10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 1
Average Mileage:
6,843 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Dodge Ram 1500 electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #49

Nov 292007

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Horn does not work unless you hit it in the right spot and you have to hit it very very hard to the point where it hurts your hand, then some times it still don't work. It is a safety hazard and should be recalled.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #48

May 102006

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 119,000 miles
Horn button doesn't work. When it does work, it won't turn off. Horn button is connected to the airbag on my truck.

- Griffith, IN, USA

problem #47

Feb 082006

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The horn on my 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 will only blow with about 50 lbs of pressure applied to the steering wheel and only if you push on the exact spot. This is a big safety issue a guy backed out of a parking spot and right into the side of my truck. I tried to blow the horn but I couldn't get it to work until it was to late.

- Belleview, FL, USA

problem #46

Dec 312005

Ram 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The dash cracked in several places a couple of years ago along with the bezel. Also have a problem with horn, it is very hard to activate when pushed. These items are a concern being near or part of the air bag deployment if in a crash. I believe the dash and bezel are cheaply made and Dodge needs to replace these at what ever cost to prevent possible injury if persons are in a crash while operating or riding in their vehicles.

- Lindale, TX, USA

problem #45

Jul 062004

Ram 1500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer noticed in cold weather horn assembly is hard to depress in an emergency.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #44

Jan 262004

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn is hard to blow. Rear end makes whining noise and it started using 5 quarts of oil between oil changes. I only have 36000 miles on it. They replaced manifold intake gasket at my expense. The fuel gauge does not work right. Luckily I didn't ruin the engine that I know of. I understand there have been a lot of problems with intake gaskets. How long does it take to get a recall on defective parts?

- King, NC, USA

problem #43

Jan 222003

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,329 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Horn button is impossible to press to actuate horn. This is my second truck of same year and this is a recurring problem.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #42

Dec 022003

Ram 1500

  • 94,000 miles
Horn switch failed intermittently.

- Fairfield, OH, USA

problem #41

Jul 032003

Ram 1500

  • miles
The horn turned on by itself. The battery was disconnected and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that horn assembly has to be replaced.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #40

Feb 062002

(reported on)

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn buttone (the area you press in the center of the steering wheel) will no press in to honk, due to design problem, due to air bag. There is not way to honk the horn

- White House, TN, USA

problem #39

Jan 182002

(reported on)

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Horn is almost impossible to honk, dealer says it is because of airbag housing and there is not room for horn contacts to work, so no matter where you push or how hard you hit the steering wheel, it will not allow the horn to honk!

- White House, TN, USA

problem #38

Jan 062001

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
In the event of an emergency, the horn button cannot be located without taking eyes off the road

- Lincoln, IL, USA

problem #37

Nov 161998

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
Horn does not sound when depressed; backup lights lens cover is tinted.

- Lorida, FL, USA

problem #36

Apr 252000

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn is very hard to locate on steering column, and it is very hard to depress to get it to blow. This vehicle has narrowly missed being involved in 2 or 3 accidents because the driver could not use the horn.

- Arlington, TN, USA

problem #35

Aug 111999

Ram 1500

  • miles
Horn is located on top of steering wheel where the airbags come out. Consumer cannot place entire hand on the horn to make it work. Only a single point he can press with his finger on the steering column. That is the only way he can hear the horn.

- Fairmont, MN, USA

problem #34

Jan 272000

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
The horn is very difficult to apply. Owner has to add excessive pressure to get horn to function. Dlr says it's normal.

- Harrison, MI, USA

problem #33

Jan 192000

(reported on)

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
The horn is very difficult to use. It must be hit hard at exactly the right spot to function. When in a panic (I.e. when horn use is necessary) it is unlikely that one can hit the right spot. In very cold weather (below freezing) the horn does not work at all.

- Safford, AZ, USA

problem #32

Dec 121998

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The design of horn button hardens in cold weather causing difficulties locating horn in a emergency. Occasionally the horn fails to work properly. The cruise control would gradually decrease without brakes being applied. Taken vehicle to dealer to check.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #31

Aug 271999

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn has two small buttons on both side of airbag cover which are too small to locate and hard to press, not allowing driver to communicate with other drivers. Manufacturer states there is no plan to revise horn.

- Tippecanoe, OH, USA

problem #30

Aug 221999

(reported on)

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
Horn difficult to operate; trans shifts out of drive into neutral when driving over bumps and engine is under load

- Sherwood, AR, USA

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