1998 DODGE Ram Van Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 complaints

THE VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR WERE BURNED ALONG WITH THE TRUCK BATTERY AND OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN OTHER VEHICLES AND FEELS THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

Aug 12, 2004

Fire: 1

WHILE AT A DODGE DEALER FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPAIR THE VERIZON VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR, TRUCK BATTERY AND OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS WERE BURNT. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN OTHER VANS OF THIS MODEL AND BELIEVES THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

Aug 12, 2004

Fire: 1

THE VERIZON VEHICLE HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE ABS MODULE AND WIRING CONNECTOR, TRUCK BATTERY, AND VARIOUS UNDERHODD COMPONENTS WERE BURNT. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN THIS MODEL VAN AND FEELS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

Aug 12, 2004

Fire: 1

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/SHORTS WHICH CAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHT/TV/VCR/CD PLAYER TO SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE ASD 20 AMP FUSE TO BLOW SEVERAL TIMES WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. NLM

Sep 11, 2000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

3 complaints

THE VEHICLE IS A MOTOR HOME, BUILT INTO A 19-FOOT DODGE VAN 3500 BY THE HOME AND PARK COMPANY IN ONTARIO, CANADA (WWW.ROADTREK.COM). THEY CALL THEIR MOTOR HOME 'ROADTREK'. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND HAD DRIVEN TO OKLAHOMA WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. WE WERE ON I-44 AT MILE 262 GOING WEST WHEN WE STOPPED TO SWITCH DRIVERS. THE NEW DRIVER, BEFORE SETTING OUT, FOUND THAT THE BRAKES WERE GONE: PEDAL ON THE FLOOR. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT ALL THE BRAKE FLUID WAS ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CLAREMORE OK FOR REPAIRS, WHERE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND TO BE RUPTURED DUE TO ABRASION. INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRONT BRAKE LINE ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS SIMILARLY ABRADED BUT NOT YET WORN THROUGH. BOTH LINES WERE REPLACED AND WE RESUMED TRAVEL. THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO US IN 2004, WHERE THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER WE HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE IN OUR ASSIGNED SITE IN A CAMPGROUND. IN THAT CASE ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE LINE WAS REPLACED. HAD THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN FAST, HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ON A STEEP HILL WE WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED AND POSSIBLY CAUSED INJURY TO OTHERS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS YOU FIGURE IT'S A FLUKE. BUT AFTER A SECOND TIME, IT'S A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE ABRADED BRAKE LINE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE INVOICES OF THE WORK DONE. I CAN SEND THOSE IF DESIRED.

Mar 17, 2011

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED FRONT BRAKE PROBLEMS, FIRST THE CALIPER BRAKE BOLT WAS PULLED OUT AND RESTED INSIDE THE DRUM, THEN BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES BURSTED AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY RESULTING IN A THREE CAR COLLISION. NLM

Sep 11, 2000

Injuries: 2

PLASTIC CALIPER PISTON CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

Jan 04, 2000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE PARKED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 32 UNDER HOOD FIRE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

Feb 17, 2009

Fire: 1

DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED OF BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE 1999 DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING ONTO THE BRAKE LINES AND CAUSING CORROSION. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE PROBLEM WA SREPAIRED BY PUTTING A RUBBER TRAY UNDER THE BATTERY. *AK

Jun 29, 2005

AIR BAGS

2 complaints

SINCE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE RECALL 99V002000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON, AND THE DASHBOARD COMPONENTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK

May 24, 2004

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON SMOOTH SURFACE WHEN DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING BURNS AND MINOR INJURES TO DRIVER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT/PRIOR ACCIDENT AND NO UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACT. CAUSE UNKNOWN, DEALER SIMPLY WANTS TO REPACK AND REPAIR THE BAGS AND RETURN IT TO THE DRIVER. *AK *ML

May 01, 2000

Injuries: 1

POWER TRAIN

2 complaints

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THERE WAS NO WARNINGS, BUT CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH BEFORE IT WENT OUT.*AK

