1998 Ram 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
134 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Ram 3500, alongside 1 recall campaign and 1 defect investigation. It scores 20/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 92,179 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1998 Ram 3500 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1998 sits among all 3500 years
What owners report
“While traveling at night, both headlights would go out. Dealer notified. Ph”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 3500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 63 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 93,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 75,000 and 155,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
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.
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
19 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 1998 Ram 3500. 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 3500 reliable?
The 1998 Ram 3500 drew 134 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 20/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 1998 Ram 3500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Ram 3500 are electrical (32 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (20), and brakes & stability (19).
At what mileage do 1998 Ram 3500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Ram 3500 problems around 93,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 75,000 and 155,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Ram 3500 have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 1998 Ram 3500. 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.