10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Dodge Ram 1500 brakes problems

brakes problem

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1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #27

Aug 102002

Ram 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since new the truck has pulled to the right. Dealer said that there was nothing wrong. I now find that right outer brake pad is worn out where all the others are fine. This to me means that the caliper on the right side is not disengaging. It has been this way from the manufacturer.

- Dixon, CA, USA

problem #26

Jan 152002

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
During normal braking, brake pedal would pulsate. Dealer contacted.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #25

Dec 012001

Ram 1500

  • miles
The brake cylinders had been leaking and were replaced by the dealer in 2000. Then again in December of 2001 we had brake3 trouble and the calipers and cylinders has brakes began to squeak. We had just had everything done less than 6 months ago. We assumed that at the worst the pads needed changing. We took it in the next day. We were informed that it was not the warning system but that the calipers were frozen and had worn out so quickly that the back cyliders were shot too. We were told that our brakes could have gone out completely at any moment there wasn't any warning. Thankfull that we did not have an accident we spent the $800 to fix everything. The calipers, roters, cylinders, pads, everything. This is the kicker that next weekend five days later we were comming home from out of town and going down a large hill they began to smoke. And we tried to pull over. We had no brakes!!! thank goodness there was no one in font of us. We shifted into a lower gear and gradually came to a stop at the bottom of the hill. I am stll waiting to see what the prob. Is now. I had called Dodge to see if there was any sort of prob. Or recall with the break system before and they said no. They would fix it but charge us to do so. I did some research and have found that there is so many complaints about the same problems. Our lives have been in jepordy twice and we have been lucky. It is obvious there is a prob. Looking at the complaints of the same nature why are they not doing anything. Do people have to die first. We have tried in vain to fix our truck to work properly with no luck. I only wish we could afford to by another truck. I am afraid that mine and my family's lives are in jepordy. When will Dodge step up to the plate and fix this problem?

- San Leandro, CA, USA

problem #24

Feb 062002

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving and then stopping front brakes make a grinding noise, and vehicle pulls to the left. Please provide any further information, and vehicle identification number.

- Sandwood, IL, USA

problem #23

Jan 052001

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
I have just over 36,000 miles on the truck. I am on my third set of pads for the front and have replaced the shoes once. In addition, I've had the drums and rotors turned. The dealer responds by charging me to adjust the rear brakes. I have had this done but continue to eat up the front brakes. The manufacturer changed to bigger pads and rotors shortly after my truck was made but dealer & manufacturer are not responsive. Also, the rear antilock doesn't work right.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #22

Jan 052001

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
Intermittently when brakes are applied on wet pavements they lock up, resulting in extended stopping distance. Dealer has replaced front brake pads three times, and brake calipers once. Manfacturer has been notified.

- Meadville, PA, USA

problem #21

Oct 201998

Ram 1500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I really enjoy this Dodge ram1500, but I feel that since it is out of warranty it will not hold up to my expectations. No safety defect listed in summary.

- Newark, OH, USA

problem #20

Mar 161998

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle has antil-lock brakes. When consumer applies brakes brake pedal goes to the floor, and there is pulsation within the brakes. Also, transmission doesn't have speed/gears slip, and there is a leak underneath the hood.

- Oakhurst, CA, USA

problem #19

May 302000

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
Brakes were worn down to the drums and there was no indication to consumer.

- Yorkville`, IL, USA

problem #18

Apr 242000

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
When applying brake pedal front brakes tend to grab. Also, wear excessively. Dealer says it's due to overloading.

- Florence, AL, USA

problem #17

Dec 071998

Ram 1500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Excessive wear of rotors/pads, and calipers. Problem commenced at 6,270 miles, again at 21,000 miles, and reoccurred at 33,000 miles. Dealer informed consumer that they were done with repaires.

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

problem #16

Feb 022000

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Right front brakes wore out faster then other side. Consumer could hear noise coming from brakes. Noise due to inside brake pad lining wearing down to metal. Manufacturer warning system failed, driver/owner unaware problem existed until failure occurred.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #15

Jul 281999

Ram 1500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
"as far as I am concerned the truck is a piece of junk, the truck is currently in service for 4 days so far this week for all the above problems(this is the reason I do not have the VIN number), on top of the already accumulated 25-30 days of service. The Chrysler corporation has been notified, as well as my state's attorney generals office, oh and by the way I need 4 new tires as well, after only 25,000 miles."no safety defect listed within summary.

- Westfield, MA, USA

problem #14

May 081998

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
My name is john simonelli and I purchased a Dodge Ram truck. I had many problems with it like brakes, air, fuel problems, raidiator, and worse of all stalling on left turns. I reported to bell Dodge of my truck stalling on left turns. They looked at it once and said the truck was ok. After that I took the truck down to the dealer each time reporting of incident. All they did was document the problem and send me away. They would not even make an attempt to solve the problem despite the danger the truck was to me and others. To prove my case I had to push them to hook up a co-Pilot for readings. The computer would show the vehicle died for some unknown reason. However the co-Pilot would not tell them how to fix problem so their for the problem did not excist. Then I had to drive around with a cam-corder to record problem. After doing so I was forced to sell vehicle because they did not know how to fix problem and would not give me a new truck. I have too much to say so if you have any questions please call me. I took a 14,500 dollar loss on my vehicle, someone else is driving this unsafe vehicle, and finaly both bell Dodge and dalmler Chrysler ignored my lawyer which cost me an additional 2,600.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #13

Oct 121999

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
After only 40,000 miles new brake pad discs and rotors had to be replaced due to rust.

- Alanson, MI, USA

problem #12

Dec 011997

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
From speaking with other Dodge truck owners, premature failure of the brakes appears to be a common problem. I don't know if accidents have resulted from brake faulure, but wanted to let you know of these problems.

- Ogden, UT, USA

problem #11

Sep 291999

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
When applying brakes vehicle severely pulls to the right or the left. Also, the front brake pads and rotors are prematurely wearing out, cause unknown. Vehicle checked for alignment and problem still exist.

- West Patterson, NJ, USA

problem #10

Sep 231999

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
When applying the brakes vehicle pulls to the right. Dealer replaced front brakes, and problem still exists.

- Bailey, CO, USA

problem #9

Jul 271999

(reported on)

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
The truck has a severe brake pull to the right, which makes the vehicle difficult to control. The brake pull occurs at any speed, but it is most prominent at highway speeds and therefore presents a safety hazard. The vehicle was taken in for service four times in nine months on this issue. It is obvious that Chrysler is not interested in fixing the problem in an expedient manner.

- Vernon, CT, USA

problem #8

Aug 011998

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
Pulls serverely to left & right. Rotors/calipers/pads all replaced # of times, still pulls.

- Magna, UT, USA

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