1998 Ram 2500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
310 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Ram 2500, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 11/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 140,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1998 Ram 2500 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1998 sits among all 2500 years
What owners report
“Brakes experience hang up and pulling continually, replacement of the brakes did not rectify pulling problems. Mjs”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 2500
“While i was driving the vehicle at about 35 mph, the truck began revving, then stopped. I could see transmission fluid leaking. The truck was towed to the dealer, who removed the transmission and rebuilt it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 2500
“People in service dept. At dealership told me that my gear box and tie rod needed to be replaced due to an oversized tire (approx. 2 inches taller than factory tire) also due to the fact of using a lower gear to pull a trailer. The truck is an automatic.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 2500
“While checking air pressures,found crack in sidewall about four inches long parallel to tread and about 2 inches from edge of rim. On further inspection found another tire with similar crack about 1 inch long (dot number: mk11 tiresize: lt245/75r1)”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 2500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 93 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 98,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 60,000 and 160,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
AFFINIA IS RECALLING 5,700 AFTERMARKET CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 28, 2006 THROUGH MARCH 17, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON MY 1998 AND 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE DUST SEAL SUPPLIED WITH THE CHASSIS TIE RODS WERE…
Fix: AFFINIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AFFINIA AT 734-827-5400.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL…
Fix: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
Technical service bulletins
19 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 1998 Ram 2500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Ram 2500 reliable?
The 1998 Ram 2500 drew 310 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 11/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 1998 Ram 2500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Ram 2500 are brakes & stability (57 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (33), and steering (27).
At what mileage do 1998 Ram 2500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Ram 2500 problems around 98,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 60,000 and 160,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Ram 2500 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Ram 2500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.