VehicleVerdict

1998 Dodge Ram transmission problems

The 1998 Dodge Ram has 90 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

90

Transmission complaints

14%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Related recalls

99V115000TransmissionMay 6, 1999 · 8,883 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, V10 ENGINES AND FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE TRANSFER CASES. UNDER SUSTAINED MAXIMUM RATED VEHICLE LOAD, WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP GRADE IN FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE LOCAL EXHAUST TEMPERATURE PROXIMATE TO THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE CAN GENERATE LINE TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE TEMPERATURE LIMIT OF THE CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS AND THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, THE LINE COULD RUPTURE.

Consequence

THE FLUID COULD IGNITE ON THE HOT EXHAUST POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.

What owners report

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · April 6, 2005 · fire

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1998 Dodge Ram have?

NHTSA has 90 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Ram transmission — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1998 Dodge Ram transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 99V115000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.