1999 Dodge Ram 2500

Above average

Owners filed 313 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

175 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000105,000 miles; the median is 90,490 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure43
101
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip26
100
Unknown or Other17
001
Power Train › Automatic Transmission12
000
Steering11
100
Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)10
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
000
Seat Belts10
000
Air Bags10
408
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel9
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly08E027000
Filed Mar 28, 20085,700 vehiclesAffinia Group, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling06E024000
Filed Mar 15, 200644,386 vehiclesK&n Engineering, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Risk. A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.

Remedy. K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Apr 12, 2023AZ

I know I am not the only one that thinks this is a bad problem, in fact I have not met a person that has owned this era of Dodge Ram that has their Dashboard and the whole parts inside can have been falling apart. Mine has fallen and hit my legs and or lap. Now I don’t mean the whole dash at one time but I have glued, taped and put a dash pad over top to try to keep things from falling into the vents and blower motor or anything that is behind and under the top. This is a definite safety problem cause I never know when this will happen and happening more often. I bought this truck with 11 miles on it from Logansport Indiana, September of 1999. I had been looking for a 2 wheel drive with a Cummins 5.9 Diesel and found it there in Logansport we lived in Lafayette Indiana and hoped we would be able to travel and see this beautiful country. My Wife’s family started having medical problems and after we did what we could for them, then my family needed help and none wanted nursing homes so we put aside our wishes and took care of them. They took care of us even so to many on both sides didn’t want to take care of us and some didn’t even want us, luckily we knew what that felt like so we didn’t turn our backs when we were needed, (Golden Rule) All that aside we wanted to be able to take the Airstream 2002 we got in 2020 still wanted to travel. We sold Florida home and made sure 2500 Ran was mechanical sound and power train was checked, oil, transmission fluid changed put helper bags

Unknown or Other1 injured
Filed Apr 27, 2022CT

While wiping down the dashboard, I sliced my finger open on a piece of the dashboard which was sticking up. This dashboard is a brittle as a potato chip and had cracked but I didn't notice it since the crack was very near the windshield and the section that broke apart was at the defroster vent situated away from my viewpoint.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 18, 2020114,705 milesCA

THE DASHBOARD HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING EXPOSURE TOO WIRING, INTERMITTENT DIAGNOSED AND UNDIAGNOSED PROBLEMATIC WIRING ISSUES WITH INTERMITTENT 'NO BUS' CAUSING LOSS OF POWER ON FREEWAY. DEALER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE ISSUE UNLESS ENTIRE DASHBOARD PLASTIC IS REPLACED UNFORTUNATELY IT IS THE SAME PLASTIC THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ACCORDING TO DEALER AND ACCORDING TO SEVERAL INTERNET SEARCHES THAT THE DASHBOARD PLASTIC WAS NOT MANUFACTURED PROPERLY CAUSING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL HARM TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DODGE /CHRYSLER OWNERS. WHEN MY TRUCK LOST ALL POWER I WAS DRIVING IN FAST LANE OF FWY. ALL POWER WAS GONE INCLUDING BRAKES AND STEERING. HAD TO USE MUSCLE POWER TO STEER AND LET VEHICLE SLOW ENOUGH TO USE FORCE TO BRAKE. MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE INFORMED THE NHTSA IN REGARDS TO THE DASHBOARD. THE NHTSA WOULD ONLY INVESTIGATE IF I HAD DIED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 26, 202098,000 milesCT

WENT TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE BECAUSE THE TRUCK FELT OFF IN THE FRONT WHEN DRIVING.AND THE MECHANIC STATED HE COULDN'T DO IT AS THE FRAME IS ROTTED WHERE THE DRIVERS SIDE SWAY BAR BOLTS TO THE FRAME. IT IS RIGHT BEFORE THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND WAS TOLD IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM THAT THESE DODGE'S HAVE. TRUCK ONLY HAS 98000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS ALWAYS GARAGED. MAINTENANCE ALWAYS DONE AS STATED PER THE OWNERS MANUAL. IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 20, 202099,800 milesCT

DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP UNDER 5 MPH THE DASH BOARD CRUMBLED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN A COLLISION THAT SHRAPNEL WOULD BE DEADLY. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 99800 MILES ON IT. IN EXCELLENT CONDITION THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THESE DASHBOARDS JUST FALLING APART. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND DODGE NEEDS TO BE MADE TO RECALL THEM.

