18 of the
644 complaints about the 1998 Dodge RAM are about the
body and structure — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
133,500 miles.
THE SPARE TIRE MECHANISM THAT HOLD THE TIRE UNDER THE BED BROKE. THIS FAILURE WAS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY SPARE TIRE FELL ONTO THE STREET AND ROLLED. LUCKILY I WAS IN A 35 MPH AREA, BUT CARS STILL HAD TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ROLLING TIRE. HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10445718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesBuna, TX1 injured
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE NOTICED THE DASH BOARD OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED BADLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT HOT AND WAS NOT A FACTOR WITH THE VEHICLE DASH BOARD DEFECT. THE CONTACT HAD PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD FLY INTO HIS EYES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THERE HAD BEEN NO REPAIRS DONE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #10317690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Calimesa, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
CONSUMER STATED THAT ONE OF CABLES THAT HELD THE TAILGATE FROM FALLING BROKE. IT JUST SNAPPED OFF. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE CABLE HAD SOME RUST DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10073930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jerome, AZCrash
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE WAS T-BORNE AND THE FRAME BENT.
NHTSA complaint #10024177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
S. Lyons, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
FRONT BUMPER IS RUSTING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. BUMPER IS PITTED FROM THE RUST.*AK *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8012750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
BOTH FRONT SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ACTIVATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8010940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bruch Creek, TN
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
TAILGATE BROKE ON BOTH SIDES WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #894017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Merritt Island, FLCrash2 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH SPUN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A CONCRETE WALL. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DIDNOT UNLOCK, AND DOME LIGHT DI DNOT COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #893732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cordova, TN
STRUCTURE
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V-208 CONCERNING THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE CAB TO THE FRAME DUE TO VIN, CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN DETAILED WRITTEN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #558438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albuquerque, MN
STRUCTURE
RECALL 98 V 209 000/HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED: VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, ZANGARN DODGE; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; PHONE # 505/262-5480 FOR RECALL REPAIRS. BUT, VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO REINSPECT VEHICLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #876713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indiantown, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
THE LATCH "WILL" VIBRATE AND COME LOSE WITCH MAY CAUSE THE DOOR TO COME LOSE IN A CRASH
NHTSA complaint #712210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Torrance, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
BUMPER FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #606144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thousand Oaks, CA
STRUCTURE
CAB BOLTS RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #609484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tulare, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
CONSOLE LID.
NHTSA complaint #609669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, KY
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VAN THE DEALER SAID WE HAD A BAD TIRE BOTH TIMES WE PICKED IT UP , BUT IT STILL DRIFTS AND HAS SPUNGY STREEING . I.E. IT GOES WERE IT WANT TO AND WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL TO CORRECT IT THE STREERING TAKES IT TIME TO GO THE OTHER WAY. MY OTHER PROBLEM IS THE RIGHT REAR FRAME LEAKS WATER BAD, AT FIRST THE DEALERS BODY SHOP SAID THE WELD HAD BROKE AT THE SEAM WERE IT WAS PUT TOGETHER AND THAT THEY HAD 3 OF THEM IN THE LAST 6 WEEKS. WE HAVE HAD THE VAN IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES TO GET THIS FIXED . IT STILL LEAKS!!!!
NHTSA complaint #709651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apple Vall, MN
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WATER LEAKS INTO DRIVERS DOOR DUE TO MISALIGNMENT.
NHTSA complaint #544038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alpharetta, GA
STRUCTURE
VAN LEANS LOW ON DRIVERS SIDE ALSO LOUD CLANGING SPRING NOISES WHEN DRIVING AND MAKEING TURNS. THIS CONDITION IS FROM FACTORY. NOTICED PROBLEM 2 DAYS AFTER TAKING VAN HOME FROM DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #700887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MT Holly, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THIS B150 CONVERSION VEHICLE (STAR CUSTOM INDUSTRY) REAR ELECTRIC SEAT, CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO BE INOPERABLE BECAUSE WHEN MOVING THE SEATS, THE SEATBELT BUCKLE AND RETRACTOR WILL BREAK, WHICH WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #829419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.