Model year

1997 Dodge RAM Pickup

Pickup, gasoline, 4x2, built in Mexico. Owner complaints on file from Sep 1, 1998 to Oct 29, 2011.

Recall campaigns covering this model year0No recall campaign lists this model year
Owner complaints17Close to the median 1997 pickup
Severity index5.91997 pickups average 13.6
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM Pickup peaked in 2003, with 5 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

024619982001520042007201020132016201920222026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

29% of complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM Pickup name structure

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Structure
5
Steering
2
Suspension
2
Speed control
2
Electrical system
1
Engine and cooling
1
Lighting
1
Latches and locks
1
Powertrain
1
Brakes
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

No recall campaign lists the 1997 Dodge RAM Pickup

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 1997 Dodge RAM Pickup

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

17 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Oct 29, 2011Failure Jan 28, 20091,400,000 milesAnderson, SCStructure

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

    NHTSA complaint 10433518
  2. Filed Sep 12, 2008Failure Jun 21, 200829,000 milesFrederick, MDTires

    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 complaint 10241994
  3. Filed May 1, 2007Failure Jan 1, 2006Chuluota, FLStructure

    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 complaint 10189415
  4. Filed Dec 19, 2006Failure Feb 1, 2001110,000 milesMcalester, OKDefroster/defogger/hvac system

    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 complaint 10176535
  5. Filed Nov 30, 2005Failure Jan 1, 1997Maple Valley, WASteering

    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 complaint 10144044
  6. Filed Aug 12, 2005Failure Apr 20, 2005RIO Rancho, NMElectrical systemFire

    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 complaint 10133473
  7. Filed Jul 10, 200353,663 milesAssonet, MABody

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

    NHTSA complaint 10020290
  8. Filed May 28, 2003Failure Feb 28, 200361,534 milesCrowder, OKSwitch

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

    NHTSA complaint 10021721
  9. Filed Apr 25, 2003Failure Apr 23, 200336,346 milesBAY ST. Louis, MSEngine, Catalytic convertor, Steering, Suspension

    !)AT 36,246 MILES, BOLTS HOLDING TIE RODS TO STEERING BOX BROKE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE. HAD TO FIGHT DODGE TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. ORIGINALLY HAD VEHICLE IN FOR 'WANDERING STEERING' BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY REPLACED STEERING BOX, TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM AND OTHER RELATED COMPONETS. 2)18,276 MILES LATER, SAME DEALERSHIP STATES NEEDS NEW TIE RODS, IDLER ARM, PITMAN ARM, AND BALL JOINTS ON LEFT FRONT. FEEL THESE PARTS SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE AS THEY REPLACED THEMSELVES ONLY 18,000 MILES AGO. HAVE PROVIDED PROPER MAINTENANCE. IN THE MEANTIME, GETTING THESE AREAS GREASED AND EXAMINED AS DIRECTED IN OWNERS MANUAL BY CERTIFIED MECHANICS. 3)SAME DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK REPLACED HEADER AND MANIFOLD GASKETS STATING THEY WERE BURNED UP DUE TO OUR USING PLATINUM TIP SPARK PLUGS WHICH SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED GASKETS TO BURN UP AND ALLOW OIL TO LEAK INTO CYLINDER. ($459)THEY ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC COVERTER (UNDER WARRANTY). THROUGH RESEARCH ON INTERNET, HAVE FOUND THAT THE INTAKE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES EXACT PROBLEMS I WAS CHARGED FOR. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM, HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR SHOP ON OR AROUND THE TIME AT LEAST 2 OF THESE BULLETINS WERE ISSUED WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS THEY WERE TOLD TO LOOK FOR (OVERHEATING, SMELLING OF BURNING COMING FROM ENGINE, SMELL OF RAW GAS INSIDE VEHICLE). AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, THEY HAVE NEVER CHECKED OR REPLACED THE INTAKE. VEHICLE: 1997 DODGE RAM EXTENDED CAB LARAMIE EDITION. 5.2 L , V-8 ENGINE. I FEEL THIS DEALERSHIP IS LYING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND PLACING OUR LIVES IN DANGER BY NOT PROPERLY INSPECTING AND EXPLAINING PROBLEMS. IN REGARDS TO THE NEWEST TIE ROD RECOMMENDATION, THEY STATED THAT "CUSTOMER DECLINED WORK". I DID NOT DECLINE THE WORK, I JUST ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR IT SINCE THEY DID THE WORK SUCH A SHORT TIME AGO. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10016478
  10. Filed Feb 3, 2003Failure Oct 9, 200225,502 milesMiami, FLVehicle speed control

