90 of the 644 complaints about the 1998 Dodge RAM are about the transmission — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 63,898 miles.
90
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10117560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE RPMS INCREASED, AND THE GEARS POPPED ON THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10117327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRUCK HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS REPLACED MANY PARTS FOR LEAKS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON EVEN AFTER REPAIRS. TRUCK BUCK WHEN ACCELERATING LOOSES ENGINE POWER. WOULD LIKE IT FIXED I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE TRUCK AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.
NHTSA complaint #10112203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ROUGHLY 64,000 MILES AND I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AT 108,000.
NHTSA complaint #10068738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. JUST GO TO JASPER.COM. THEY SAY THAT 1995 TO 2001 DODGE TRUCK TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. SEEMS THAT DODGE PUT TO LOW A VOLUME PUMP IN ALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. LOCAL TRANSMISSION REBUILDERS TELL ME THAT YOU CAN NOT LET THE TRUCK IDLE BECAUSE THE TRANNY GETS NO LUBRICATION AT LOW RPM'S. SO DURING THE WINTER WHILE YOU ARE WAITING FOR THE WINDSHEILD TO CLEAR OFF TO DRIVE IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE IT SNOWS. YOU ARE DAMAGING YOUR TRANNY. THE TRANNY OVER HEAT LIGHT NEVER CAME ON JUST THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT.DODGE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE A LIST OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD DODGE TRANNY PROBLEMS. ONE IS MY BROTHER-IN-LAW.
NHTSA complaint #10070236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY HUSBAND ORDERED THIS TRUCK IN LATE 1997. WE PURCHASED IT NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE FACED IS THE TRANSMISSION. MID-APRIL 1998 THE FIRST PROBLEMS OCCURED WITH SLIPPAGE, THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES WERE REPLACED, ONE MONTH LATER THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. NOW AT 51,000 MILES AND VERY LITTLE DRIVING FOR THE LAST 2 YRS (SINCE MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN SICK WITH CANCER) IT HAS BLOWN AGAIN. THE FRONT SEALS ARE LEAKING PROFUSELY. THE REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING SO BADLY AT ONE POINT THE ENTIRE CEILING INSIDE WAS SOADED. THE ABS COMPUTER WENT WACKY ON US EARLY ON ALSO. THE SEATBELT HAS BEEN TWISTED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WE HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY FIXED IT. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. I WILL NOT LIKELY BUY ANOTHER DODGE EVER AGAIN. MERCEDES TAKES THE CAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10070595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS ON ITS OWN. THEN, ENGINE RACED. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10066827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE BOLT THAT HOLDS FIFTH GEAR IN PLACE DISLODGED AND THE GEAR CAME OFF THE SHAFT. VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE IN THE OTHER FOUR GEARS BUT FIFTH GEAR WAS INOPERABLE. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10040469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE BOLT THAT HOLDS FIFTH GEAR IN PLACE DISLODGED AND THE GEAR CAME OFF THE SHAFT. VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE IN THE OTHER FOUR GEARS BUT FIFTH GEAR WAS INOPERABLE. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10040469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING LEFT TO RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10031298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE FIFTH GEAR GAVE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10022809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ATTEMPING TO DRIVE FROM A RED LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10002441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND MOTOR IS COLD, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. MECHANIC STATES LIP SEAL IS WEARING CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO SHIFT PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH AND THE 5TH GEAR IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I CONTACTED SCOTT ENKIRK AND IN TURN CONTACTED DODGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY. MY NEIGHBOR'S 1998 DODGE RAM TRUCK ALSO DID THE SAME EXACT THING. DT
NHTSA complaint #768833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ANDWITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, LOCKING REAR TIRES. IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8019002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PREIGNITION (SPARK KNOCK) IN MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH THE 318 CID/5.2L MOTOR. .AT 24,896 MILES, MY DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE PCM AND RE-ROUTED THE SPARK WIRES. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 35,067 MILES, THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE TIMING; I DIDN'T THINK THIS COULD BE DONE. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 43,281 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE PLENIUM GASKET. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 45,093, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH ENGINE HEADS. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 57,452 MILES, I INSTALLED A COLDER THERMOSTAT AND THIS HELPED SOMEWHAT, BUT THE SPARK KNOCK RETURNED. AND, TODAY AT 74,834 MILES I INSTALLED A SET OF TRUCK SPARK PLUGS TO SEE IF THAT WILL HELP. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS TRUCK HAS AN INHERINT DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE ENGINE WHICH IS BEING PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO SPARK KNOCK. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE, AND HELP ME IN SECURING A REPLACEMENT FOR MY PROBLEM PLAGUED LEMON. THANK YOU!
