IllustrationTHE PLASTIC DASHBOARD TOP SUDDENLY BEGAN BREAKING INTO LARGE, SHARP SHARDS AND FALLING APART. ONCE THIS BEGAN, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INSIDE THE DASH BEGAN, INCLUDING RADIO FEATURE FAILURES, HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING, ETC. *TR
1997 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
1325–50K
2750–75K
2475–100K
44100–150K
28150K+
144 reports with mileage · 217 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports14 fire reports24 injury reports
Structure complaints
70 reportsDASH TOP BROKEN INTO MULTIPLE PIECES. LOOSE PIECES DO NOT STAY IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. *TT
THE DASH BOARD ON MY 97 DODGE RAM HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. ONE MAJOR CONCERN IS THE DASH CRACKED OVER THE AIR BAG, I CAN SEE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSIDE THE DASH AREA. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED DASH BOARD. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE OUTCOME TO THE MANY COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE CRACKING OF T…
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THE DASH BOARD ON MY 97 DODGE RAM HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. ONE MAJOR CONCERN IS THE DASH CRACKED OVER THE AIR BAG, I CAN SEE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSIDE THE DASH AREA. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED DASH BOARD. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE OUTCOME TO THE MANY COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 11/01/11. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HOOD LATCH SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FLEW OVER THE VEHICLE, FRACTURING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THE CONTACT WAS NO LONGER QUALIFIED FOR REPAIRS UNDER A SILENT RECALL, DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INCID…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HOOD LATCH SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FLEW OVER THE VEHICLE, FRACTURING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THE CONTACT WAS NO LONGER QUALIFIED FOR REPAIRS UNDER A SILENT RECALL, DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INCIDENT AND DENIED ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
97 DODGE RAM 1500 CRACKED DASH IN MANY PLACES. *TR
DASHBOARD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. THIS CRACKING WAS APPARENTLY SPONTANEOUS. *KB
THE DASH IN MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 IS COMPLETELY CAVED IN AND IN THOUSANDS OF PIECES. THIS DASH PIECE IS WHAT HOLDS THE VIN IN PLACE, I NOW HAVE IT STORED IN THE VEHICLES GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MANY DODGE OWNERS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST MINE BUT MANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT CONTACTING…
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THE DASH IN MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 IS COMPLETELY CAVED IN AND IN THOUSANDS OF PIECES. THIS DASH PIECE IS WHAT HOLDS THE VIN IN PLACE, I NOW HAVE IT STORED IN THE VEHICLES GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MANY DODGE OWNERS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST MINE BUT MANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT CONTACTING DODGE DIRECTLY WOULD GET ME NOWHERE. IM HERE ASKING FOR HELP IN RIGHTING THIS SITUATION, IM A DISABLED VETERAN AND CANT AFFORD TO BUY A DASH FOR MY TRUCK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH *TR
1997 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. STARTED SUMMER OF 2010. NOW WHOLE SECTION HAS CAVED IN. *TR
THE DASH IN MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 IS DISINTEGRATING. IT'S JUST FALLING TO PIECES WITH SHARP JAGGED EDGES EVERYWHERE....... *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS NOT JUST CRACKED, BUT BROKEN INTO JAGGED PIECES. I HAVE NEVER USED ANY TYPE OF CHEMICALS OR POLISHES ON THE DASHBOARD, AND IT STILL JUST CRACKED INTO PIECES. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP03006 · Seat Back Failure
Opened Sep 23, 2003 · Closed Apr 8, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:front Assembly:recliner
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
Seats:front Assembly:recliner
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.