The 1999 Dodge Ram has 58 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.
58
Transmission complaints
12%
Share of year
2
Crash-involved
2
Related recalls
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE UNDERBODY HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE HEAT SHIELD IS TOO SHORT, ALLOWING THE PLASTIC CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL TO BE DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO EXHAUST TEMPERATURES. IT IS POSSIBLE TO EXCEED THE MELTING TEMPERATURE OF THE CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL.
Consequence
IF THE LINE MELTS, HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN LEAK ONTO THE VEHICLE EXHAUST AND CAUSE AN UNDERBODY FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE PROPER LENGTH HEAT SHIELD.
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.
“I HAD STOPPED AT A BOAT RAMP TO LAUNCH BOAT. I TIED END OF ROPE TO BUMBER OF TRUCK AND THE OTHER END TO THE BOAT. I THEN WAS GOING TO BACK DOWN TO WATER UNTIL BOAT FLOATED OFF TRAILER AND THEN PULL AHEAD, STOP AND GET ROPE AND TIE BOAT TO DOCK. THE ROPE SNAGGED ON THE BUMBER OF TRUCK SO I PULLED…”
NHTSA has 58 complaints about the 1999 Dodge Ram transmission — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the transmission: 99V115000, 99V190000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.