Your vehicle report

1999 Dodge RAM

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
366
Received Dec 1998 to Aug 2022
Official recalls listed
9
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Airbags fail to deploy in crashes35 complaints · 9.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed24 complaints · 6.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines20 complaints · 5.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #04V185000On certain van and wagon vehicles equipped with 4-WHEEL antilock brake systems (ABS), aftermarket batteries may leak electrolyte onto the ABS control module connector, which can compromise sealing integrity of the connector.
  • Recall #01V153000Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 16, 2000 through october 23, 2000; st. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 19, 2000 through october 23, 2000; lago alberto assembly plant ("m" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000; and saltillo assembly plant ("g" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000. Important: vehicles that have already had the proper clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been excluded from this recall. In addition, 1997-2000 model year vehicles that have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been added to this recall.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 46 crashes, 6 fires, 45 people injured, 1 death.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

2 more problems

Brakes

1 more problem

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

1 more problem

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 1999 Dodge RAM
109
Show as a table
YearComplaints
19981
199981
2000109
200162
200252
200316
200419
200510
20061
20075
20081
20091
20102
20114
20121
20130
20140
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20221
20230
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total366

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes359.6%–
Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed246.6%–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines205.5%–
Tires blow out or tread separates154.1%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract133.5%–NHTSA recall #01V119000
Front brake rotors warp and wear early133.5%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips123.3%–
Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed123.3%–
Transmission fails or loses power while driving113.0%–
Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly92.5%–NHTSA recall #01V153000
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up92.5%–NHTSA recall #04V185000
Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag82.2%–
Headlights dim or fail at night82.2%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring82.2%–
Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly82.2%–
Rear door latch fails to open or close61.6%–
Cruise control fails to disengage61.6%–
Horn fails with airbag warning light51.4%–
Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline51.4%–NHTSA recall #99V034000, #99V044000
Engine knocking from rod or main bearings51.4%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #04V185000April 12, 200444,588 vehicles affected

    service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

    On certain van and wagon vehicles equipped with 4-WHEEL antilock brake systems (ABS), aftermarket batteries may leak electrolyte onto the ABS control module connector, which Can compromise sealing integrity of the connector.

    This may allow development of a short circuit in the connector, which could eventually lead to a fire.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect the ABS control module connector for electrolyte damage and replace the connector as necessary. The recall will begin on september 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

  • NHTSA recall #01V153000May 8, 2001216,100 vehicles affected

    air bags

    Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 16, 2000 through october 23, 2000; st. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 19, 2000 through october 23, 2000; lago alberto assembly plant ("m" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000; and saltillo assembly plant ("g" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000. Important: vehicles that have already had the proper clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been excluded from this recall. In addition, 1997-2000 model year vehicles that have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been added to this recall.

    When this occurs, the material could interfere with the clockspring ribbon and cause an open circuit. The driver air bag system will become disabled, and the air bag warning lamp will illuminate on the instrument panel.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began june 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, will also be included in this campaign. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

  • NHTSA recall #01V119000April 11, 2001161,682 vehicles affected

    seat belts: front: retractor

    Vehicle description: certain van, wagon, pickup trucks, passenger and sport utility vehicles, fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the front seat belt retractor may not comply with the requirements of the standard.

    If the retractor does not work properly, it will not adequately protect occupants in the event of a crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

  • NHTSA recall #01V040000February 12, 2001701,000 vehicles affected

    latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch

    On certain pickup trucks originally sold in or currently registered in the following "salt belt" states: maine, new hampshire, vermont, massachusetts, rhode island, connecticut, new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, and missouri. Corrosion of the return spring on the hood secondary latch could cause the mechanism to bind in the "release position."

    If the primary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch. Owner notification began september 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

  • NHTSA recall #00V107000April 11, 2000357,000 vehicles affected

    trailer hitches

    Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with optional trailer hitch. The trailer hitch side brackets were manufactured using material with insufficient strength.

    Brackets built without proper material could fatigue and fracture in the area where the trailer hitch mounts to the frame.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect the trailer hitches and replace any trailer hitch showing signs of fatigue cracking. If no evidence of cracking exists, the dealer will install two reinforcement brackets.

  • NHTSA recall #99V190000July 16, 19998,378 vehicles affected

    power train: clutch assembly

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #99V115000May 6, 19998,883 vehicles affected

    power train: clutch assembly

    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.

    The fluid could ignite on the hot exhaust possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.

  • NHTSA recall #99V044000March 11, 199945 vehicles affected

    fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    Vehicle description: passenger vans and wagons equipped with compressed natural gas (cng). The fuel hose that connects the left and right fuel rails may shrink and leak fuel if exposed to high engine operating temperatures.

    Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source Can result in a fire.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the fuel rail assembly.

  • NHTSA recall #99V034000February 24, 199945 vehicles affected

    fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly

    Vehicle description: vans equipped with compressed natural gas (cng) fuel tanks. Incorrect fuel tank straps were installed on the small fuel tank. As a result, the fuel tank may not be securely attached to the vehicle.

    The fuel tank could move increasing the risk of a fire and/or explosion.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the mounting straps for the small fuel tank.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1999 Dodge RAM.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN