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1998 Dodge Ram 3500 Recalls & Complaints

1

open safety recall on record

Serious

134 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.99 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious08E027000

Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly

IF THIS CONDITION REMAINS UNDETECTED, THE BOLT CAN EVENTUALLY UNSEAT COMPLETELY, CAUSING THE AFFECTED WHEEL TO DISENGAGE FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

AFFINIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AFFINIA AT 734-827-5400.

AFFINIA IS RECALLING 5,700 AFTERMARKET CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 28, 2006 THROUGH MARCH 17, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON MY 1998 AND 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE DUST SEAL SUPPLIED WITH THE CHASSIS TIE RODS WERE MANUFACTURED TO THE WRONG SPECIFICATION. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE DUST SEAL MAY PREVENT THE BALL STUD OF THE CHASSIS TIE ROD FROM PROPERLY SEATING INTO THE TAPER OF THE VEHICLE STEERING KNUCKLE DURING AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION.

Complaint volume

134 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

13Crashes
17Fires
14Injuries
0Deaths

Across 134 complaints. Severity Index 0.99.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic…9 · 7%Power Train · Manual Tran…9 · 7%Exterior Lighting · Headl…8 · 6%Air Bags · Frontal7 · 5%Electrical System · Wirin…6 · 4%Power Train · Automatic T…5 · 4%Vehicle Speed Control5 · 4%Electrical System5 · 4%
  1. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 9 reports
  2. Power Train:Manual Transmission — 9 reports
  3. Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch — 8 reports
  4. Air Bags:Frontal — 7 reports
  5. Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash — 6 reports
  6. Power Train:Automatic Transmission — 5 reports
  7. Vehicle Speed Control — 5 reports
  8. Electrical System — 5 reports
  9. Unknown Or Other — 4 reports
  10. Exterior Lighting:Headlights — 4 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (1) · 1996 (1) · 1997 (1) · 1998 · 1999 (1) · 2000 (1) · 2001 (1) · 2002 (1) · 2003 (9) · 2004 (7) · 2005 (7) · 2006 (11) · 2007 (14) · 2008 (11) · 2009 (5) · 2010 (1) · 2011 · 2012

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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