1999 Dodge Ram Pickup

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure10
001
Unknown or Other2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling2
000
Air Bags2
100
Tires1
000
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing1
000
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint1
000
Suspension › Front1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure
Filed Feb 5, 201160,000 milesCA

1999 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD CRACKING AND FALLING APART LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ALL OVER THE STATES. WILL YOU PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO PRESSURE A RECALL. PLEASE? *TR

Structure
Filed Dec 9, 2010100,000 milesTX

THE DASHBOARD IN MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND HAS RECENTLY SPREAD INTO A MAJOR BUSTED UP DASH. ALSO, ALL THE OTHER INTERIOR PLASTIC COMPONENTS MUST BE MADE OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE DASH AND ARE JUST AS BRITTLE. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Oct 27, 201086,000 milesOK

MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, CALLER DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED. HOWEVER I SAW A RECALL NOTICE ON-LINE. *TR

Structure
Filed May 19, 200965,000 milesTX

DASH CRACKED IN 2001 ,VEHICLE IS A 1999. *TR

Structure
Filed Feb 25, 2009130,000 milesNC

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 AND THE DASH IS LITERALLY FALLING APART. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE ON THE PART OF THE DODGE AND NOT TO MENTION A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TO SHUT OFF MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG BECAUSE IM AFRAID THAT I COULD BE INJURED BY FLYING DEBRIS IF I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 28, 200870,000 milesNH

MY 99 DODGE RAM PICKUP HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES AND WHILE DRIVING IT TODAY A BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, UPON LOOKING AT THE LINE, IT APPEARS TO BE OF STEEL AND IS A MASS OF RUST. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT RESULTED, BUT I WONDER IF THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND IF THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL, OR SHOULD BE. THANKS, DICK CARLETON. *TR

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Sep 16, 200895,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM PICKUP. IN JUNE OF 2008, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT, BUT IT WOULD NOT LATCH OR RETRACT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT AND THE LATCH SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V119000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 12/5/08 *CN UPDATED 12/09/08. *JB

Structure
Filed May 14, 200839,300 milesNJ

MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP HAS DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD. I CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A DEFECTIVE PART AND WILL DO NOTHING TO REPAIR. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Mar 8, 200836,000 milesMI

I HAVE A DODGE RAM 2500 WITH ABS. THIS SYSTEM QUIT WORKING AROUND 36,000 MILES. IT PULLS HARD WHEN YOU BRAKE OR KICKS YOUR FOOT OFF AND WILL NOT STOP. WE HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000.00 TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS NOT HONORED AND THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A RECALL. THEY SERVICED IT SEVERAL TIMES STARTING WITH THE MOST EXPENSIVE, THE MODULE, OVER $700.00, THEN THE SENSORS ANOTHER $600.00, THEN THEY SAID WE HAD THE WRONG TIRES AND THEY WERE THE PROBLEM, ANOTHER $700.00 (A NON ISSUE AS TIRES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH BRAKES), THEN THERE WERE THE WHEEL SENSORS AND TURNED DRUMS ANOTHER $400.00. PLUS THE FACT THE OIL GASKET GOT SUCKED INTO THE MANIFOLD LEAVING ONLY 2 QUARTS OF OIL (ANOTHER PROBLEM ENTIRELY). WAY TOO MUCH MONEY TO SPEND ON BRAKES YOU STILL HAVE TO USE BEING DISCONNECTED SO THE WORK PROPERLY. UNSAFE TO USE IF ABS IS RECONNECTED. IT WILL NOT STOP IF YOU NEED TO. *TR

Structure
Filed Jan 25, 200899,000 milesMS

DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER. *TR

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Jan 15, 2008110,000 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM PICKUP. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT HAS BEGUN TO CRACK. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

Structure
Filed Jun 29, 2007TX

CRACKED DASHBOARD ON 1999 DODGE RAM, PIECES HAVE FALLEN OUT LEAVING JAGGED SHARP EDGES. *AK

Structure1 injured
Filed May 7, 200750,000 milesUT

I OWN 2 DODGE RAMS. ONE 1999 3500 AND ONE 2001 2500 HAVE BROKEN DASHBOARDS. THE DASHBOARD HAVE COMPLETELY COLLAPSED WITH LARGE CHUNKS OF BROKEN PLASTIC FALLING THROUGH THE HOLE AND LANDING ON MY FEET WHILE DRIVING. DODGE HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM, AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF AROUND $800.00 TO REPAIR IT. MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ALSO CUT HER HAND ON ONE OF THESE PIECES THAT FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK AFTER I HAD OPENED THE DOOR. THANK YOU. *AK

