1999 Dodge RAM 2500

Typical pattern

12.2% of complaints about the 1999 Dodge RAM 2500 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1999 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (63 complaints), typically at 3.1 yr or about 60,000 miles.

Complaints: 376
Median age at failure: 5.8 yr
Median mileage: 80,000 n=222
Crash / fire / tow: 9.8% of reports
Safety recalls: 2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Service brakes, hydraulic

63 reports · 60,000 mi

3.1 yr

6.3%

Structure

54 reports · 98,000 mi

8.6 yr

3.7%

Power train

31 reports · 54,032 mi

3.3 yr

6.5%

Steering

29 reports · 45,000 mi

1.6 yr

13.8%

Engine cooling

24 reports · 99,000 mi

6.3 yr

4.2%

Suspension

20 reports · 45,000 mi

3.1 yr

10%

Other

20 reports · 99,800 mi

8.4 yr

Air bags

18 reports · 156,000 mi

4.8 yr

66.7%

Electrical system

17 reports · 86,000 mi

5.9 yr

17.6%

Seat belts

15 reports · 131,000 mi

11.3 yr

6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

08E027000 2008-03-28

Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly

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.

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.

06E024000 2006-03-15

Engine cooling

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.

A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 1 mo in service

VEHICLE PARKED IN 1ST GEAR WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, BOTH FAILED RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH CAR AND GARAGE WHEN VEHICLE ROLLED.

Power train mileage not reported 9 mo in service

WHILE GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, ATTEMPING TO ENGAGE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE FRONT DRIVESHAFT FELL OFF. THE TRUCK WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALERS NEXT WEEK FOR REPAIRS. *AK

Power train mileage not reported 7 mo in service crash / fire / tow

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT ROLLED AWAY CAUSING A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *YC *SLC

Steering mileage not reported 4 mo in service crash / fire / tow

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH STEERING WENT OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A TREE. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WERE HARD AND DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, ENGINE SOPPED/ NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG UPON IMPACT. *AK

Other RAM 2500 model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.