1998 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 4x4 SLT 5.9 from North America

Summary:

Truck is a money pit, but well liked

Faults:

Transmission blew at 68,500 miles.

Had to replace front axle joints twice.

Replaced rod bearings, started coppering.

Replaced main bearings.

Replaced oil pump.

Replaced water pump twice.

Timing chain cover started leaking, replaced that.

Replaced radiator twice.

Had the rear end rebuilt, pinion bearings were howling.

Inner and outer intake gaskets leaking, replaced those.

Replaced starter.

Replaced alternator.

Replaced heater core.

General Comments:

Truck hauls items really well. I've hauled six loads of 60 lb bags of sakrete weighing 3300 lbs.

Truck also tows well.

The truck has a comfortable ride. I've driven the truck across the country 4 times.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 15th September, 2009

1998 Dodge Ram Pickup SLT 5.2 litre from North America

Summary:

This is the most expensive truck to run I have ever owned

Faults:

Purchased the vehicle at 50000 miles.

Right off the lot the transmission doesn't shift right; it stays in low gear downhill. Can't figure out what gear it wants to be in up hills.

The dash has one long crack.

Took it to the mechanic and found out the tranny pan is rusted out; replaced the pan.

Water pump blows at 60000, took it in to get it fixed.

Oil leak at 62000, installed new gaskets, belt starts squeaking, so I put on new belt, does not solve the problem, replaced all the pulleys, belt still squeaks, mechanics keep applying belt dressing, which only lasts for a couple weeks at a time, buy my own can of silicone spray.

At 63000 miles I get up to go to work, and the truck won't start. Call the AAA, he comes and checks the battery, it's dead, get a new one, a week later the truck won't start, tow it into the garage, mechanic installs a new starter.

One month later the starter is fried, I get a new one with parts warranty, but have to pay for the labor again.

Starter makes a loud sound when starting in the winter now; won't start until second try every time now.

At 75000 the rear diff is leaking, replaced gasket.

Steering wheel is loose, mechanic fixes something with the steering.

At 75000 the heater quit working.

At 80000 it's sucking oil into the intake, needs a thermostat, radiator hose blows, water pump is leaking again! Put on another belt, spark plugs are fouled from oil, just got everything fixed, costs a lot of $$$, tranny still shifts the same, dash is cracked everywhere, and the back bumper is rusted out now.

General Comments:

Bottom line; besides the regular oil changes, tires and brakes, this truck is always broken down - I will never buy another Dodge ever again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 14th August, 2009

21st Oct 2009, 23:10

I own a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2 4x4, it has 180,000 miles on it. The only trouble I have had is the water pump went out at 150,??? miles.

I did have my starter start to do the same thing as you described with cold weather start ups. The way I fixed that was to pull the starter and cleaned some grease out of it, after that no trouble.

I drive all over the mid-west, and even with the miles getting up there, I still trust the truck to get me to wherever and home.

I have owned Fords and Chevys, none of them have compared to the comfort or power of the Dodge Ram truck.

The 4 wheel drive on this generation of Dodge is a beast, over the last winter I had to go pull out a 2008 Chevy Avalanche, a 3/4 ton F250, and a Chevy z-71. The funny part to me was all three situations I was able to drive off the driveways around these trucks, through much deeper snow and pulled them out, "at least it was funny to me."

In reply to 21st Oct 2009, 23:10

8th Nov 2012, 13:09

Mine was squeaking too, and I also thought it was the belt, and it wasn't. So then I checked the pulleys, and it wasn't any of them. It turned out to be the fan clutch bearing, so try that.