    CONSUMER STATES AFTER THEY HAD THE RECALL 02 V 161 000 FOR THE THROTTLE LEAKAGE DONE ,THE STEERING WHEEL IS INOPERATIVE. THERE'S FUEL LEAKAGE, AND THE ODOMETER READ A DECREASE IN THE MILEAGE. PH

    NHTSA complaint 10006192
  11. Filed Jan 8, 2003Failure Mar 12, 2002Croswell, MIAutomatic transmission, Vehicle speed control

    WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED UP HILL AND NO WITH WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL DECELERATE EVEN WHEN FOOT IS ON ACCELERATOR, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS.....*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10002342
  12. Filed May 21, 2002Moores Hill, INLugs/nuts/bolts/studs

    AFTER A ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION REPAIR, THE DEALER FAILED TO PROPERLY RETIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS RESULTING IN A NEAR CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT, AS A RESULT OF THIS THE CONSUMER IS HESITANT TO ACCEPT SERVICE AT ANY DAIMLER CHRYSLER ORGANIZATION. NLM

    NHTSA complaint 565834
  13. Filed Apr 19, 2002Seminole, FLLatch

    CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V040000 NOTIFICATION FOR THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER RECALL WORK HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED DUE TO SCHEDULING PROBLEMS WITH DEALERSHIP. *TT

    NHTSA complaint 565273
  14. Filed Apr 16, 2002Huntington Beach, CACoil springs

    COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM FRAME.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 8007741
  15. Filed Apr 1, 2001Failure Feb 26, 2001Westlake, OHDoor

    DRIVER SIDE DOOR SHEET METAL CRACKED WHERE LATCH MECHANISM IS ATTACHED. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 560638
  16. Filed Apr 7, 2000Failure Aug 15, 1996Claremore, OKStructure

    EVERY TIME IT RAINS, I HAVE STANDING WATER IN THE CAB OF THE TRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM "REPAIRED" 4 TIMES, AND IT HADS OCCURED AGAIN. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME TILL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRUCK FAIL DUE TO EXPOSURE TO WATER. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THE DODGE TRUCK, AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER , THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, AS THEY HAVE HAD MANY TRUCKS WITH THE SAME TROUBLE IN THEIR AREA, NOT TO MENTION COUNTRY WIDE. THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FROM CHANGING OUT THE REAR WINDOW (3 TIMES), TO REPLACING THE SEAL AND HOUSING SURROUNDING THE BRAKE LIGHT ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. ALL OF THESE 'ATTEMPTS' HAVE FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE NEED HELP IN GETTING THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM REMEDIED PROMPTLY , BEFORE MORE DAMAGE PRESENTS ITSELF IN TOTAL SHUTDOWN OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (OR WORSE) WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO IF NEEDED. THANK YOU.

    NHTSA complaint 711269
  17. Filed Sep 1, 1998LA Grande, ORService brakes, Foundation components

    FRONT BRAKES FAILED CAUSING PULSATION.

    NHTSA complaint 539554
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

12 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • 9002849 Sep 3, 2014 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    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 …
  • 0801003 Apr 25, 2003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SEAT BELT CINCH BAR SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 MODELS. *TT
  • 082700 Sep 29, 2000 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT
  • 083799 Nov 12, 1999 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT
  • 241197 Jul 11, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    CONCERNS WITH A/C EVAPORATOR ODOR. *NLM
  • 220197 Jun 13, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM
  • 0801001 May 25, 2001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT
  • 230800 Mar 3, 2000 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
  • 081798 Dec 30, 1998 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG ON - OFF SWITCHES. *YC
  • 081698 Apr 17, 1998 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK
  • 080997 Feb 28, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    AIR BAG WARNING LABELS. *TW
  • 230397 Feb 14, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    DIFFICULT TO CLEAN LIGHT COLORED "CHALKY" RESIDUE FROM PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOLDED IN BLACK. *TW
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.