1998 Dodge RAM CLUB CAB problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
73,625 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 12 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Steering:Column | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Steering: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Steering:Column: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 4 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
1999: 4; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10420863 · 2011-08-21 (August 21, 2011)
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 116,00…
Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 548095 · 1999-08-23 (August 23, 1999)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 548095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036992 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
STEERING WANDERS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551909 · 2000-04-18 (April 18, 2000)
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING COLLISION CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL UPON IMPACT RESULTING IN A MILD CONCUSION. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264223 · 2009-04-06 (April 6, 2009)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264223 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
12 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1998 | 1999 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 216.7%ODI 10000070WHILE 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 PRODU… | 111.1%ODI 10024106 · 50,000 miTHE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A PARKED CAR WHICH WAS SHOVED INTO TWO OTHER PARKED CARS, THE CONSUMER THEN BACKED UP TURNED AROUND AND WENT THROUGH A BRICK WALL, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *SCC *JB | 116.7%ODI 10087925 · 50,000 miTHE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS -PART. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. NO RECALL RECEIVED. *JB |
| Structure | 18.3%ODI 10264223 · 54,000 miMY 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. *TR | 333.3%ODI 10203875 · 72,000 miTHE DASH ON MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP IS CRACKING HORRIBLY AND FALLING APART. I'M AFRAID THAT IN AN ACCIDENT, SHOULD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOY, THAT IT MIGHT CAUSE THE DASH TO FRAGMENT, SENDING SHRAPNEL FLYING THROUGH THE TRUCK. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 18.3%ODI 548095VEHICLE 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 | 111.1%ODI 10005804MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 CLUB CAB 2-WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATIC WITH A 318. 48,000 MILES ALREADY HAD THE TRANS GO OUT, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT BAD, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LEAKED WHEN IT RAINED, SPOT WELDS CAME THROUGH THE PAINT ON THE DRIVERS DOOR SKIN,DRIVERS SIDE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WENT OUT AND CHANGING THE BULB DOESNT FIX IT, THE THERMOSTAT GASKET WENT BAD,THE REAR BRAKES SOMEHOW CAME OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AND TRASHED THE DRUMS,PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD, PASSENGER SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WENT BAD, FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS… | 116.7%ODI 10167285 · 69,000 miTRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN PUTTING IN DRIVE. FEELS LIKE IT'S STARTING OFF IN THIRD GEAR OR SOMETHING. WORKS IF YOU PUT IT IN FIRST GEAR, OR SECOND, JUST NOT DRIVE. IT HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE FOR NO REASON. ALSO AIR CONDITIONING ONLY WORKS WHEN MOVING. IF YOU STOP IT DOESN'T WORK. I HAVE HAD THE FREON CHECKED AND IS OKAY. AND NOW JUST TODAY, IT DIED FOR NO REASON. I STOPPED AT THE BANK TO MAKE AN OVERNIGHT DEPOSIT, WHEN BACK TO MY TRUCK, AND TURNED THE KEY AND NOTHING. JUST LIKE THAT. I HAD TO WALK AT LEAST A 1/2 MIL… |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 233.3%ODI 10010135 · 31,151 miCHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON -- RAN ON DRB III FOUND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES SET FOR P1698 NO CCD, J1850 MESSAGE FROM TCM CLEARED ALL DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES RESET ALL VALUES AND ROAD TEST FOR 150 MILES *** RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE SCRAPED (HAD PAINT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE) * RENTAL 02/10/03 - 02/17/03. *NLM |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 216.7%ODI 10161146 · 181,000 miENGINE 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. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 216.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10005804MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 CLUB CAB 2-WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATIC WITH A 318. 48,000 MILES ALREADY HAD THE TRANS GO OUT, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT BAD, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LEAKED WHEN IT RAINED, SPOT WELDS CAME THROUGH THE PAINT ON THE DRIVERS DOOR SKIN,DRIVERS SIDE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WENT OUT AND CHANGING THE BULB DOESNT FIX IT, THE THERMOSTAT GASKET WENT BAD,THE REAR BRAKES SOMEHOW CAME OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AND TRASHED THE DRUMS,PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD, PASSENGER SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WENT BAD, FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10005804MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 CLUB CAB 2-WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATIC WITH A 318. 48,000 MILES ALREADY HAD THE TRANS GO OUT, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT BAD, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LEAKED WHEN IT RAINED, SPOT WELDS CAME THROUGH THE PAINT ON THE DRIVERS DOOR SKIN,DRIVERS SIDE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WENT OUT AND CHANGING THE BULB DOESNT FIX IT, THE THERMOSTAT GASKET WENT BAD,THE REAR BRAKES SOMEHOW CAME OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AND TRASHED THE DRUMS,PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD, PASSENGER SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WENT BAD, FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | Too few reports for a range | 181,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10161146 · 181,000 miENGINE 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. *JB |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Too few reports for a range | 12 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10420863 · 12 miI 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 116,00… |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Too few reports for a range | 12 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10420863 · 12 miI 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 116,00… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1999: 0 complaints · 2002: 5 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags:Frontal | Engine And Engine Cooling | Steering | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Steering:Column |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10420863 · 12 miI 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 116,00… | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10420863 · 12 miI 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 116,00… | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Steering:Column | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.