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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

14 reports
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197,000 miles · Aug 14, 2011
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING 97 DODGE RAM MY DAUGHTER ALMOST WRECKED DUE TO VEHICLE SUDDEN SURGE, STALL AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN I TEST DROVE IT. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS FOUND TO INCLUDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ON STEERING WHEEL COMES O…

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WHILE DRIVING 97 DODGE RAM MY DAUGHTER ALMOST WRECKED DUE TO VEHICLE SUDDEN SURGE, STALL AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN I TEST DROVE IT. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS FOUND TO INCLUDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ON STEERING WHEEL COMES ON AND VEHICLE SURGES WITH RPM'S UP TO @ 2,000 BEFORE FULL STALL. CODE P0123 ON OBDII SCANNER. SENSOR REPLACED AND STILL HAPPENING. STOPPED PROBLEM COMPLETELY BY DISCONNECTING THE CLOCK SPRING CONNECTIONS. RESEARCHED OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND MANY LISTED UNDER VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, CLOCK SPRING, AIRBAG, ELECTRICAL ETC COVERING MANY YEARS AND INCLUDING INJURIES. NHTSA NEEDS TO CROSS REFERENCE THESE COMPLAINTS AND CONNECT THE DOTS AS THERE IS NO PLACE I CAN FIND TO TYPE IN THE ACTUAL COMPONENT NAME "CLOCK SPRING" WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY POOR SETUP FOR A COMPLAINT SITE. ALSO LIMITING MILEAGE TO 3 NUMBERS IS RIDICULOUS. SPEED RANGED FROM BARELY MOVING @ 2MPH TO 45MPH. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419341

140,000 miles · Nov 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TONIGHT MY THROTTLE GOT STUCK ON MY 97 DODGE RAM 1500 (ALL STOCK PARTS). AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT, I PULLED OUT, THEN ACCELERATED TO 50 MPH, AND LET OFF THE GAS; BUT THE TRUCK KEPT ACCELERATING. THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN, SO PRESSED THE BRAKE, PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF…

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TONIGHT MY THROTTLE GOT STUCK ON MY 97 DODGE RAM 1500 (ALL STOCK PARTS). AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT, I PULLED OUT, THEN ACCELERATED TO 50 MPH, AND LET OFF THE GAS; BUT THE TRUCK KEPT ACCELERATING. THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN, SO PRESSED THE BRAKE, PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT SEEMS TO BE LINKED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL (WHICH I NEVER HAD ON), OR SOME SORT OF BINDING IN THE FIREWALL WHERE THE CABLE LINKS TO THE PEDAL IN THE CABIN. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE NOW, BUT I'M STILL GOING TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363648

70,900 miles · Jun 4, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 55 MPH WITHOUT HIM PRE-SETTING THE SPEED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 55 MPH WITHOUT HIM PRE-SETTING THE SPEED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO DISENGAGE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,900. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED

NHTSA ODI #10229887

40 miles · Apr 13, 2005
Fuel System, GasolineLatches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Air

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

NHTSA ODI #10116859

94,000 miles · Jun 4, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE SITTING AT A GAS STATION ON A SLIGHT INCLINE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS ABOUT THIRTY FEET AND COLLIDED WITH A FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEMOLISHED, AND FUEL FLOODED THE IMMEDIATE AREA. VEHICLE SUFFERED SCRATCHES, A BENT BUMPER AND SEVERAL DENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10075697

126,000 miles · Mar 17, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 1997 DODGE 1500 RAM P.U. I STARTED MY TRUCK UP TOWARM UP. I THEN BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE. WHEN I PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE, IT STALLED. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN. THE ENGINE WAS GOING FULL THROTTLE AND IT TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. I CUT THE ENGING TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM. EVERYTHING APPEARED OK SO I STARTED IT…

