1999 Dodge RAM 2500 recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Steering
What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. THE DUST SEAL SUPPLIED WITH THE CHASSIS TIE RODS WERE MANUFACTURED TO THE WRONG SPECIFICATION. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE DUST SEAL MAY PREVENT THE BALL STUD OF THE CHASSIS TIE ROD FROM PROPERLY SEATING INTO THE TAPER OF THE VEHICLE STEERING KNUCKLE DURING AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION.
What could happen: IF THIS CONDITION REMAINS UNDETECTED, THE BOLT CAN EVENTUALLY UNSEAT COMPLETELY, CAUSING THE AFFECTED WHEEL TO DISENGAGE FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The fix: AFFINIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AFFINIA AT 734-827-5400.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 RAM 2500.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 08E027000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Summary: AFFINIA IS RECALLING 5,700 AFTERMARKET CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 28, 2006 THROUGH MARCH 17, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON MY 1998 AND 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE DUST SEAL SUPPLIED WITH THE CHASSIS TIE RODS WERE MANUFACTURED TO THE WRONG SPECIFICATION. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE DUST SEAL MAY PREVENT THE BALL STUD OF THE CHASSIS TIE ROD FROM PROPERLY SEATING INTO THE TAPER OF THE VEHICLE STEERING KNUCKLE DURING AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION.
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION REMAINS UNDETECTED, THE BOLT CAN EVENTUALLY UNSEAT COMPLETELY, CAUSING THE AFFECTED WHEEL TO DISENGAGE FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: AFFINIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CHASSIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AFFINIA AT 734-827-5400.
Notes: THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET BRAKE PARTS CHASSIS TIE RODS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE RAM TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER, LLC. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
2. Engine
What's wrong, in plain English: Engine problems range from stalling to fire. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS…
What could happen: A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
The fix: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 RAM 2500.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 06E024000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Consequence: A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
Remedy: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
Notes: THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 1999 Dodge RAM 2500 owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Brakes (72), Hydraulic (69), Body / structure (53), Steering (37), Transmission / drivetrain (35).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
04/12/2023 · Airbags
I know I am not the only one that thinks this is a bad problem, in fact I have not met a person that has owned this era of Dodge Ram that has their Dashboard and the whole parts inside can have been falling apart. Mine has fallen and hit my legs and or lap. Now I don’t mean the whole dash at one time but I have glued, taped and put a dash pad over top to tr…
04/27/2022 · Unknown Or Other
While wiping down the dashboard, I sliced my finger open on a piece of the dashboard which was sticking up. This dashboard is a brittle as a potato chip and had cracked but I didn't notice it since the crack was very near the windshield and the section that broke apart was at the defroster vent situated away from my viewpoint.
10/18/2020 · Electrical system
THE DASHBOARD HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING EXPOSURE TOO WIRING, INTERMITTENT DIAGNOSED AND UNDIAGNOSED PROBLEMATIC WIRING ISSUES WITH INTERMITTENT 'NO BUS' CAUSING LOSS OF POWER ON FREEWAY. DEALER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE ISSUE UNLESS ENTIRE DASHBOARD PLASTIC IS REPLACED UNFORTUNATELY IT IS THE SAME PLASTIC THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ACCORDING TO DEA…
02/26/2020 · Unknown Or Other
WENT TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE BECAUSE THE TRUCK FELT OFF IN THE FRONT WHEN DRIVING.AND THE MECHANIC STATED HE COULDN'T DO IT AS THE FRAME IS ROTTED WHERE THE DRIVERS SIDE SWAY BAR BOLTS TO THE FRAME. IT IS RIGHT BEFORE THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND WAS TOLD IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM THAT THESE DODGE'S HAVE. TRUCK ONLY HAS 98000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS ALWAYS…
02/20/2020 · Unknown Or Other
DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP UNDER 5 MPH THE DASH BOARD CRUMBLED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN A COLLISION THAT SHRAPNEL WOULD BE DEADLY. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 99800 MILES ON IT. IN EXCELLENT CONDITION THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THESE DASHBOARDS JUST FALLING APART. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY IS…
12/18/2018 · Seat belts
AFTER RELATIVELY SHORT LIFE, THE SEAT BELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE FAILS, LEAVING SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE - A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD!! SEAT BELTS REMAIN IN A LOCKED POSITION, PREVENTING USE WHILE DRIVING. DODGE P/N 56043003AD. DODGE HAS RECEIVED REPORTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ALONG WITH REQUESTS TO PURCHASE PART, FOR MANY YEARS BUT HAS CHOSEN TO STOP PRODUCTI…
06/11/2018 · Airbags
FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT SEEMS TO BE THE CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM. THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE, WHERE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD.
01/02/2018 · Electrical system
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT REGARDING DASH BOARD. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING WITH JUST 30,000 MILES ON TRUCK, WHEN I PUT IN COMPLIANT TO NHTSA. NOW 109,000 THE ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS, COMPUTER HARNESS WIRING ARE EXPOSED WITH A INTERMITTENT STALLING AND A GUESSING GAME FROM AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALERS AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE THE ISSUES. "UNDETERMINED ELECTRICAL SHORT…