10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,964 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 3500 transmission problems

transmission problem

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1998 Dodge Ram Van 3500 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #22

Feb 081999

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Have had many recalls on this truck, now transmission problems. Just don't know what to do.

- Roosevelt, UT, USA

problem #21

Jan 242000

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle has a broken park rod which is a part of the park gear. When vehicle is placed into park, it will keep rolling. Dealer has been contacted.

- Strafford, NH, USA

problem #20

Jul 281999

Ram Van 3500 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 #19

Dec 011998

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • miles

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

My 1998 Dodge Ram equipped with an automatic transmission shifts into neutral when hitting hard bumps in the road. Chrysler district manager says all Dodge Ram do this and I ought to drive a little slower. The ABS brakes have also fairled on a steep decline. The noise from the front end was horrendous and the wheels continued to roll with no effort to stop. Also the front end of this truck cannot be aligned. Dodge has attempted to correct the problem by installing aftermarket ball joints, however problem still exists and I have gone thru 3 sets of tires. If all Ram trucks shift into neutral then all should be off the road as mine is. I have received several calls from other owners having the same problem.

- Carson City, NV, USA

problem #18

Feb 201998

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • miles
Since the truck was new, it has been jumping into neutral when we travel, down bumpy roads. The dealer was contacted, Chrysler Canada has been contacted, my insurance company has been contacted, Transport Canada has been contacted, and I would like to know if you have recieved any reports reguarding this problem. If you would be able to E-mail me with any information that you have it would be gratly appreciated. Thank you very much for helping me out.

- Gillam,Manitoba,Canada, AK, USA

problem #17

Jul 011999

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
Transmission does not shift out of low gear until engine is at about 2000 RPM and occasionally will not engage at all when accelerating from a stop.

- Mayport, FL, USA

problem #16

Sep 271999

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500 4WD Diesel

  • miles

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

With engine running, you can shift into gear just by pushing down on shifter. Engine can be started in any gear.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #15

Sep 211999

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Intermittently while driving vehicle jumps out of gear, and the over rive light comes on. Dealer is inspecting the vehicle. Manufacturer has been notified.

- Terryville, CT, USA

problem #14

Nov 011998

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • miles
Transmission, 4X4 sending unit.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #13

Aug 271999

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
Automatic transmission has slipped and failed to engage since purchase. Have returned to dealer more than once and was told nothing wrong. Iwas told that my foot on the gas pedal is faster than the computer working the trans.

- Collegeville, PA, USA

problem #12

Aug 231999

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500

  • miles

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

Shifter linkage bolts sheered off, unable to put into park

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #11

Aug 221999

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • miles
Horn difficult to operate; trans shifts out of drive into neutral when driving over bumps and engine is under load

- Sherwood, AR, USA

problem #10

Apr 041999

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • miles
Transfer replaced w/in 4 mths of purchase, transmission now does not wish to shift...dealer is questioning

- Sioux City, IA, USA

problem #9

Apr 011998

Ram Van 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission power train experiences loud gear noise, frequent after vehicle is warmed up. Mjs

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #8

Dec 011998

Ram Van 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission shifts late, jumping into gear on different occasions usually between 10-35 M.P.H. dealership analyzed problem, but found nothing. Problem still persists.

- Berkey, OH, USA

problem #7

Jun 201998

Ram Van 3500

  • 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 #6

Feb 121999

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • miles
Please refer to service bulletin 971017182997, NHTSA SB054220. This is what I am experiencing on my truck. I have no complaints with the dealer they did all they could. The torque converter locks up between 40 and 53 mph. I wanted them to fix it. They said all of the Dodge Ram pickups do this. The whole truck starts to shake between 40 and 53 and its due to the gear setting in the tranny and the engine RPM. This was designed by Dodge for fuel effeciency but causes the truck to shake due to torque converter lock-up. I was satisified that it wasn't just a problem with my truck when the Dodge dealer let me pick out a new Dodge on his lot with the same size engine and drive train, it had 6 miles on it (brand new 99'). when I drove the new truck it was considerably worst than mine and started to shake between 30 and about 53 but it shook more than my truck thru the entire range. I am concerned that this shaking due to torque converter lockup won't eventually shorten the life of the torque converter and possibly the transmission. I found your service on the internet, so I am giving it a try. Thank you

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #5

Sep 021998

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer expriencing on going problem with transmission jumping out of gear intermittently. Vehicle been in/out dealer shop on five occasions and problem still occurs. Dealer/mfr. Notified. The front right spring failed. The relay rod and the camber malfunctions.

- Carten City, NV, USA

problem #4

Sep 281998

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
I just bought a new 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 truck have just put 100 miles on the truck I have been uable to drive because of a neck injurie and the truck has been park in my garage and now it is in the shop with a pin hole in transmission casing so I am with out a truck because the transmission is on back order and have no idea ween it is going to be in now I can drive but I have no truck to drive

- Stanley, NC, USA

problem #3

Jan 011998

Ram Van 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When driving vehicle at any speed it jumps out of drive into neutral when hitting a bump. Dealer's investigation representative cannot duplicate the problem.

- Forest, MS, USA

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