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I OWN A 1997 DODGE 1500 RAM P.U. I STARTED MY TRUCK UP TOWARM UP. I THEN BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE. WHEN I PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE, IT STALLED. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN. THE ENGINE WAS GOING FULL THROTTLE AND IT TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. I CUT THE ENGING TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM. EVERYTHING APPEARED OK SO I STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND PUT IT IN GEAR. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SO FAST THAT EVEN THOUGH I HELD THE BRAKE PEDDAL TO THE FLOOR THE ENGINE PULLED ME RIGHT THRU A STOP SIGN. I PLAYED WITH THE GAS PEDDAL AND IT BEGAN TO RUN NORMAL. I THEN TOOK IT TO MY SERVICE STATION AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY ADVISD ME THAT IT WAS A DEALER PROBLEM AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I THEN PROCEEDED TOWARDS TO THE FREEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLD ACCELERATED AGAIN. I THEN BROUGHT THE TRUCK HOME AND AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I CALLED CHRYSLER CORP. TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND YET I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL SAME OR SIMULAR PROBLEMS LISTED ON YOUR SITE. I ALSO HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IT SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, AND HASEN'T WORKED SINCE. AGAIN CHRYSLER CLAIME TO NOT BE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. THE EXACT SAME THING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL HAPPENED ON MY 1998 PLYMOUTH VAN AND IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF UNDER RECALL. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER YOU ARE NOT RELAYING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS TO CHRYSLER CORP., OR THEY ARE LIVING IN A VACUUM.

NHTSA ODI #10062479

103,000 miles · Jan 8, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR IS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONARY AND MOVE AROUND IN THE WIND. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, A SMELL OF FUEL BECAME INCREASING STRONGER AND A WHINING SOUND UPON TAKEOFF BECAME LOUDER. I FOUND THE LEAK AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC! FUEL RAIL NEXT TO THE FIRE WALL ABOVE TH…

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PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR IS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONARY AND MOVE AROUND IN THE WIND. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, A SMELL OF FUEL BECAME INCREASING STRONGER AND A WHINING SOUND UPON TAKEOFF BECAME LOUDER. I FOUND THE LEAK AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC! FUEL RAIL NEXT TO THE FIRE WALL ABOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS STARTED AFTER OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE REACHED 1 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. FUEL FALLS DIRECTLY ONTO A REALLY HOT MOTOR. FOG LIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DOES NOT WORK. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10052702

49,900 miles · May 14, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE-CONTROL, MY CRUISE-CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND I GO TO SET MY SPEED THAT I WANT AND IT DOESN'T WORK. I CONTINUE GOING AND THEN THE CRUISE WILL TAKE OVER ON IT'S OWN AND START WORKING AND WHEN I STOP, IT STOPS. I TAKE OFF AND THEN IT WILL KICK IN AND LOCK ON AND WORK AND OTHER TIMES, WHEN I WANT IT TO, IT WON'T WORK AT A…

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CRUISE-CONTROL, MY CRUISE-CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND I GO TO SET MY SPEED THAT I WANT AND IT DOESN'T WORK. I CONTINUE GOING AND THEN THE CRUISE WILL TAKE OVER ON IT'S OWN AND START WORKING AND WHEN I STOP, IT STOPS. I TAKE OFF AND THEN IT WILL KICK IN AND LOCK ON AND WORK AND OTHER TIMES, WHEN I WANT IT TO, IT WON'T WORK AT ALL. WOULD THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SPRINGS AND SET UP WITH THE AIR BAG RECALL ON THE 1997 DODGE RAM PICK-UPS, WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED. I DID GET THE RECALL FOR THE HOOD LATCH PROBLEM AND HAD THAT FIXED IMMEDIATELY. I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK-UP TRUCK AND THE MILEAGE JUST TURNED 50,000, PLUS I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT ALSO. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018662

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

IT JERKS WHEN LIGHTLY ACCELERATING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #748973

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TRUCK ACCEELRATED UPON PUTTING INTO DRIVE.....THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ....COULD NOT STOP IT. THE ABS ACTIVATED AND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING....IT SQUEELED THE TIRES AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR......CRASHED INTO A BUILDING AND IT WAS STILL REVVING AT FULL THROTTLE.........CAN YOU HELP US.....…

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TRUCK ACCEELRATED UPON PUTTING INTO DRIVE.....THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ....COULD NOT STOP IT. THE ABS ACTIVATED AND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING....IT SQUEELED THE TIRES AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR......CRASHED INTO A BUILDING AND IT WAS STILL REVVING AT FULL THROTTLE.........CAN YOU HELP US......WE DONT WANT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN UNLESS WE KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT TO DO THIS.........THE EXTERIOR DAMAGE IS BEING REPAIRED BUT WE STILL DONT KNOW WHY IT DID THAT........THANKYOU... *AK

NHTSA ODI #723054

Official recalls

0

No 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

1

DP03006 · 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.