10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 15 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 13 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 83,330 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and the steering function intermittently failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnoised that the clockspring malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 01V153000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 129,915.
- Blacksburg, VA, USA
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. While the vehicle was at a stop light, the air bags deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.
- Panama City, FL, USA
My son was driving home from high school band practice when he lost control and hit a tree head on fire department had to brake window to get him and the boy with him out of the truck. Neither air bag went off.I called the 800 number and reported it. Was told truck to old
- Henderson, TX, USA
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the air bag light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician determined that the air bag clock spring failed and would need to be replaced. The contact was made aware that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 01V153000 (air bags). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000. MA 08/13/15
- Lewiston, ID, USA
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the driver side air bag erroneously deployed. The contact indicated that during the incident the vehicle had not made contact with anything to cause the air bag to deploy. The driver suffered an injury to the left. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no remedy was offered. The failure mileage was 165,000. Updated 8/28/14 the consumer stated the manufacturer did not offer any assistance. The air bag model necessary for the repair is no longer available. The vehicle was without a horn. The entire steering column needed to be repaired. Updated 11/6/2014
- Melbourn, FL, USA
I understand that there was a recall of defective clocksprings that disabled airbags in certain Dodge products (safety recall 982)(NHTSA identification number 01V-153). The recall included vehicles in the VIN last 8 digits WS501493 to WS771681. My 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 has a last eight digits of [xxx]. thus, it does fall within the range of recalled VIN numbers. However, for some reason my truck is not described as one of those recalled. However, I have an airbag light that is on and the steering wheel mounted cruise control does not work it seems to me that both of these are indications of a defective clockspring just as on the recalled vehicles. I would like to know why I have not received a recall notice and why my vehicle make model and year is not described as recalled even though the last eight VIN digits falls within the range of those recalled for this defect. Can the recall of this be studied further and expanded to include my vehicle? information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Honolulu, HI, USA
I have owned the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 new in the dash is cracked.
- St.Louis, MO, USA
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the horn failed. The contact had to apply excessive force to the steering wheel in order for the horn to activate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician advised that the air bag and horn contact unit needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 2,300 and the current mileage was 65,000.
- Riverside, CA, USA
I went off the road going about 65 mph and hit a tree, head on. The airbags did not deploy. I was not seriously injured. I have searched the internet and have found that this is not the first incident involving my type of vehicle (Dodge Ram).
- Manlius, NY, USA
I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. Like many of these trucks my dashboard is literally breaking apart and collapsing. I have read on line where this is very common with my vehicle. My truck has an airbag built in the dash board and I am concerned that a sharp plastic shard could cause severe bodily injury if the airbag is deployed or if the airbag will even work since the dash board has caved in. Dealers are not willing to fix this problem. I am also concerned that the dashboard wiring could catch fire.
- Valrico, FL, USA
My 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup has a chronic case of cracked dash. This has been heavily noted from 1998 models through the 2004 models. This is extremely hazardous to passenger safety because if the passenger airbag should deploy the passenger or driver could be impaled by sharp shards of plastic from the fractured dash. These dashes need to be recalled due to this extreme safety hazard.
- Bellefontaine, OH, USA
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram. While driving various speeds, the air bag warning indicator randomly illuminates and the air bag chime will begin to sound. The horn in the vehicle has also stopped working. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and provided them with information he found online regarding NHTSA campaign id number 01V153000 (air bags). He was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall, although the failures were identical. The contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The vehicle is currently at the dealer and they stated that the clock springs were the cause of the failures in the horn and the air bags. The air bag system was completely disabled and would not deploy in the event of a crash. The failure mileage was 124,000 and current mileage was 125,000. Updated 10/20/08. Updated 10/21/08.
- Johnson City, NY, USA
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that the air bag indicator light illuminates and an alarm sounds four times intermittently. Eventually, the air bag light dims. The contact will have the vehicle inspected. There are two air bag recalls (NHTSA campaign id numbers 01V153000 and 99V002000); however, the manufacturer stated that his vehicle was not included in either one. The current mileage was 120,000 and failure mileage was 119,800.
- New Boston, MI, USA
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving at any speed, the air bag warning lights remain illuminated. The mechanic stated that the clock spring assembly needed to be replaced. There is a recall # 01V153000 (air bags), however the dealer and manufacturer stated that the vehicle is excluded from the recall. The contact feels his vehicle should be included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were 87,000.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
In Nov. 2005 another driver run a stop sign directly in front of me. I hit a small pick up broadside at 30 mph. It did $2500 damage. Neither right or left side air bag deployed.
- Phoenix, NY, USA
The "air bag" light remains on.
- Slatington, PA, USA
While driving, the consumer tried to avoid another vehicle that was coming inside of the lane. When the consumer applied the brakes, the pedal went to the floor. The consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and hit a guard rail and flipped into a ditch. Both air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained head injuries. The driver went to the hospital on his own. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. Please provide additional information.
- Kenedy, TX, USA
Air bag light started illuminating on and off. Eventually it remained illuminated. The consumer later found out that the manufacturer was voluntarily replacing the clock spring on vehicles with mileage less than 70000 miles (recall# 02V293). The consumer contacted the manufacturer and was told that the recall was only for vans.
- Mountlake Terrace, WA, USA
A recall letter was received, after taking the vehicle to the dealer the consumer was told that his vehicle identification number did not come up in the computer.. recall 01V153000.
- Temecula, CA, USA
- Benton City, WA, USA