Mar 21, 2002

TRANSMISSION POWER TRAIN EXPERIENCES LOUD GEAR NOISE, FREQUENT AFTER VEHICLE IS WARMED UP. MJS

Feb 01, 1999

VISIBILITY

2 complaints

THE WIPER BLADE LINKAGE BROKE. NLM

Sep 11, 2000

BOTH FRONT SIDE WINDOWS FELL DOWN. NLM

Sep 11, 2000

STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

SOME DODGE RAM VANS HAVE A LATENT DEFECT IN THE FRAME THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THERE IS NO RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH COMPLAINTS, INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FRAME IN ONE SPOT. I BELIEVE THAT THE AC RUNOFF IS VENTED DIRECTLY INTO THE FRAME WHICH, OVER TIME RESULTS IN THE EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE FRAME AT THE POINT WHERE THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING ARE LOCATED - THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SHORT OF REPLACING THE WHOLE FRAME. DODGE DENIES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND BLAMES THIS DEFECT ON ROAD SALT AND CONDITIONS. THIS WOULD BE A VALID ASSERTION IF THE REST OF THE VEHICLE HAD ROT PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE ON THE VEHICLE. INCLUDING THE MUCH MORE VOLATILE BODY PARTS, WHICH ARE IN SOME CASES, STILL SOLID AND IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN SEVERAL YEARS OF THIS MODEL TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS EASY TO CHECK FOR AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY DODGE SIMPLY BECAUSE THE VANS ARE GETTING OLDER AND THIS PROBLEM WILL BE OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR

Jul 20, 2013

STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL I HEARD A LOUD POP/THUMP. SUBSEQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 15MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE BREAK DOWN WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HAD RUSTED AND CRACKED. THIS IS WHERE THE STEERING IS CONNECTED TO. NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE. I HAVE CONTACTED ALTERNATE REPAIR SOURCES OF DEALERS, BODY SHOPS, WELDERS AND METAL FABRICATORS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS TO GET ANYONE WILLING OR ABLE TO REPAIR THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED NON-DRIVABLE AND NON-FIXABLE.

Jun 02, 2011

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

1 complaint

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDERHOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE PARKED. CHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 33 UNDERHOOD FIRE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION BY NHTSA. *TR

Jul 02, 2009

Fire: 1

STEERING,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM VAN. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT FELT A HARD VIBRATION AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO LOCATE THE ORIGIN OF THE SOUND, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO PARK WHEN ANOTHER LOUD SOUND OCCURRED. THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND LOCATED A FAILURE WITH THE STEERING CONTROL ARM AND ITS COMPONENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. HE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE BODY SHOP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LIABILITY. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO LOCATE A COLLISION REPAIR SHOP TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WORK. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE A SHOP TO PERFORM THE NEEDED REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

Jun 09, 2008

SUSPENSION

1 complaint

VEHICLE: 1998 DODGE B1500 RAM VAN PROBLEM: AT LESS THAN 40,000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY A TIRE DEALER THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BEFORE THE FRONT END COULD BE ALIGNED. AT 60,000 MILES I FINALLY DECIDE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NOT ONLY WAS THE BALL JOINTS BAD, BUT ONE SIDE HAD COME LOOSE IN THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, AND DESTROYED THE THREADS AND WAS FLOATING FREE IN THE CONTROL ARM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD. I AM INTERESTED IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. BY DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINT ON OTHER DODGE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. JOSEPH SCHEIBENPFLUG

Jul 24, 2005

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1 complaint

VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK UP, AND DISCOVERED THAT FUEL TANK WAS EXPANDING, AND RUBBING THE CAB. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL TANK MAKES A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR DUE TO THE FUEL TANK EXPANDING AND RUBBING THE BACK OF THE CAB. *YH

Sep 06, 2002

SUSPENSION,TIRES

1 complaint

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS TO BE REPLACED. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IS P235/75 R15 MTS SHOULD BE P235/75RXL. *AK *TT

Apr 29, 2002

EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER/MOTOR SHORTED OUT. NLM

Sep 11, 2000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 complaint

THE ENGINE SURGES. NLM

Sep 11, 2000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

DOOR LIGHTS DON'T COME ON. NLM

Sep 11, 2000

TIRES

1 complaint

CONSUMER WAS EXPERINCING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-322. NLM

Mar 08, 2000

SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. NEITHER DID THE SEAT BELTS THAT HELD PASSENGERS IN REAR SEATS AND 3 YOUNGER CHILDREN. THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

May 19, 1999

Injuries: 5

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 1998 DODGE Ram Van have?

The 1998 DODGE Ram Van currently has 27 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 1998 DODGE Ram Van?

The most common problems reported for the 1998 DODGE Ram Van are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 1998 DODGE Ram Van problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 1998 DODGE Ram Van comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.