IllustrationI HAVE THREE CRACKS IN THE UPPER PART OF MY DASH IN MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1994-2001 DODGE RAM TRUCKS. *NM
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 reportsI OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 EXTENDED CAB. MY DASH BOARD IS CRACKED IN THE CENTER FROM TOP OF RADIO TO THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. DON'T KNOW WHY IT CRACKED IT JUST APPERED. *NM
CRACKED DASH ON 97 DODGE RAM 1500,TOLD THAT IT COULD CAUSE AIRBAG DAMAGE--STARTED CRACKING AFTER A YEAR OR SO AND JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE. *NM
A LONG LIST IS AVAILABLE AT HUMES OF WATERFORD,PA. THE MOST AMAZING FAILURE OF THE VEHICHLE WAS WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING AROUND THE BEND AND I WAS LUCKY THAAT NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING. HUMES(DEALER) FIXED IT BY A HORRIBLE WELD ON THE LATCH.*AK
DODGE RAM WITH 65,000 MILES DASH HAS SPIT IN SEVERAL PLACES THIS IS UNCALLED FOR ON A 20,000 DOLLAR TRUCK. THERE WAS A MALFUCTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THESE DASHES AND CHRYLSLER SHOULD MAKE THEM GOOD. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYLSLER COMPANY THAT I PURCHESED IT FROM, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ME AROUND 200 DOLLARS. ITS ALSO A SAFET…
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DODGE RAM WITH 65,000 MILES DASH HAS SPIT IN SEVERAL PLACES THIS IS UNCALLED FOR ON A 20,000 DOLLAR TRUCK. THERE WAS A MALFUCTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THESE DASHES AND CHRYLSLER SHOULD MAKE THEM GOOD. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYLSLER COMPANY THAT I PURCHESED IT FROM, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ME AROUND 200 DOLLARS. ITS ALSO A SAFETY HAZZARD, I HOPE NO ONE GETS CUT FROM THE SHARP EDGES.*AK
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.*AK
MY DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER AROUND VIN NUMBER FROM THE DEFROST VENTS. I KEEP MY TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND IN THE LAST 2 YEARS IT HAS CRACKED MORE AND MORE AND FOR TWO YRS I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT MORE THAN 1 THOUSAND MILES CAUSE I AM NOT HOME TO DRIVE IT. ALSO THE COLUMN ON THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD I CAN NOT SEE AROUND THEM I HAV…
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MY DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER AROUND VIN NUMBER FROM THE DEFROST VENTS. I KEEP MY TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND IN THE LAST 2 YEARS IT HAS CRACKED MORE AND MORE AND FOR TWO YRS I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT MORE THAN 1 THOUSAND MILES CAUSE I AM NOT HOME TO DRIVE IT. ALSO THE COLUMN ON THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD I CAN NOT SEE AROUND THEM I HAVE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL PEOPLE AND CARS THIS IS A BLIND SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SEAT AND WEAR I SIT I THINK THIS COLUMN IS TO FAT AND OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW. *JB
WHILE PULLING ONTO A RAMP REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PINION GEAR SHEARED OFF IN REAR END. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE HEAT SHIELD BROKE AND WAS FIXED. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. *YH
THE POSTS ON EACH SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ARE APPROX. 6" WIDE AND RESTRICT THE DRIVERS VISABILITY SERVERLY. MY SON AND I HAVE SIMILAR TRUCK DODGE TRUCK MODELS AND WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES. MY MOST RECENT NEAR COLLITION WAS WITH A RAILROAD LOCAMOTIVE AT AN UNGATED CROSSING. LUCKLY ANOTH…
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THE POSTS ON EACH SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ARE APPROX. 6" WIDE AND RESTRICT THE DRIVERS VISABILITY SERVERLY. MY SON AND I HAVE SIMILAR TRUCK DODGE TRUCK MODELS AND WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES. MY MOST RECENT NEAR COLLITION WAS WITH A RAILROAD LOCAMOTIVE AT AN UNGATED CROSSING. LUCKLY ANOTHER DRIVER ALERTED ME TO THE LOCAMOTIVE AND I SAW IT IN TIME . HOWEVER IT WAS COMPLELY HIDDEN FROM MY VIEW BY THE POST . I HAVE OWNED DODGE TRUCKS FOR THE PAST 23 YEARS WITH OVER 700,000 MILES OF SERVICE AND HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THEM RELIABLE AN SAFE . *AK
HANDLE USED FOR ENTERING AND EXITING VEHICLE ON PASSENGER SIDE PULLED OUT OF THE ROOF CAUSING PERSON HOLDING IT TO FALL TO THE GROUND.
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.