1998 Dodge QUAD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
165,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Horn is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 11 complaints (9.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Drum | 1 |
Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Drum: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1998: 3; 1999: 6; 2000: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Horn leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10294133 · 2009-12-01 (December 1, 2009)
1998 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB- DASH IS CRACKING. THIS TRUCK IS AND HAS BEEN ALWAYS GARAGED. NEGLECT AND MISUSE IS NOT AN ISSUE. ORIGINAL ORDER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 540653 · 1998-09-07 (September 7, 1998)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A MODERATE TO LARGE BUMP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 540653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 541815 · 1998-10-05 (October 5, 1998)
THE DESIGN LOCATION OF THE HORN CAUSES THE DRIVE TO GROPE FOR THE HORN BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED IN THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT INSTEAD OF ON THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 541815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 552328 · 2000-05-19 (May 19, 2000)
THE SEAT BELT WEBBING IS CONSTANTLY GETTING TWISTED, THE DESIGN OF THE LATCH PLATE IS LARGE AND ALLOWS FOR TWISTING OF THE MATERIAL. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 606710 · 1999-02-01 (February 1, 1999)
NEW SPARK PLUG AND WIRE INSTALLED. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 606710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 606990 · 1999-02-01 (February 1, 1999)
ENGINE IS NOT FIXED AFTER SIX REPAIR ATTEMPTS. *YC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 606990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 606995 · 1999-02-01 (February 1, 1999)
BURNED EXHAUST VALVE ON CYLINDER. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 606995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 606996 · 1999-02-01 (February 1, 1999)
CONSTANT POPPING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. *YC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 606996 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
11 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 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 19.1%ODI 10294133 · 165,000 mi1998 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB- DASH IS CRACKING. THIS TRUCK IS AND HAS BEEN ALWAYS GARAGED. NEGLECT AND MISUSE IS NOT AN ISSUE. ORIGINAL ORDER. *TR | 325.0%ODI 10191597 · 62,000 mi1999 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD CRACKED, FALLING APART, SINK HOLE ON TOP OF DASHBOARD. *AK | 110.0%ODI 10519600 · 99,000 miTHE HOLE DASH HAS CRACKED AND FALLING APART AND FACE PLATE IS CRACKED TOO. I AM SCARED THAT IF I HAVE A WRECK GOD FORBID THAT IT WILL BUST THE AIR BAG AND IT WANT SAVE MY LIFE OR IT WILL FLY APART AND CUT ME UP WITH ALL THOSE SHARP PIECES. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 444.4%ODI 10191025 · 45,000 miON THE 2002 DODGE 1500 QUAD CAB THE DASHBOARD HAS SEVERAL CRACKS THAT ARE GROWING. IN 40 YEARS OF CARS NEVER HAD A DASHBOARD CRACK LIKE THIS. SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS IN FRONT DASHBOARD AND NOW SMALLER ONES APPEARING IN BACK DASHBOARD. ASKED DEALER ABOUT REPAIR PARTS WAS TOLD THAT WOULD COST OVER $500 LAST YEAR AND PARTS COUNTER HAD BEEN ORDERING MANY FOR REPAIRS. DIDN'T KNOW CRACKS WOULD GROW, OR THAT IT COULD COLLAPSE. CRACKS STARTED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, ARE GETTING WORSE , AND LAST YEAR HAD TO REPAIR AIR CONDITIONER BUT OTHER THAN THAT TRUC… |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3%ODI 10220365 · 50,000 mi1999 QUAD CAB STEERING IS VERY LOOSE. GEAR BOX LEAKING, REPLACED, STEERING IS STILL VERY LOOSE. ALL TIE RODS, AXLE JOINTS, SHOCKS, DRAG LINK, STEERING DAMPER REPLACED, ALIGNMENT COMPLETED. STEERING IS STILL VERY LOOSE. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN STATES PROBLEM KNOWN OF, DON'T KNOW HOW TO REMEDY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE TIME PURCHASED, APPROX. 