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 18, 2018OK

AFTER RELATIVELY SHORT LIFE, THE SEAT BELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE FAILS, LEAVING SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE - A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD!! SEAT BELTS REMAIN IN A LOCKED POSITION, PREVENTING USE WHILE DRIVING. DODGE P/N 56043003AD. DODGE HAS RECEIVED REPORTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ALONG WITH REQUESTS TO PURCHASE PART, FOR MANY YEARS BUT HAS CHOSEN TO STOP PRODUCTION OF THE PART. THAT WOULD NOT BE AS BIG AN ISSUE IF THEY HAD ENSURED AN ONGOING SUPPLY FROM THIRD PARTY VENDORS. AS IT STANDS, THEY HAVE CREATED A MAJOR SAFETY CRISIS FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF USERS OF THE LATE 90'S TO EARLY 2000'S TRUCKS.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 11, 2018165,000 milesUT

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT SEEMS TO BE THE CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM. THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE, WHERE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 2, 2018100,000 milesCA

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT REGARDING DASH BOARD. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING WITH JUST 30,000 MILES ON TRUCK, WHEN I PUT IN COMPLIANT TO NHTSA. NOW 109,000 THE ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS, COMPUTER HARNESS WIRING ARE EXPOSED WITH A INTERMITTENT STALLING AND A GUESSING GAME FROM AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALERS AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE THE ISSUES. "UNDETERMINED ELECTRICAL SHORTS FROM CRACKED DASH A POSSIBILITY" "ABS SERVICE LIGHT STAYS ON, ALSO "UNDETERMINED BY DEALER", "CAN'T TRACK CODE" "DON'T DRIVE AS AIRBAG MIGHT DEPLOY BECAUSE DASH HAS DASH DEBRIS FROM CRACKS" PLUS HEARING "REFUSE TO SERVICE UNLESS REPLACE THE DASHBOARD" ALL THESE QUOTES WHEN TRYING TO TAKE TO GET THE TRUCK FIXED. MAIN COMPUTER HARNESS INTERMITTENT "NO BUS" CAN'T FIND SHORTS! STALLS OUT ON FREEWAY. THE GLOVE BOX EVEN HANGS ON ONLY ONE SIDE. UNSAFE IF AIRBAGS DEPLOY. SPLINTERING OF REMAINS CHARDS OF FAULTY DASHBOARD PLASTIC, STALL ON FAST LANE OF 14 FREEWAY IN CA HAD TO COAST TO RIGHT SIDE WITH NO POWER STEERING LUCKY THE BRAKES WORKED AND THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. SHORT IN WIRE DUE TO EXPOSED DASH BOARD.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 9, 201795,000 milesWA

THE DASH IS BREAKING INTO SHARP PIECES THAT MAY HIT OCCUPANTS AND CAUSE INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 15, 2016245,000 milesNC

THE DASHBOARD OF MY 99 DODGE RAM IS COMPLETLY SHATTERED. IT IS SO BRITTLE THAT IT CRUMBLES WHEN TOUCHED. I HAVE HAD PIECES BREAK OFF JUST BY TURNING ON MY DEFROSTER. PIECES HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP.

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 13, 2016235,000 milesTN

SEAT BELTS FAIL TO LOCK AT BRAKING AND ALSO FAIL TO RETRACT

Seat Belts
Filed Nov 30, 2016130,000 milesNC

SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED IN A RETRACTED POSITION. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED. THE SEAT BELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE (SCTM) IS LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THIS PART IS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED, SO THE SEAT BELTS REMAIN UNUSABLE.

