IllustrationTHE TRAILER HITCH BROKE TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
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 reportsBOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONARY AND MOVE AROUND IN THE WIND. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME DEFECT. I CONTACTED THE DODGE CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT BUT THEY CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BUT IT WAS ONLY TEMPORARY. THEY BROKE ONCE AGAIN IN…
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BOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONARY AND MOVE AROUND IN THE WIND. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME DEFECT. I CONTACTED THE DODGE CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT BUT THEY CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BUT IT WAS ONLY TEMPORARY. THEY BROKE ONCE AGAIN IN SEVERAL MONTHS. *NLM
THE HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF BY THEMSELVES.*JB
THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A LOW MILEAGE.*JB
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT THREE TIMES SINCE BUYING NEW. HAS 85000 MILES ON IT. DODGE WILL NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS
AUTO. TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT 51,000 MILES
FUEL GAUGE IS NOT READING ACCURATELY AND WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF GAS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
BOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS TURN IN WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING SUCH AS COMPLAINT #'S 724822, 9001529, 890575, 882388, 747014. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER ONE DAY TOOK IT TO THEM AND DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THEM AND WAS TOLD BY …
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BOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS TURN IN WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING SUCH AS COMPLAINT #'S 724822, 9001529, 890575, 882388, 747014. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER ONE DAY TOOK IT TO THEM AND DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THEM AND WAS TOLD BY SOME IN THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THEY WERE NOT ORIGINAL MIRRORS. I KNOW THAT THESE ARE THE ORIGIANL MIRRORS BY SEEING OVER 100 TRUCKS ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME ONES ON THEM. I FOUND THAT A SORRY WAY TO GET BY WITHOUT DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH ME, I WAS NOT ASKING THEM TO FIX THEM JUST IF THERE WAS A WAY TO DO IT. REGENT DODGE IN NASHVILLE IS A SORRY EXCUSE FOR A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND NO ONE SHOULD BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM, AND ESPECIALLY TAKE ANYTHING TO THEM TO BE WORKED ON. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP ON GETTING THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF SINCE IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH BEING ABLE TO SEE OTHER DRIVERS WHILE DRIVING.
WHEEL BEARING ARE GOING BAD ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS WE HAVE PUT 4 ON IN 2 YEARS. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MANY MORE AT 200.00 EACH. DT
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 45 MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION IN EXHUAST SYSTEM. OWNER TO VEHICLE TO DODGE AND DODGE REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER 5 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
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.