5 YEARS. *TR | 110.0%ODI 555559VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY WHEN SNOW RAIN OR WIND IS PRESENT, VEHICLE SOMETIMES WANDERS. *SLC | 225.0%ODI 10244153 · 120,421 miSLIGHT NOISE FROM FRONT END, THEN SILENCE, THEN DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY BUCKLED FORCING US TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, LUCKILY, HITTING NO-ONE. THE RIM WAS SHEERED INTO STRIPS OF RIBBON WHEN IT COLLAPSED INTO THE CALIPER. NEEDS A NEW WHEEL, NEW BRAKE, CALIPER, DISC BRAKE ROTOR, FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB, FRONT LEFT STEERING KNUCKLE, UPPER CONTROL ARM, LOWER CONTROL ARM. FRONT UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS, PLUS FRONT END ALIGNMENT TOTALING $2792.90 AND WE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JAN. OF 2008. WE HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME MAK… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 216.7%ODI 10653202 · 120,000 miCUT MY SELF REMOVING PIECES THE GOV SHOULD MAKE DODGE REPLACE THESE DASHES AT NO COST TO US. I HAVE A BAD HEATER CORE AND NO ONE WILL CHANGE IT BECAUSE OF THE DASH NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AND ITS SO BROKEN THEY CAN'T REMOVE IT WITHOUT REPLACING IT. AT A COST OF A $1000.00 PLUS THE COST OF THE HEATER CORE R&R . I HAD TO GET A COVER FOR MY DASH SO I COULD REATTACHED THE VIN CODE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I FIGURE I WILL HIT A BUMP ONE DAY AND THE WHOLE THING WILL FALL!!! *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10491793 · 75,000 miCRACKED DASHBOARD.... FALLING IN....EXPOSING ELECTRICAL & SAFETY COMPONENTS. *TR |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3%ODI 10653202 · 120,000 miCUT MY SELF REMOVING PIECES THE GOV SHOULD MAKE DODGE REPLACE THESE DASHES AT NO COST TO US. I HAVE A BAD HEATER CORE AND NO ONE WILL CHANGE IT BECAUSE OF THE DASH NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AND ITS SO BROKEN THEY CAN'T REMOVE IT WITHOUT REPLACING IT. AT A COST OF A $1000.00 PLUS THE COST OF THE HEATER CORE R&R . I HAD TO GET A COVER FOR MY DASH SO I COULD REATTACHED THE VIN CODE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I FIGURE I WILL HIT A BUMP ONE DAY AND THE WHOLE THING WILL FALL!!! *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10491793 · 75,000 miCRACKED DASHBOARD.... FALLING IN....EXPOSING ELECTRICAL & SAFETY COMPONENTS. *TR |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 10284737 · 81,642 miI PURCHASED A DODGE RAM 1500 IN NOVEMBER OF 1999 FROM A CHARLESTON SC DEALERSHIP. IN 1993 THE DASH BEGAN TO START CRACKING AND WHEN WE SHOWED IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT THERE RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1000.00 TO REPLACE IT. AFTER COMPLAINING TO DODGE THE REPAIRS WHERE DONE AT NO COST TO ME. AFTER A FEW SHORT MONTHS LATER WE MOVED TO CRESTVIEW FL WHERE MORE CRACK STARTED FORMING UNTIL THE POINT THAT WE HAD 5 THAT FORMED FORM ABOVE THE CONSOLE DISPLAY AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. DUE TO MY CONCERNS THAT THE BAG WOULD… | 112.5%ODI 10087626 · 98,000 miTHE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 216.7%ODI 10014583 · 50,000 miTHE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED, WHICH ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK FROM ENGINE AND EXPELLED THROUGH THE TAIL PIPE. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 19.1%ODI 540653TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A MODERATE TO LARGE BUMP. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10026875WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH SUDDENLY VEHICLE WILL LOSE SPEED POWER. DEALER STATED THAT OVERDRIVE GEAR WAS BURNED OUT. *AK |
| Suspension:Front | 19.1% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 10048290 · 45,000 miTHE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM FRONT END ALIGNMENT BECAUSE TRACK BAR WAS INOPERATIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL WHEN HITTING BUMPS. *SCC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
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.
2001: 2 complaints · 2002: 7 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 8 | 1 | 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 | Electrical System:Horn | Electrical System:Ignition | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Drum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Horn | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1ODI 826396WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ,VEHICLE WILL STEER TO THE LEFT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPLACED CALIPERS AND PADS. ALSO, HAS TURNED REAR DRUMS. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING,INTERMITTED PROBLEM. *AK |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Drum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 826396WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ,VEHICLE WILL STEER TO THE LEFT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPLACED CALIPERS AND PADS. ALSO, HAS TURNED REAR DRUMS. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING,INTERMITTED PROBLEM. *AK | — |
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.