NHTSA complaint #766138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND BACK UP, BUT WILL GO FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHEN IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED, DUE TO A VIBRATING NOISE. AT 36041 MILES, THE OVERDRIVE UNIT FAILED WHICH HAD TAKEN OUT THE REVERSE. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. THIS CORRECTED THE VIBRATION NOISE WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE COMING FROM A BROKEN SNAP RING THAT HELD THE OVERDRIVE UNIT. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8016184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL, PARKING BRAKE WAS SET. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR APPROX. 1 MIN. WHILE I REMOVED MY THINGS FROM THE INTERIOR. AS I WAS WALKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE (ABOUT 30-40 FT) I HEARD THE BRAKE "POP" TURNED AROUND AND THE VEHICLE SLOWLY STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL IT HIT A POLE. THIS HAPPENED IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT AND WAS REPORTED TO CORP. SECURITY, BUT NO POLICE REPORT.
NHTSA complaint #764139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE OVERDRIVE OR 5TH GEAR OF THE TRUCK SLIPPED OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH, SC. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO NUMEROUS OTHER TRUCK LIKE MINE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED PROBLEMS IF I HADN'T BEEN THE ONLY VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT THAT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #763989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PUT VEHICLE INTO GEAR. THE GEAR SHIFT HAD BROKEN. CONTACTED DEALER. REPLACED PART.
NHTSA complaint #8014019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
VERY LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8011177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
LOCKING PINION NUT BROKE, RESULTING IN SHAFT TO FALL WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PINION GEARS AND SPINDLES. SEVERAL MECHANICS STATED THAT A LOCKING PINION NUT SHOULD NEVER UNLOCK OR BREAK. THUS IT'S DEFECT CAUSED 1,100 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND COULD HAVE DEFINITELY RESULTED IN INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #758759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
LOCKING PINION NUT BROKE, RESULTING IN SHAFT TO FALL WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PINION GEARS AND SPINDLES. SEVERAL MECHANICS STATED THAT A LOCKING PINION NUT SHOULD NEVER UNLOCK OR BREAK. THUS IT'S DEFECT CAUSED 1,100 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND COULD HAVE DEFINITELY RESULTED IN INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #758759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
CONSUMERS VEHICLE RAN INTO A TRAILER ON HIS PROPERTY AND ABS WAS DEFECTIVE, ALSO BRAKE DRUMS WERE RUSTED, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADACHE BAR AND FUEL TANK, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, STEERING STABILIZER, FRONT SHOCKS, REAR SHOCKS, AIR FILTER, REAR AXLE SEAL AND FLUID, REAR TRANSFER CASE SEAL AND U-JOINTS IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8001228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMERS VEHICLE RAN INTO A TRAILER ON HIS PROPERTY AND ABS WAS DEFECTIVE, ALSO BRAKE DRUMS WERE RUSTED, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADACHE BAR AND FUEL TANK, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, STEERING STABILIZER, FRONT SHOCKS, REAR SHOCKS, AIR FILTER, REAR AXLE SEAL AND FLUID, REAR TRANSFER CASE SEAL AND U-JOINTS IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8001228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
CONSUMERS VEHICLE RAN INTO A TRAILER ON HIS PROPERTY AND ABS WAS DEFECTIVE, ALSO BRAKE DRUMS WERE RUSTED, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADACHE BAR AND FUEL TANK, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, STEERING STABILIZER, FRONT SHOCKS, REAR SHOCKS, AIR FILTER, REAR AXLE SEAL AND FLUID, REAR TRANSFER CASE SEAL AND U-JOINTS IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8001228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
CONSUMERS VEHICLE RAN INTO A TRAILER ON HIS PROPERTY AND ABS WAS DEFECTIVE, ALSO BRAKE DRUMS WERE RUSTED, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADACHE BAR AND FUEL TANK, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, STEERING STABILIZER, FRONT SHOCKS, REAR SHOCKS, AIR FILTER, REAR AXLE SEAL AND FLUID, REAR TRANSFER CASE SEAL AND U-JOINTS IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8001228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #897589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
HORN WILL SOUND INTERMITTENTLY DURING THE NIGHT WHEN ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE, BUT INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL 01V153000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #897163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
PINION SEAL REPLACED THREE TIMES ,RING AND PINION REPLACED AT 32000 MILES,PINION NUT ALLWAYS REUSED NEVER A NEW PINION NUT .FOURTH TIME PINION NUT COMES OFF AT 108000 MILES AT 65 MILES AN HOUR . PLEASE ADVISE. DEALER SAYS NOT RESPONSIBLE .
NHTSA complaint #751042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.