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 Van 1500 engine problems

engine problem

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

problem #21

Oct 232001

Ram Van 1500

  • miles

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

Oil pump failure, engine destroyed.

- Macomb Twp., MI, USA

problem #20

Mar 112001

(reported on)

Ram Van 1500

  • miles
Engine failed. Nlm

- Waunakee, WI, USA

problem #19

Dec 142000

(reported on)

Ram Van 1500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine failure resulted in vehicle fire.

- St.Louis, MO, USA

problem #18

Jan 081999

Ram Van 1500 4WD

  • miles

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

No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #17

Sep 112000

(reported on)

Ram Van 1500

  • miles
The engine surges. Nlm

- Enola, PA, USA

problem #16

Aug 082000

Ram Van 1500

  • miles
I bought the Dodge June 1998, from the first month I have had problems.I had both front side windows fall down, wiper blade linkage breaks, engine surges, door lights won't come on, the air conditioning blower/motor shorted out, and the interior lights/tv/vcp/cd player will shut off at times. Everything except the interior equipment has been corrected, they still short out. The problem with electrical shorts has expanded. On the way home from vacation just outside of St. Louis on interstate 44, we were passing a diesel truck going about 70 mph with another diesel truck following us when the engine shuts off. Lucky for us the truck behind us was paying attention. The truck came within inches of hitting us, if it did my whole family could have been killed. My son managed to pull the van over to the side of the road. We had aaa tow the van to a Dodge dealer in bourbon, mo. The next day the machanic found the problem. The asd 20amp fuse blew, the asd fuse is located uder the hood in the power distribution center. The asd fuse handles engine controls/fuel pump. The dealership in burbon could not find the problem, but he did give us extra fuses to get us home. We had to stop at walmarks to buy extra fuses. On the way home the asd fuse blew out 4 times. When we got back home, I took the van back to the dealer where I bought it for repair, cumberland valley motors, they answered with their stock quote, unable to duplicate at this time. I don't know if the asd fuse blew out due to engine heat, bad wiring, or if the interior control panel which handles the interior lights/tv/vcp has a short in it. The vehicle is dangerous to drive and if I have this problem, then their might be other Dodge vans with the same problem. How many accidents happened already or will happen?

- Enola, PA, USA

problem #15

Aug 082000

Ram Van 1500

  • miles

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

I bought the Dodge June 1998, from the first month I have had problems.I had both front side windows fall down, wiper blade linkage breaks, engine surges, door lights won't come on, the air conditioning blower/motor shorted out, and the interior lights/tv/vcp/cd player will shut off at times. Everything except the interior equipment has been corrected, they still short out. The problem with electrical shorts has expanded. On the way home from vacation just outside of St. Louis on interstate 44, we were passing a diesel truck going about 70 mph with another diesel truck following us when the engine shuts off. Lucky for us the truck behind us was paying attention. The truck came within inches of hitting us, if it did my whole family could have been killed. My son managed to pull the van over to the side of the road. We had aaa tow the van to a Dodge dealer in bourbon, mo. The next day the machanic found the problem. The asd 20amp fuse blew, the asd fuse is located uder the hood in the power distribution center. The asd fuse handles engine controls/fuel pump. The dealership in burbon could not find the problem, but he did give us extra fuses to get us home. We had to stop at walmarks to buy extra fuses. On the way home the asd fuse blew out 4 times. When we got back home, I took the van back to the dealer where I bought it for repair, cumberland valley motors, they answered with their stock quote, unable to duplicate at this time. I don't know if the asd fuse blew out due to engine heat, bad wiring, or if the interior control panel which handles the interior lights/tv/vcp has a short in it. The vehicle is dangerous to drive and if I have this problem, then their might be other Dodge vans with the same problem. How many accidents happened already or will happen?

- Enola, PA, USA

problem #14

Apr 011998

Ram Van 1500

  • miles
The truck when bought, the sticker in the window read that it was rated to run on 87 octain, but when I run this feul, it pings and knocks and a loss of power while climing a hill.the onlly thing it will run on is hightest."this will cause a wreck."the service manager at becks told me that it is an on going problem, that they are tring to fix.

