IllustrationAIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC
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 reportsFRONT LIGHTS FAILED.
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON GLOW AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OF NHTSA ID# 01V153000. DODGE MFG. AND THE DEALER SAYS NO RECALL ON MY TRUCK EVENTHOUGH AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. RECALL IS ON TRUCKS YR. 1996 THRU YR. 2000 AND MINE IS A YR. 1997.*AK
IT JERKS WHEN LIGHTLY ACCELERATING.*AK
BOTH SIDE MIRRORS MOVE BACK AND FORTH AS YOU DRIVE OR WHEN WIND CHANGES, DEALER INSPECTED SAID YES THEY ARE BAD, NEW ONES, $600.00, AT ONLY 15,000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE.TALKED TO THREE OTHERS ,SAME TYPE TRUCK, WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK
EXTERIOR MIRRORS ON BOTH DOORS OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN PLACE BY "MOVING IN THE WIND". DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT MIRRORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK *SLC
I HAVE NOT USED THIS VEHICLE IN ANY MANNER THAT WOULD CAUSE THE WHEEL BEARINGS TO FAIL THIS EARLY IN FACT I HAVE OWNED 10 OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD THE BEARINGS GO ON ANY OF THEM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION , NOISE OR OTHERWISE THAT THEY WERE FAILING. WE HAD THE BRAKES REDONE IN DECEMBER OF 2000, WITH THE FRONT ROTORS HAVING…
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I HAVE NOT USED THIS VEHICLE IN ANY MANNER THAT WOULD CAUSE THE WHEEL BEARINGS TO FAIL THIS EARLY IN FACT I HAVE OWNED 10 OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD THE BEARINGS GO ON ANY OF THEM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION , NOISE OR OTHERWISE THAT THEY WERE FAILING. WE HAD THE BRAKES REDONE IN DECEMBER OF 2000, WITH THE FRONT ROTORS HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE SO WORN. IF THERE WERE A PROBLEM SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE NOTICED IT WHEN THEY TOOK THE ROTORS OFF. JUST MAKES ME WONDER. *AK
LEFT FRONT RIM HAS COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
ONGOING AND INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BRAKING SYSTEM;. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWELVE OCCASIONS. VARIOUS PARTS AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NOT SURE, BUT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOUR NHTSA ITEM NUMBER SB049106(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT).THERE IS A SURGE OF R.P.M.`S OF 2000 OR 3000 AND A GRINDING OR "HARSHNESS" SOUND AT DIFFERENT TIMES.*AK
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.