1998 Dodge RAM Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 1998 Dodge RAM, 17% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 65,699 miles. The words owners use most often: “fifth gear” (6% of reports).
- 80power train complaints
- 65,699median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fifth gear: mentioned in 5 of 80 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 6 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 80 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Dodge RAM power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 RAM | 7 | 26% | 22,300 |
| 2009 RAM | 2 | 22% | 60,000 |
| 2008 RAM | 4 | 16% | 40,000 |
| 2007 RAM | 4 | 24% | 59,436 |
| 2005 RAM | 11 | 28% | 107,250 |
| 2004 RAM | 8 | 14% | 23,000 |
| 2003 RAM | 6 | 11% | 51,567 |
| 2002 RAM | 17 | 15% | 60,000 |
| 2001 RAM | 50 | 16% | 39,000 |
| 2000 RAM | 21 | 14% | 57,000 |
| 1999 RAM | 53 | 14% | 68,414 |
| 1998 RAM | 80 | 17% | 65,699 |
| 1997 RAM | 71 | 18% | 80,000 |
| 1996 RAM | 135 | 22% | 75,000 |
| 1995 RAM | 91 | 15% | 99,869 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:clutch assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with manual transmission, v10 engines and four-wheel-drive transfer cases. Under sustained maximum rated vehicle load, while driving up a steep grade in four-wheel-drive low range in hot ambient conditions, the local exhaust temperature proximate to the hydraulic clutch line can generate line temperatures that exceed the temperature limit of the clutch line material. If this condition occurs and the clutch is depressed, the line could rupture.
Risk: The fluid could ignite on the hot exhaust possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While driving vehicle stalled. Driver was unable to restart vehicle, and had it towed to dealer. Mechanic determined that transmission and engine needed to be replaced due to wear and tear. *ak
The rpms increased, and the gears popped on the vehicle on their own. Took vehicle to repair shop for check up, and results showed that a new transmission needed to be replaced.*ak
Truck has been nothing but problems replaced many parts for leaks and transmission problems engine light consistently comes on even after repairs. Truck buck when accelerating looses engine power. Would like it fixed i read other complaints and they had the same problem. I put a lot of money into…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Dodge RAMs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 80 owner complaints about power train for the 1998 Dodge RAM (17% of the 483 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge RAM power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 65,699 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 1998 Dodge RAM?
The most frequent phrase is “fifth gear”, in 5 of 80 complaints.
Other 1998 Dodge RAM problems
See all 1998 Dodge RAM problems or power train problems across all RAM years.