RoadVitals

1997 Dodge 1500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
361
Latest Oct 21, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 15, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
45
37 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 361 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Dodge 1500, most frequently naming the body & structure, brakes and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 13 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E024000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Mar 15, 2006
44,386 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
The remedy: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
K&N ENGINEERING, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP03006ClosedDefect Petition

SEAT BACK FAILURE

Opened Sep 23, 2003
Closed Apr 8, 2004

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.

SEATS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 361
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Oct 21, 2020

NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS BEFORE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP. TRAVELING ON A SECONDARY TO A CITY STREET SLOWING TO 30 MPH. AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP AT 45 MPH CAUSING A SKID THAT WAS CONTROLLED. AXLE HOUSING SPLIT, DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED, GEAR LUBE DRAINED OUT AND TIRES ARE SEVERELY FLAT SPOTTED. SKID LENGTH WAS 115 FT.

NHTSA ID
11365543
Incident
Oct 16, 2020
Mileage
197,000 mi
Filed Feb 17, 2020

MY 97 RAM HAS ABOUT 95% OF THE DASH MISSING. I HAVE SAVED PIECES OF IT AND PARTS IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BROKEN OFF. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,, HIT A BUMP, AND DASH PIECES WILL FALL ON THE FLOOR. DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THIS.

NHTSA ID
11309624
Incident
Feb 15, 2020
Mileage
251,235 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CABIN SPONTANEOUSLY FILLED WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,000.

NHTSA ID
11058073
Incident
Dec 30, 2017
Mileage
250,000 mi
Filed May 13, 2017

THE DASH IS COMPLETELY BUSTED AND I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE REASON WHY IS IF I GET INTO A WRECK WHO AM I GOING TO BLAME WHENEVER IT SHORT OF MY PLASTIC DASH COMES TO HIT SOMEBODY IN THE FACE THE NECK OR ANY OTHER PART OF THEIR BODY

NHTSA ID
10985563
Incident
May 15, 2007
Mileage
265,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 8, 2017

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CLIP ATTACHING THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO THE THROTTLE BODY SNAPPED CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND EFFECTIVNESS OF THE BRAKE. I HAD A 2 MONTH OLD AND MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE TRUCK AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
10971257
Incident
Apr 7, 2017
Filed Aug 8, 2016

THE DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CRACKS AND SEVERAL PIECES HAVE BROKEN OFF OF IT. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER MOTOR COMPANY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE DASHBOARDS ON ANY RAM PICKUP EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 20 YEARS. IF A PIECE COMES OFF THE DASH AND HITS YOU IN THE FACE, IT COULD CAUSE YOU TO SWERVE YOU TRUCK AND CRASH. THERE IN LIES THE POSSIBILITY FOR BODILY INJURY.

NHTSA ID
10893883
Incident
Jun 30, 2016
AirbagsEngineSteering
Filed Apr 30, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" TODAYS DATE 4-29-2016,I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK.I HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS COMING ON WITH MY TRUCK.IM NEEDING A REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEM ITS CALLED ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. SUDDENLY I FELT SOME SHAKING IN FRONT TIRES.I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT MY STEERING PUMP WITH OUT AND NOW THE STEERING GEAR BOX.EVERYTIME IM FINISH WORKING ON ONE PROBLEM THE NEXT IS RIGHT BEHIND.MY DASH BOARD IS FALL APART.DASH BOARD IS ALL IN PIECES.GETTING WORST AND WORST EVERYDAY.LAST PROBLEM MY AIR BAG BLEW OUT AND BUSTED IN MY FACE.MY TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAGS,BUT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING WITH OUT. PLEASE HELP ME GET MY RECALLS ON MY TRUCK AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NHTSA ID
10862332
Incident
Mar 24, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 10, 2016

IN 3/8/2006 I WAS DRIVING MY 97 DODGE RAM AND SUDDENLY I FELT A SHAKING IN REAR TIRES AND AFTER THAT I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN BRAKING BUT I LOST THE CONTROL OF MY TRUCK AND I SAW MY LEFT REAR TIRE PASSING BESIDE ME. THE NUTS WERE MISSING . I CAN SEE NOW THAT IT'S A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. HOW IT CAN BE CORRECTED?

NHTSA ID
10845958
Incident
Mar 8, 2016

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

08-049-20

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

3100319

STRUCTURE

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

31-006-19

STRUCTURE

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

31-003-19

EQUIPMENT

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

31-005-19

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.

3100619

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge 1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015000—
2014100—
20126957158.0
20116884153.7
20104854154.7
20096702252.5
20085538259.9
20075177459.8
200679212460.5
20051,1667565.1
20041,0968565.4
20031,1705360.9
20028156158.1
20011,1123260.4
20005133157.3
19996101046.8
19985201047.3
1997Viewing3611150.6
19962981150.8
19952131454.3
19941161455.2
1993602—
1992013—
1991704—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.