1999 Dodge Ram 1500 problems
Owners have filed 769 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500. Body & structure is the most reported problem area, at 31% of complaints. After that come brakes (9%) and air bags (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 769 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 31% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 85 and 30
- Injuries and deaths
- 63 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 86,000 miles 410 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 13 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 47 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 63 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 60 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 79 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 55 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 36 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 25 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 16 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 13 |
What the data shows
Among the 410 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 86,000 miles. For body & structure specifically, the median reported mileage is about 86,000 miles (156 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 85 complaints mention a crash; 30 complaints mention a fire; 63 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 19 model years of the Dodge Ram 1500 with enough data (335 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The steering unit failed causing loss of control and collision with guardrail, due to design of the gas tank, which hangs 3 inches below frame, during impact with the guardrail, the fuel tank ruptured and caught fire, burning vehicle and injury/burns to consumers. Yh
On 05/08/99 the complaintant was involved in a single vehicle accident which resulted in significant physical injury (I.e., second and third degree burns) to the passenger, and complete loss of the vehicle and its contents. The cause of this accident was a defective steering mechanism in the 1999 dodge ram quad cab truck which allowed the vehicle to the right, resulting in loss of control, hitting a guardrail, and rupturing the gasoline tank.
Steering seemed loose. Dealer replaced trac bar, inner and lower tie rod ends, and an additional bar. Just after warranty expired, mileage 35,982 on november 21, 2002. As of march 5, 2003 front end and steering is worse than when it went in. Very loose feeling, frequent steering wheel correction needed. Very dangerous situation especially on snow covered roads. Very unsafe feeling. Dealer was asked to check work that was performed on november 0f 2002, on january 30, 2003. They did not look into the situation.
Dashboard is falling apart pieces are coming off if an accident were to occur I might be hit by a flying object in the eye and not be able to minimize damage on my 1999 dodge ram the company should be responsible for this repair.