RoadVitals

1997 Dodge Ram Pickup

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.
17
Latest Oct 29, 2011
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.
0
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.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Dodge Ram Pickup, most frequently naming the body & structure, suspension and driver assistance categories. 12 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

  • Body & structure525.0%
  • Suspension210.0%
  • Driver assistance210.0%
  • Steering210.0%
  • Interior & seats15.0%
  • Exterior lighting15.0%
  • Other / unspecified15.0%
  • Tires & wheels15.0%

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

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 17
Body & structure
Filed Oct 29, 2011

DASH BOARD CRACKED ON DRIVERS SIDE AND MIDDLE FROM WHERE IT MEETS WINDSHIELD TO THE FACE OF DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10433518
Incident
Jan 28, 2009
Mileage
1,400,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 12, 2008

WHILE DRIVING ON US HIGHWAY 231 IN ALABAMA A GOOD YEAR TIRE (LT245/75R16E) TREADS SEPARATED AND CAUSED OVER $4,600.00 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY DODGE RAM TRUCK. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE NEW AND WERE OEM EQUIPMENT . THEY WOULDN'T STAY IN BALANCE VERY LONG AFTER BEING BALANCED. GOOD YEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO. HAS OFFERED ME $L89.00 FOR A NEW TIRE AND $200.00 FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE INSURANCE I PAID GEICO. I TOLD GOOD YEAR THAT I WANTED ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF THE TIRES. ALSO, THAT IF ONE TIRE COULD HAVE TREAD SEPARATION ANY ONE OF THE OTHER THREE TIRES COULD DO THE SAME THING AND THE NEXT TIME MORE THAN THE TRUCK BODY WOULD GET DAMAGED-HUMANE BODY'S MIGHT GET DAMAGED. FURTHER MORE, $L89.50 THEY HAVE OFFERED ME FOR A NEW TIRE WILL NOT BUY A TIRE FOR MY TRUCK THAT IS SAFE TO DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A PRICE OF $273.00 FOR THE RIGHT TIRE[S] FOR MY TRUCK. I HAVE BEEN SINCE JUNE 21, 2008, TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER WITH GOOD YEAR TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS DAYS TRAVELING TO TIRE COMPANY WORKING WITH GOOD YEAR{FOUR TRIPS}, GEICO{ONE TRIP} AND THREE TRIPS TO THE BODY SHOP THAT REPAIRED MY TRUCK. I LOST THE USE OF MY TRUCK FOR THREE WEEKS WHILE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED. I KNOW GOOD YEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO. (THE LARGEST TIRE MANUFACTURE IN THE WORLD} IS NOT TREATING ME FAIRLY ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241994
Incident
Jun 21, 2008
Mileage
29,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 1, 2007

WE OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM. THE DASHBOARD IN THE VEHICLE HAS BROKEN APART IN MANY LOCATIONS INCLUDING THE VIN NUMBER PLATE, WHICH IS NO LONGER VISIBLE. ON MANY OCCASIONS THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10189415
Incident
Jan 1, 2006
Visibility
Filed Dec 19, 2006

AIR CONDITIONING VENT ALWAYS SWITCHES TO THE DEFROSTER AND BACK TO THE AC VENT. WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW AND ICE THE HEATER WAS ON, THE DEFROSTER VENT AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES TO THE VENT ON THE FLOOR AND THE AC VENT CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO ICE UP CAUSING NO VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDOW. DID RUN OFF THE ROAD. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS EVER SINCE THAT DAY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE THAT THE GARAGE ATTENDANT SAID. HAVE DEALT WITH THIS FOR ALONG TIME. TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. SHARP!! THE REASON I AM REPORTING THIS TIME IS THAT I NEARLY ESCAPED FROM HITTING A TREE THIS LAST ICE STORM. DON'T WANT TO BE A STATISTIC. *NM

NHTSA ID
10176535
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Mileage
110,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 30, 2005

DODGE RAM 3/4 TON 4X4, 1997 . . ALL VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVE. 5 OR 6, ALL HAVE STEERING WHEEL PLAN AND FRONT END WANDER. IN OTHER WORDS YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN IT SOME MORE BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUAL TURNS. ITS LIKE THOSE OLD MOVIES YOU SEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH ALL THE TIME. WELL THAT IS WHAT THESE DODGES DO . . THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND FIXED . . ITS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10144044
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 2005
Fire reported

1997 DODGE RAM 2500 CAUGHT ON FIRE. *MR THE FIRE OCCURRED UNDER THE SHIFTER AND OUTSIDE UNDER THE HOOD. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE DASH SILENCER PAD. ON ANOTHER OCCASION AFTER REPAIRS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE A/C, CRUISE CONTROL AND TACHOMETER HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE ALTERNATOR WOULD NOT CHARGE, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM AND THE BATTERY WOULD BE DISCHARGED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. *SC

NHTSA ID
10133473
Incident
Apr 20, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Jul 10, 2003

THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED. *NLM *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10020290
Mileage
53,663 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 28, 2003

NAR 05/28/2003 *MR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED AND BECAME NONO-FUNCTIONAL. *CB

NHTSA ID
10021721
Incident
Feb 28, 2003
Mileage
61,534 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

9002849

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order kit 68253161AA. Insulator only used on Auto-RWD transmission Note: The color of the insulator is not relevant for service.

0801003

SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT CINCH BAR SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 MODELS. *TT

0801001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT

082700

AIR BAGS

SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT

230800

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

083799

AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT

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 Ram Pickup by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003140144.1
2002221153.2
2001200243.0
2000801—
1999330035.7
1998180038.9
1997Viewing170031.8
1996600—
1995702—
1994203—
1992300—

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.