IllustrationTHE GAS TANK STRAP RUSTED OUT ON THE 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 EXTENDED CAB THAT WE OWN. IT WAS BEING HELD UP BY ONLY ONE STRAP.
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
What owners actually said
361 reportsMY FIANCE IS THE OWNER OF A 1997 DODGE 1500 4X4 PICKUP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED/CHANGE 4 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN 2002. I CHECK THE DEFECTS FOR THAT VEHICLE ON YOUR "DEFECT INFORMATION" & SURE ENOUGH THERE IT IS. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS TRUCK SI…
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MY FIANCE IS THE OWNER OF A 1997 DODGE 1500 4X4 PICKUP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED/CHANGE 4 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN 2002. I CHECK THE DEFECTS FOR THAT VEHICLE ON YOUR "DEFECT INFORMATION" & SURE ENOUGH THERE IT IS. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. THE HOOD LATCH IS ALWAYS LOOSE & FINALLY CAUSE THE HOOD TO FLY UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH ME & MY 2 CHILDREN. THE TAIL GATE HAS FALLEN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACE BECAUSE THE IT SAGS. AND FINALLY, THE BUMPER HAS JUST ABOUT COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY SINCE WE'VE OWNED IT. I FEEL WE GOT THE BIGGEST LEMON. I EMAILED DODGE DIRECTLY WITH THIS SAME ISSUE & RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. HOPEFULLY, YOUR AGENCY CAN HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANGELA SAYRE. *NM
SEVERELY CRACKED DASH THAT COULD PUNCTURE AIR BAG UPON DEPLOYMENT. *JB
GASOLINE TANK STARTED LEAKING DUE TO STRESS CRACK FAILURE. NO INDICATION OF MECHANICAL WEAR AT THE FAILURE POINT, APPEARS TO BE A FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC. *NM
1997 DODGE RAM 1500 5.2L V8 SINGLE CAB(LARAMIE) DASH IS CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER, CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING ANYMORE AND AIR CONDITIONING GOES IN AND OUT WITH ACCELERATION. *JB
1997 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH BOARD CRACKS IN SEVERAL PLACES; EVEN HAS A 12" X 9" HOLE IN TOP OF DASH AT THIS POINT. *JB
FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *JB
SEATS WILL NOT RECLINE NOR FLIP FORWARD. THIS HAS CAUSED A BACK SEAT PASSENGER TO FALL GETTING OUT OF THE 1997 DODGE RAM BECOMING INJURED. VEHICLE MISSES, STUTTERS AND ENGINE PULSES AT 50 MPH. HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE FIRST ONWER. TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND STILL DOES IT. DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM AFTER SPENDING $900.00 ON…
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SEATS WILL NOT RECLINE NOR FLIP FORWARD. THIS HAS CAUSED A BACK SEAT PASSENGER TO FALL GETTING OUT OF THE 1997 DODGE RAM BECOMING INJURED. VEHICLE MISSES, STUTTERS AND ENGINE PULSES AT 50 MPH. HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE FIRST ONWER. TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND STILL DOES IT. DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM AFTER SPENDING $900.00 ON A TUNE-EP AND DIAGNOSTICS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. DOING SINCE FIRST OWNER. DEALER CHECKS, CHARGED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AND WITHIN 8 HOURS OF USE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND STAYS LIGHT. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL BLINK THEN REMAIN ON. TAKEN TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THIS VEHICLE IS SENSITIVE EVEN A GAS CAP NOT TIGHT WILL TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY ENGINE - NOTHING! *NM
ON DECEMBER 14 2005 MY SON WAS DRIVING MY DODGE RAM 1500, HE TRIED TO STOP AND THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED AND HE REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. THE ENGINE STALLED AND HE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK SLID APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET. THERE WAS A CHILD INJURED IN THE CAR THAT HE HIT. *JB
1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE- NORMAL OPERATION. VEHICLE 9 YEARS OLD. 2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES- STEEL BRAKE TUBE SUPPLYING THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM COMPLETELY DETERIORATED FROM CORROSION AT THE LAST CLAMP STATION PRIOR TO THE CONNECTION TO THE REAR BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY. PREMATURE CORROSION OF THE STEEL BRAKE TUBE AT THE LA…
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1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE- NORMAL OPERATION. VEHICLE 9 YEARS OLD. 2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES- STEEL BRAKE TUBE SUPPLYING THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM COMPLETELY DETERIORATED FROM CORROSION AT THE LAST CLAMP STATION PRIOR TO THE CONNECTION TO THE REAR BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY. PREMATURE CORROSION OF THE STEEL BRAKE TUBE AT THE LAST CLAMPING STATION RUPTURED THE STEEL BRAKE TUBE RESULTING IN 95% LOSS IN VEHICLE STOPPING POWER WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. BRAKE FAILURE. 3) ACTIONS TAKEN TO CORRECT THE FAILURE- STEEL BRAKE TUBE WILL NEED REPLACED. *NM
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.