Air Bags4 injured
Filed May 30, 2016OK

DASH FALLING APART IN CLUDING AIR BAG AIR BAG S/W VENTS FALLING OUT THE BEZEL FALLING THE GLOVE CONPARTMENT FALLING WIRES CUT HAD TO BE REPAIRED RADIO FELL OUT OF DASH GOT A DASH BOARD COVER AND HAVE TO TAPE THE CONPONITS TOGEATHER NEED TO REPLACE HEATER CORE NO SHOP WILL DO IT BECAUSE OF THE DASH I HAVE CUT MY HANDS AND ARMS DO TO DIGGING PIECES OF DASH OUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NHTSA NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER TRUCKI GUESS WHEN THE DASH FALLS IN THE FLOOR AND CAUSE IT TO WRECK.

Engine
Filed May 5, 201674,000 milesWA

TRUCK HAS A 53 BLOCK WHICH HAS CRACKED BELOW THE #5 CYLINDER FREEZE PLUG AT 74,000 MILES. FIRST NOTICED OVERHEATING WITH LOSS OF COOLANT THAT DIDN'T GO ON THE GROUND, THEN FOUND 53 ON BLOCK AND FOUND CRACK. DODGE WILL NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OF THE 53 BLOCK EXISTS, AND HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT RUDE IN THEIR DENIALS AND LACK OF INFO. CUMMINS WILL AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS OFFERED NO SOLUTIONS FOR A PROBLEM CAUSED BY POOR BLOCK DESIGN. ESTIMATES TO FIX ARE ABOUT $9,000. WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A DODGE EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER DODGE REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE TRUCK TO OVERHEAT, WHICH COULD LEAVE DRIVER AND PASSENGER(S) STRANDED OR EVEN CAUSE A FIRE.

Power Train
Filed Apr 7, 2016345,000 milesOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT WAS ON THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY WAS DISASSEMBLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 345,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 15, 201555,000 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACK QUIT WORKING, BY TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND EVERYTHING STARTS WORKING AGAIN.

Wheels
Filed Oct 29, 2015104,503 milesHI

BOTH FRONT TIRES ARE EXHIBITING BUBBLED SIDEWALLS ON THE LT235/85R16 TIRES SUGGESTING EARLY STAGES OF TREAD SEPARATION FROM CARCASS. DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKS TO BE OUT OF ROUND AS WELL. LOT NUMBERS ARE IDENTICAL ELW0408. NO ACCIDENT AS YET, BUT APPEARANCE IS WORRISOME BASED ON LISTED FAILURES IN IN THE NHTSA DATABASE. AFTER THE RECENT REPORTS ON THE POOR TRACKING OF TIRE FAILURES AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, I BELIEVE THIS REPORT IS RELEVANT AND PERTINENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 29, 2015125,000 milesDC

MY DASH IS FALLING APART. IT HAS CRACKED INTO MANY SHARP PIECES AND LOST ALL OF IT'S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. SINCE CAR SEATS SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THIS VEHICLE, THE PIECES THAT HAVE COMPLETELY BROKEN AWAY FROM THE DASH ARE HAZARDOUS TO MY CHILD'S HEALTH.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 17, 2015FL

THE DASH OF MY TRUCK STARTED TO CRACK AND NOW IT IS IN PIECES. I PUT ON A DASH COVER TO COVER THE LARGE HOLES. I NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE EDGES ARE SHARP I TRIED TO GLUE SOME TOGETHER, BUT THEN ANOTHER PART OF THE DASH FAILED. WILL THIS AFFECT THE AIR BAGS? IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, THE HARD PLASTIC HAS SHARP EDGES. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 11/28/2017*CN

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 19, 2015121,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THERE WAS AN INCREASED IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE RUBBER BRAKE LINE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE PLASTIC UNION CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT OF THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

20 of 313 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20122835120Above average
2011297460Above average
2010236440Above average
2009214530Do not drive
2008317980Do not drive
20073611192Do not drive
2006669940Do not drive
2005422981Do not drive
2004582974Fatalities reported
2003661922Do not drive
2002155211Fatalities reported
20014692110Above average
2000211250Above average
1999 — this page313220Above average
1998225230Above average
19972131140Above average
19962911150Above average
19952671130Above average
1994168160Routine
199339000Routine
199232020Routine
199116000Routine

Compare every Ram 2500 year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 28, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.