- Palatka, FL, USA

problem #13

Dec 161998

Ram Van 1500

  • miles
At approx. 7500mi. Problems began with brakes and vibrations. These problems still occur along with severe and dangerous engine stalls at any speed. After contacting diamler Chrysler I am shocked to find that hazard for my family and any innocent bystanders. It would just be nice if $42,000 could buy something that runs and stops with out risk of major injury or possible death..

- Conyers, GA, USA

problem #12

Jul 281999

Ram Van 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 #11

Nov 191999

Ram Van 1500 4WD

  • miles

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

Engine knocks at start-up for about 2-3 seconds. Oil pressure gauge is not as high as when first bought. Has been to the dealer twice for this problem, but they say they cannot duplicate it. Service manager has verified the knocking, but Chrysler doesn't want to persue it. Seems that Chrysler was really quick to take my money when it was bought, but now that it has a problem they don't want to know anything about it. Situation has been sent to Chrysler's 3rd party arbitration company to have a hearing to decide what they will be forced to do to correct the problem. Chrysler has been very disappointing in there "customer service" or lack of it, to the customer...

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #10

May 081998

Ram Van 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 #9

Oct 051999

(reported on)

Ram Van 1500 4WD

  • miles
Original complaint was severe engine pinging, hesitation going uphills between 40-45 mph and check engine light lit. Dealer replaced idle air control motor and replaced a spark plug. Problem cleared for approximately 10,000 miles, then returned. Goodyear dealer replaced ignition wires and spark plugs at 50,000 according to a Dodge tsb. Problem still persists. Goodyear advised that Dodge has a tsb for this problem and is aware of the problem. I would like to know what action I can take.

- South Hadley, MA, USA

problem #8

Apr 161999

(reported on)

Ram Van 1500 4WD

  • miles
Vehicle continually shudders at speeds between 45-50 mph, happens constantly

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #7

Aug 201998

Ram Van 1500 4WD

  • miles
1. the passenger side mirror glass on this vehicle, Ram 2500 series, has cracked due to the extreme cold conditions in my location. Presents an even more and distorted view of the roadway. The product is inferior glass. 2. excessive pinging in the 5.9L engine. The manual states that you can use an 87 octane rated fuel in this engine. If you do even without a "load" in the vehicle the engine will constantly "ping." Using a higher octane rating the pinging noise is still noticeable. Also this engine from the start uses approximately 1/2 - 3/4 of a quart of oil between oil changes. Very bad for a new product. 3. the same door on the 2500 series (quad cab) Ram truck is used on the type of truck that I own, the extended or club cab. However, where there is weatherstripping on the quad cab door on the lower running board sides, (both doors) there is absolutely no stripping on the extended cab doors (club cab). This allows for the infiltration of dirt and water to actually come up and sit or reside on the top plate. This makes for a bad situation not only for the cleanliness of the truck on those panels but for corrosive qualities as well.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #6

Jun 201998

Ram Van 1500

  • miles
While driving the vehicle will stall, and while in reverse position the vehicle will also stall. Also, there is a transmission leak which may cause a fire. Dealer replaced parts of the transmission. Dealer cannot determine problem.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

Jun 301998

Ram Van 1500

  • miles
Consumer keeps experiencing unknown engine failure. Been in/out of dealer shop more then three times. Dealer unable to resolve problem.

- Westfield, NJ, USA

problem #4

Dec 121998

Ram Van 1500 4WD

  • miles
The defect is in the alignment of the truck and the engine. With the alignment set to manufacturer's specifications the truck still pulls out of the driving lane. Within ten seconds the truck will completely vacate the lane. The second problem is the engine has a "stumble" or miss-fire at idle. Again the manufactures states the engine is also within guidelines. The dealer claims there is an industry standard for alignment, but provides no written documentation on what the standards are or what the manufacturer's acceptable tolerances are specifically. Do you have anything which indicates alignment standards and engine timing.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #3

Nov 011998

(reported on)

Ram Van 1500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
Engine idle speed set to factory specs (750-850 RPM)causes vehicle to accelerate to approx 25mph without any pressure on accelerator (automatic transmission). This also causes more difficult braking and increased brake wear.

- Deerfield, NH, USA

problem #2

May 151998

Ram Van 1500 4WD

  • miles
While traveling at 70 mph, the engine spun a rod and threw a bearing, leaving vehicle inoperable.

- Jefferson, MO, USA

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