Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SHAFT AND GEAR INADVERTENTLY DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, IT FAILED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN UNSPECIFIED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
LINES STARTING LEADING AN BURNED TRANSMISSION OUT DON'T PULL AT ALL ANYMORE 97 DODGE RAM 1500 SPORT. *TR
RIGHT REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SHEARED CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL/LOSS OF STEERING/CONTROL OF THE WEHICLE. TRUCK BED WAS EMPTY AND TRAVELING AT APPROX. 60MPH; UPON OCCURENCE VEHICLE ROLLED 3 TIMES ON BUSY HIGHWAY; BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURED
CONSUMER CALLED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END THAT NEEDS THE RTP REBUILT. MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. DEALER STATED THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. *PH THE REAR PINION SEAL LEAKED DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS VERY NOISY. THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE CARRIER BEARINGS AND RING AND PINION WERE WORN. *SCC *NLM
WHEELS WERE LOCKING UP AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HAD TO HAVE AXLE BEARING S REPLACED.*AK
DODGE HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE MANUFACTURER SENT OUT A BULLETIN STATING SINCE APRIL ALL TRANSTEC GASKET SETS AND OVER HAUL KITS HAVE CONTAINED AN UPDATED SEAL FOR THE DIRECT(FRONT) CLUTCH. THIS SEAL HAS A WIDER BASE THAN PREVIOUS SEAL THIS IS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE GROOVE THAT HAS POSSIBLY BEEN MACHINED INCORRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY IT HAS BEEN PROVEN IN EXTENSIVE FIELD TESTING TO CORRECT DELAY IN REVERSE SLIPPING 2-3 AND NO 2-3 COMPLAINTS TRANSTEC #28313 IS MADE OF VITON TO RESIST WEAR AND HEAT DETERIORATION ALL TRANSTEC KITS WITH THE DATE CODE OF E99 OR LATER CONTAIN THE NEW PART. *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***769353
WHILE PULLING ONTO A RAMP REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PINION GEAR SHEARED OFF IN REAR END. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE HEAT SHIELD BROKE AND WAS FIXED. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. *YH
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKEN DOWN THREE TIMES, TWO OF WHICH THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THERE IS GRINDING IN THE DRIVESHAFT. *SLC
BEARINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *AK
I KNOW OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO'S REAR ENDS HAVE FAILED BUT LUCKILY FOR THEM THAT THEY STILL HAD A LITTLE WARRANTY LET ON THEIR TRUCKS.
AXLE SHAFT SNAPPED, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .