1998 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT from North America - Comments

I own a 1998 Dodge 1500 extended cab with a 5.2L engine and automatic transmission. I have replaced my transmission 2 times in 35,000 miles I bought this truck with 4,700 miles in 2000 from someone I know. I had no problems for the first year and then I began to notice that the transmission was shifting poorly. When I took it to the dealer (while still under warranty) they explained that it was shifting normal, they found no problems. A few months later I took it to a transmission shop, they dropped the transmission pan, the torque converter had come apart. Dodge and the dealer did nothing to help; I also spoke with the factory and asked for help. It cost me $1500 to rebuild and an oil cooler to fix this time.

The transmission began making a "whining" noise 14 months later. I took it back to the transmission shop and the overdrive gears were bad. They rebuilt the transmission again for

I've had drive train problems with my Dodge Caravan. I won't be buying any more Chrysler products in my lifetime. Tell the world about Chrysler's poor quality! Maybe they get the message and build a vehicle that will be decent.

I too, have a 98 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab and I have replaced the rear end 3 times costing me 1600 dollars each and, all I haul is two dirt bikes. My transmission is now slipping and the fluid is good. The Dodge dealership told me if I serviced the transmission and if it has never been serviced it could tear it up even worse and the only way to fix it was to rebuild it and since I don't make enough money to buy a truck and then rebuild it, I am just going to pray it holds up until it is payed off.

I have a 1997 4x4 and the air conditioner changes from the dash to defrost vents every time I accelerate. a vacuum problem no dought, but I cannot find it.

The rear end went out in my 98 Dodge 1500. It wasn't just a small malfunction, the main gear broke apart. The spindle came out of the differential and leaked fluid all over the road. This happened at a stop light. When I went to go from the light all I heard was a loud bang and that was it. It was so bad the back wheels were locked up. This truck never really towed or went off road. The thing was was that I had heard a whining sound for some time from the rear end. I was advised it was a small fix at the time, but I guess I waited a bit to long. Don't procrastinate on these things.

The truck was very good to me aside from that and I would have another one. They are safe. I found that out when a car ran a stop light and smashed that truck up. It was totaled and I was not hurt. I will likely get another one.

I also have a 98 dodge ram 1500 ext. cab. I haven't had any problems with the rear end yet, knock on wood, but I did notice the same whining noise while in 4 wheel. eventually my front end was destroyed. I severely abused my dodge with off road adventures many of times. I also haul 2 dirt bikes all season long. I am thinking about putting 4:56 gears in it instead of the stock 3:55 ring and pinion. my truck has a hard time hauling its own wieght. maybe this will fix the problem. this truck was definitly build for the highway.