1997 Dodge Pickup Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Pickup, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Exterior lighting150.0%
- Powertrain (other)150.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND REMAINED ON. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06E026000 COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAIULRE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, A LOCK-UP CLUTCH FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER TRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. RECENTLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE SECOND MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,892.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .