1997 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. CALLAWAY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (809 S WESTMINSTER AVE, FULTON, MO 65251, (855) 486-1440) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 253,363.

NHTSA ID

11191481

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

253,363 mi

THERE IS NO RELAY TO HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSING PIGTAIL TO MELT MULTIPLE TIMES. COULD CAUSE FIRE WHILE DRIVING.... PIGTAIL MELTS AND HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF DURING DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11065790

Incident

Jan 29, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED APPROX IN 2007 BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE ON RECALLS. THERE WAS SOMETHING ONE TIME I TOOK INTO FEAR LET ABOUT WINDOW I THINK. RECENTLY I WAS TALKING WITH PREVIOUS OWNER AND FOUND OUT THEY WERE STILL GETTING INFO ON TRUCK OCCASIONAL BUT THREW AWAY AS THEY'D SOLD AND ASSUME I WAS GETTING SAME RECALL NOTICES. I'VE HAD REPLACE TRANSMISSION CAUSE BURN OUT ON LONG TRIP FROM FAIRBANKS APPROX 1 1/2 YEAR AGO LOST MOST FLUID JUST AS I PULL IN TO WASILLA. PAINT HAS PEAKED IN AREA OR TWO AND MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENT YESTERDAY. HAD ISSUES WITH POWER BOAST AS WELL IN PAST ALONG WITH LACK OF HEAT IN WINTER. REPLACED INJECTORS SAME YEAR I PURCHASED

NHTSA ID

10936778

Incident

Dec 21, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

A PASSENGER SAT AN ITEM ON THE DASH, THE DASH SHATTERED AND PIECE FLEW IN MY EYE WHILE DRIVING, I ALMOST WRECKED THE TRUCK ON BUSY INTERSTATE 75. ITEM WASN'T VERY HEAVY AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THE DASH, IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE DASH ROTTED AT ONCE & CAME APART, VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

10926336

Incident

Nov 15, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, WATER ENTERED AND NEARLY FILLED THE HEADLAMP ENCLOSURE CAUSING THE HALOGEN LAMP TO BURST.

NHTSA ID

10776400

Incident

Sep 5, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10745392

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

70,000 mi

WAS DRIVING AND HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY WENT OUT. TURNED SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON EACH TIME, BUT WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO BACK OFF. DID SO THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. TURNED ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO GET HOME. THEY WENT OFF A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES IN A 3 MILE TRIP. I FOUND A RECALL ON LIGHT DUTY ONLY, BUT NOTHING ON MY TRUCK. THEY NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS , ALMOST WRECKED THE TRUCK BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AT 1130 AT NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY SON FROM A FOOTBALL GAME. I WAS ON VERY DANGEROUS SWITCH-BACK CURVES WHEN THEY WENT OUT THE THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643097

Incident

Sep 24, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

POWER STEER/BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED INTO CAB OF TRUCK SATURATING THE CARPETS BEFORE IT COULD BE DISCOVERED. SAFETY FEAR OF CARPET SOAKED WITH POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID

10608223

Incident

Apr 5, 2010

Mileage

198,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED TWICE WITHIN A NINE YEAR TIME FRAME. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS SETUP LIKE A VACUUM AND THE FUEL CAP ALLOWED AIR TO ENTER INTO THE TANK, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS MANUFACTURED WITH PLASTIC AND DID NOT HAVE A VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 175,000.

NHTSA ID

10493027

Incident

Jan 12, 2013

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10472573

Incident

Aug 18, 2011

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SHUT OFF. THE INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH ALSO BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10434060

Incident

Oct 29, 2011

Mileage

126,342 mi

OWNER/DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHTHAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND WAS GOING ABOUT THREE MILES PER HOUR. AS HE WAS TURNING WITH HIS ARM ACROSS THE STEERING WHEEL, THE AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S ARMS WERE PUSHED TO THE BACK WINDOW BY THE IMPACT. THE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE. DRIVER'S RIGHT WRIST WAS FRACTURED AND OWNER SUFFERED TEAR IN RIGHT ROTATOR CUFF THAT REQUIRED SURGERY TO CORRECT. HE WILL NOW NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY. DRIVER IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PAIN IN LEFT ROTATOR CUFF AND WANTS TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. DODGE WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10417160