Structure
Filed May 2, 2007FL

THE DASHBOARD ON OUR 1999 DODGE RAM BEGAN FALLING APART IN 2002. CHUNKS OF THE DASHBOARD HAVE COME COMPLETELY OFF WHICH HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING TOTAL BLACKOUT OF THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL SPEAKERS NO LONGER FUNCTION AND THE TILT STEERING WHEEL CAUSES ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS WHEN IT IS NOT IN IT'S HIGHTEST POSITION. WE ASSUME A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME LODGED IN THE TILT MECHANISM AND IS PINCHING WIRES. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED MY REQUEST TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THEIR COST BUT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD BUT THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $500. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT WHEN YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO TOTALLY OFF. I AM TRULY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AS WELL AS OTHERS I MAY BE PASSING ON THE ROADWAYS. *TR

Structure
Filed May 1, 200756,000 milesFL

DASHBOARD FAILURE ON 1999 DODGE RAM WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE AND CAR PORT. STARTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 27, 2006FL

CRACK IN DASH OF MY 1999 DODGE RAM. COULD CAUSE A AIRBAG MAL-FUNCTION. IF IT ACTUALLY BREAKS IN HALF WHILE DRIVING THE DISTRACTION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Oct 29, 2005103,000 milesWA

WE DRIVE A 1999 DODGE RAM 3/4 TON TRUCK WITH AN 11 FOOT CAMPER ON IT. LAST WEEK WHILE ON VACATION IN MONTANA, WE HAD A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS OF INTERSTATE 90. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, EVEN WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MISSOULA WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO THE INJECTION PUMP FREEZING UP FROM LACK OF FUEL PRESSURE FROM THE TRANSFER PUMP. THIS REPAIR COST US $2500.00 AND COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH A NOTICE FROM DODGE OR CUMMINS TO HAVE THE PRESSURE CHECKED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AND IS OCCURRING WITH ALL THE CUMMINS ENGINES INSTALLED IN THE RAM PICKUPS, SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 24 VALVE ENGINE IN 1998. A SIMPLE SENSOR THAT WOULD HAVE TURNED ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN THE TRANSFER PUMP STARTED LOSING PRESSURE, WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO HAVE OCCUR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE LOST WITH NO WARNING. THANK GOODNESS I WAS DRIVING INSTEAD OF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS BECAUSE, IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING SHOVED UNDER THE RUG BY BOTH DODGE AND CUMMINS WHO ARE BOTH CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU. *JB

Unknown or Other
Filed May 12, 200563,000 milesSC

THE DASK BOARD HAS CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR NO REASON. IT SEEMS TO BE DOING SO BECAUSE IT WAS INSTALLED IN A BIND. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY OTHERS, BUT I SEE ON THIS WEB SITE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. JUST ANOTHER LIE I GUESS.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 12, 2005AZ

AT FREEWAY SPEEDS MY TRUCK SEEMS TO POP IN AND OUT OF PASSING GEAR. THE TAC MOMENTAIRLY JUMPS 200 TO 400 RPM. BECAUSE IT IS OF SUCH A SHORT DURATION AND SUCH A SLIGHT RISE IN RPM,I CANNOT TELL IF THE TRUCK JERKS. HOWEVER THIS STARTED AS SOMETHING I NOTICED HAPPENING FREQUENTLY ON LONG TRIPS. NOW IT IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. THE DEALER AS WELL AS A TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THE ON BOARD COMPUTER SHOWS NOTHING. THEY DID REPLACE THE EGR VALVE ?? I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WOULD POST IT ON THIS SITE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 31, 200518,233 milesCA

CRACKED BLOCK IN 5.9 LITER CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE AT 18,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS A 99 2500 RAM 4X4 PICKUP. WAY TOO MANY OF THESE ARE CRACKING. ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT CUMMINS REFUSES TO REPLACE OTHERS OFF WARRANY. COMPANY HAS PRIOR REPUTATION OF PRODUCING ENGINES WITH LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 350'000 MILES WITH NO SUCH DEFECTS. *AK

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200314010Routine
200222110Routine
200120000Routine
20008000Routine
1999 — this page33000Routine
199818010Routine
199717010Routine
19966001Fatalities reported
19957020Routine
19942000Routine
19923000Routine

Compare every Ram Pickup year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.