10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,466 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 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #89

Jan 172002

Ram 1500

  • 39,000 miles

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

He dash started cracking not that long after we got the truck. It was not even paid off when it started coming apart was used. We eventually put a mat dash cover on it to keep the parts from flying around. It has virtually dissolved since then. Very poor material was used on these.

- Gatesville, TX, USA

problem #88

Dec 162002

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
Dash breaking apart, leaving small and large shards of very sharp plastic pointing to passengers/driver.

- Horton, KS, USA

problem #87

May 042014

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 109,000 miles
Upper dash totally gone and bezel around cluster cracked and falling apart.

- Fort Pierce, FL, USA

problem #86

Mar 012012

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 138,839 miles

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

Dashboard is cracking.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #85

Jun 302000

Ram 1500

  • miles
Whole dash has open hole the size of a football, and cracks from drivers side to passenger side. More open space than dash left. It cracks, breaks, and crumbles to where tape doesn't even work anymore. Falls into cab and behind dash.

- Clinton, MO, USA

problem #84

Feb 122009

Ram 1500

  • 190,000 miles
I have owned the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 new in the dash is cracked.

- St.Louis, MO, USA

problem #83

Jul 202007

Ram 1500

  • 108,000 miles

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

I was cleaning front windshield. July 2007 was the first time I saw the dash panel crack, how long it had been there I do not know.

- Needville, TX, USA

problem #82

Jan 022012

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
This is my second Dodge Ram that my dash has cracked and came apart. The last one was a 2002 Dodge Ram. With the sharp edges this causes and the wiring dangers this is defenatly a hazard and Dodge should recall all these trucks and replace at no charge. I have seen countless web sites with so many people complaining about the same thing its rediculas Dodge can get by with this... so much for american workmanship...

- Loveland, CO, USA

problem #81

Apr 032007

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 193,000 miles
The spare tire mechanism that hold the tire under the bed broke. This failure was very dangerous since it occurred while I was driving, my spare tire fell onto the street and rolled. Luckily I was in a 35 mph area, but cars still had to move out of the way of the rolling tire. Had I been on the interstate, it could have been disastrous.

- Auburn, AL, USA

problem #80

Jan 032007

Ram 1500

  • 212,000 miles
The dash board began to crack, now it is virtually non existent. I cannot place anything on the dash because it has huge chunks missing. If I roll down my windows on the interstate, some more pieces of the dash fall off. It is unusable. It may be a hazard because small sharp plastic parts should not be in front of the driver. I have cut my hand on the edges when I was picking up all the broken shards of plastic. I am appalled that Dodge is not accountable for shortcomings in nearly every single Dodge pickup truck. I have had mechanics that have told me to go elsewhere, because they did not want to be responsible for the inevitable breaking of the dash that occurs when you have to work on the interior.

- Auburn, AL, USA

problem #79

Sep 012011

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles

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

I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab sport 360 4X4 with the 5.9. my dash has now started cracking and the crack is getting worse. As of right now, the crack is about 4 inches in length and is spreading. It is located right above the instrument panel and close to the vent by the front glass. I have been a dedicated Dodge owner along with evening owning a Dodge website (www.Dodge-chat.com) and I have to say this is a big disappointment that Dodge has not taken care of this issue. I think Dodge needs to step up to the plate and acknowledge that this is a big issue.

- Vernon, IN, USA

problem #78

Jul 202011

Ram 1500

  • 101,000 miles
Dash cracked and is close to becoming a hole. Why has this not been a recall issue I know of at least 200 other Dodge Ram owners who have the same problem and that is just in tampa fl. Stop dragging your feet and save us some money from them cutting cost and doing it wrong the first time.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #77

Feb 012011

Ram 1500

  • miles
The dashboard on my 1998 Dodge Ram has cracked and fallen into the electrical components in several places. It seems to be a problem with the plastic itself as no external sources caused the damage. It started happening in February of 2009 and has gotten steadily worse.the plastic has become so sharp and brittle that driving on a bumpy road will actually cause pieces to fall into the dash.this could be a safety issue if the vehicle was involved in crash, the dashboard could become airborne in shards. These shards of plastic are sharp enough to cause serious injury if they were to strike your face or eyes. The pieces fall into the dashboard and onto electrical components, once they fall into this position it is almost impossible to remove them from the inside of the dashboard. I can see future electrical problems such as a vehicle fire resulting from the sharp shards of plastic being in contact with wiring that is now exposed as a result of the plastic falling away. I have contacted Dodge but was advised that no recall exists and therefore they will not replace the dashboard. It seems that a simple fix on their behalf could avoid major problems with somebody getting seriously injured. An internet search has revealed that there are hundreds of complaints of the same nature, I have owned a Dodge vehicle for almost my entire adult life and I am now looking to purchase a new Ford this year because I am so concerned about this problem.

- Cambridge, MD, USA

problem #76

Apr 152003

Ram 1500

  • 30,000 miles
The dashboard started cracking. It has been several years now, but it has gotten alot worse. I mean alot worse. I've never seen cracking of the dashboard quite this bad ever in my life.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #75

Feb 012009

Ram 1500

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that there was a fracture in the dashboard.the vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 89,000 and the current mileage was 108,450.

- Blacksburg, SC, USA

problem #74

Jan 012005

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 76,000 miles
Dash has numerous cracks. Concerned about the passenger air bag being deployed and causing injury when parts of dash come off.

- Boiling Springs, SC, USA

problem #73

Aug 222011

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
I own a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 extended cab. I bought the vehicle new. For several years the dash has been cracking and the plastic air conditioning vents are falling apart. I have made no repairs and it needs fixing. Also the rear end is roaring probably from a bearing going bad. Other than this problem, it has been a good truck.

- Pelzer, SC, USA

problem #72

Aug 222011

Ram 1500

  • 0 miles
Dash in my 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 has cracks and keeps getting worse.

- Wellford, SC, USA

problem #71

Jan 012009

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Dash cracked in the area of passenger side air bag.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #70

Jul 012004

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • miles
My Dodge truck 1998 Ram 1500 dashboard is cracking and has been for several years. The cracks now are moving toward the panel of instruments and the cracks are coming together to make holes I can not get the evaporator for my air conditioner fixed due to the faulty dash. I contacted Chrysler and stated that there is no recall and would not repair dash. I went online and this appears to be a common problems with the Ram 1500 my truck is kept inside when not being used and is up to date on all maintenance.

- Orlando, FL, USA

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