Incident

Jun 14, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED A 1995 DODGE 2500 AND A 1997 DODGE 3500. I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH A STEERING PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS. IF A POTHOLE OR RAILROAD TRACKS ARE HIT AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH MY 1995 I SPENT OVER $400.00 IN JUST PARTS REPLACING ALMOST ALL OF THE STEERING PARTS. NOW THIS IS HAPPENING WITH THE 1997. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC AND IN MY OPINION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD END UP RESULTING IN DEATH IF NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT YET ON THE 1997. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT PARTS WEAR OUT ON TRUCKS IT SHOULD NOT PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN A BUMP OF SOME SORT STARTS THE PROCESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10407114

Incident

Jun 3, 2011

Mileage

97,305 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 THAT SECURES A COSCO TOURIVA OVERHEAD SHIELD CHILD RESTRAINT, MODEL NUMBER UNKNOWN, MANUFACTURED JUNE 1, 2009. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A METAL COMPONENT OF THE RESTRAINT HARNESS FRACTURED AND THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10386689

Incident

Mar 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND CHANGING LANES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700.

NHTSA ID

10370570

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

225,000 mi

DASH STARTED TO BRAKE ON MY 1997 DODGE 3500 TRUCK LEAVING SHARP EDGES, I HAVE LOST APPROX 50% OF THE TOP OF DASH EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRING AT PRESENT UNABLE TO USE A/C AS SMALL PIECES OF PLASTIC FLY UP OCCASIONALLY I HAVE A DASH MAT AT THE PRESENT TIME AND STILL CANNOT USE A/C SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE NO-ONE IN FLORIDA IS COMFORTABLE DRIVING WITH NO A/C AND I DON NOT THINK I SHOULD DRIVE WITH A MAT COVERING THE DASH FOR THE NEXT 5 OR SO YEARS I HAVE COMPLAINED TO DODGE AND THEY JUST IGNORE THE FACT THEY USE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369210

Incident

Dec 10, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ON IT AFTER HALF AN HOUR OR LESS OF HEADLIGHT USE AND SOMETIMES IT BLOWS A FUSE AND NO TAIL LIGHTS ARE ON AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND CHANGE THE FUSE SO I CAN CONTINUE MY COURSE. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO PULL DOWN ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO GET LIGHTS TO STAY ON. ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND THE PLASTIC IS FALLING APART AND THIS NEEDS TO GET CORRECTED BEFORE SOME ACCIDENT HAPPENS TO ALL DODGE OWNERS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353133

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

THE TOP OF MY DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AND STICK OUT, IT SNAPPED OF EASY AS IT WAS VERY BRITTLE. I HAVE APPROX 40% OF MY DASH MISSING. IF THE FLORIDA SUN DID THIS- WHAT WILL IT DO TO THE WIRING THAT IS SHOWING THIS I BELIEVE IS A MATERIAL DEFECT AND DODGE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342094

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

98,000 mi

AT ENGINE OIL CHANGE, SERVICEMAN NOTICED FUEL TANK HANGING BY AFT FUEL HANGER STRAP ONLY. FIRST FAILURE OF THE FUEL TANK HANGER STRAP ASSEMBLY. HAD THE TANK COMPLETELY FAILED ON THE ROAD, THE 35 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL COULD HAVE CAUSED A BURNED UP VEHICLE AND OR INJURY/ LOSS OF LIFE.*DT

NHTSA ID

10321448

Incident

Feb 15, 2010

Mileage

208,000 mi

DASH CRACKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284422

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE 3500. THE VEHICLE HAS FALCON TIRES, SIZE LT24575R16 (NA). ON JULY 3, 2009, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE'S VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10275874

Incident

Jul 3, 2009

1997 DODGE RAM 3500 TRUCK HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRAILER HITCH. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRAILER HITCH IS DEFECTIVE AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT HITCH. *NJ WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE HITCH ON THE TRUCK LITERALLY BROKE AND THE TRAILER HIT THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ABOUT A RECALL, HOWEVER WHEN SHE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10235016

Incident

Jun 7, 2008

HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WIRES GET HOT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON MY MODEL TRUCK ( 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 ) BUT I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216531

Incident

Dec 21, 2007

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,592 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND PLUG MELTED CAUSING ALL LIGHTS EXCEPT HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED REPLACED SWITCH AND PLUG BUT CAN'T FIND PARK RELAY. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10202195

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

Mileage

67,592 mi

INCIDENT OCCURRED AT HOME/VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. GOT IN DRIVER SEAT TO MOVE VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON/. NO ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. OWNER WAS INJURED BY BLOW TO THE HEAD, CAUSING BRUISING AND HEADACHES. NO PARTS REPLACED DUE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER NOT FEELING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. AIRBAG) NO LONGER IN USE, AND ALL FUNCTIONS ON STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10195429

Incident

May 28, 2007

Mileage

204,000 mi