOR THEM. THEY ARE SORRY PEOPLE IF THS IS THE WAY THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS AND DO BUSINESS.
NHTSA complaint #10000070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Casper, WYCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING COLLISION CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL UPON IMPACT RESULTING IN A MILD CONCUSION. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 12 milesFlorida, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY PICK-UP SINCE DAY-1.MY ROTORS WERE WARPED FROM THE BEGINNING(THIS BEING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE). THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE FROM MY ENGINE; I THOUGHT WERE THE VALVES. SIX YEARS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT OVER HEATED MY ENGINE,TRANSMISSION, AND RADIATOR. I WAS PAST MY WARRANTY PERIOD SO IT COST ME OVER 3,000 DOLLARS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE YEAR BEFORE AND AFTER MY MODEL WERE ON RECALL,QUIT PUZZLING OR DENIAL FOR PROFIT. I AM NOW ON MY FOURTH RADIATOR WITH ONLY 116,000 MILES. MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO HAVE MAJOR WORK DONE ON IT FROM THE HEAT CAUSED FROM THE CAD PLUGGING UP. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY RADIATOR,WATER PUMP,VALVES,PISTON RINGS,AND SEALS. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF OUT OF POCKET DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT I AM PISSED THAT A SIMPLE PART RUINED SO MUCH OF MY TRUCK,ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY RECALLED THE SAME PART IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO MINE AND THE YEAR FOLLOWING. SEEMS REAL FISHY TO ME. ALSO,I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN ADVERSE EFFECT OR NOT,BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. I HAVE HAD MY CALIBERS REPLACED TWICE,MY ROTORS IMMEDIATELY UPON PURCHASE,AND MY REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS. ALL WITHIN 116,000 MILES. I JUST REPLACED MY ROTORS AGAIN RECENTLY. ALL OF THIS SEEMS REALLY PREPOSTEROUS TO ME IN THE 21ST CENTURY. I HAD A 1976 GRAND PRIX BACK IN THE 1990'S AND HAD LESS PROBLEMS THAN THIS PICK-UP. I AM E-MAILING YOU BECAUSE I AM SICK AND TIRED OF JUST TAKING IT. I AM TIRED OF CORP. JUST PUSHING US AMERICANS AROUND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10420863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12 milesFlorida, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY PICK-UP SINCE DAY-1.MY ROTORS WERE WARPED FROM THE BEGINNING(THIS BEING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE). THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE FROM MY ENGINE; I THOUGHT WERE THE VALVES. SIX YEARS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT OVER HEATED MY ENGINE,TRANSMISSION, AND RADIATOR. I WAS PAST MY WARRANTY PERIOD SO IT COST ME OVER 3,000 DOLLARS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE YEAR BEFORE AND AFTER MY MODEL WERE ON RECALL,QUIT PUZZLING OR DENIAL FOR PROFIT. I AM NOW ON MY FOURTH RADIATOR WITH ONLY 116,000 MILES. MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO HAVE MAJOR WORK DONE ON IT FROM THE HEAT CAUSED FROM THE CAD PLUGGING UP. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY RADIATOR,WATER PUMP,VALVES,PISTON RINGS,AND SEALS. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF OUT OF POCKET DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT I AM PISSED THAT A SIMPLE PART RUINED SO MUCH OF MY TRUCK,ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY RECALLED THE SAME PART IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO MINE AND THE YEAR FOLLOWING. SEEMS REAL FISHY TO ME. ALSO,I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN ADVERSE EFFECT OR NOT,BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. I HAVE HAD MY CALIBERS REPLACED TWICE,MY ROTORS IMMEDIATELY UPON PURCHASE,AND MY REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS. ALL WITHIN 116,000 MILES. I JUST REPLACED MY ROTORS AGAIN RECENTLY. ALL OF THIS SEEMS REALLY PREPOSTEROUS TO ME IN THE 21ST CENTURY. I HAD A 1976 GRAND PRIX BACK IN THE 1990'S AND HAD LESS PROBLEMS THAN THIS PICK-UP. I AM E-MAILING YOU BECAUSE I AM SICK AND TIRED OF JUST TAKING IT. I AM TIRED OF CORP. JUST PUSHING US AMERICANS AROUND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10420863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,250 milesHemet, CA
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM CLUB CAB WITH COOPER FUTURA DAKOTA H/T TIRES, LINE SIZE 33X/12.5/R15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED BUT THE TIRE WAS NOT FLAT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO MAIL THE TIRE IN FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS 93,250. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 4,800.
NHTSA complaint #10417056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesTampa, FL
STRUCTURE
MY 98 DODGE RAM PICK DASH IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER DODGE TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THE WIRING IS EXPOSED IN THE DASH AND APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU WHERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10264223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 181,000 milesLexington, OK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE WOULD NOT THROTTLE DOWN ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT. HAS HAPPENED ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS BEGINNING 06/17/2006. CURRENTLY DRIVING OTHER VEHICLE UNTIL PROBLEM IS RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10161146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cornelius, OR
STEERING
STEERING WANDERS.
NHTSA complaint #10036992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ozark, ALCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE PASSING A VAN ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VAN THAT RAN STOP SIGN AND PUSHED FRONT END OF 1998 DODGE CLUB CAB P/U INTO THE FRONT SEAT AREA. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED RESULTING IN INJURIES TO MYSELF AND STEP SON. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. INFORMED CHRYSLER OF ACCIDENT AND THE RESULTS(INJURIES) AND THEY MORE OR LESS LAUGHED AT ME BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ALREADY SOLD MY VEHICLE FOR SCRAP. WITHOUT THE VEHICLE THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS ON THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I INFORMED CHRYSLER THAT I HAD PICTURES OF THE TRUCK BUT THAT WASN'T SUFFICIENT FOR THEM. THEY ARE SORRY PEOPLE IF THS IS THE WAY THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS AND DO BUSINESS.
NHTSA complaint #10000070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Grove, PA
STEERING
DURANGO RADIAL A/T 285/75R16
NHTSA complaint #9004654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Grove, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DURANGO RADIAL A/T 285/75R16
NHTSA complaint #9004654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Casper, WYCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING COLLISION CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL UPON IMPACT RESULTING IN A MILD CONCUSION. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yucaipa, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #609089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grand Terrace, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEED CONTROL SERVO FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #608781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Angelus OA, CA
STEERING:COLUMN
TILT COLUMN JOINT GETS LOOSE. YH
NHTSA complaint #608811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scottsdale, AZ
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF DRIVE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, DUE TO DESIGN OF VEHICLE'S V-10 WHICH IS SO HEAVY CAUSING THE FRAME TO FLEX AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DESIGNED WITH NO "DETENT" TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE (DESIGN FLAW). MJS
NHTSA complaint #548095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.