IllustrationBELT SEPARATED ON THIS STEEL TEX 16 WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL RUNNING THE TRUCK INTO A DITCH. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ONE INJURY DUE TO INCIDENT. *AK *MJS
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 reportsTHE EXTERIOR MIRRORS FOLD BACK WITH WIND RESISTANCE.
SINCE JANUARY I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT STALLING WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE IF I HAD IT IDLE FOR AWHILE OR WARMING UP. I TOOK IT BACK TO AUTO NATION AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY TOOK IT TO DICKINSON DODGE (910) 864-2411 AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED PERIODICALLY UNTIL APRI…
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SINCE JANUARY I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT STALLING WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE IF I HAD IT IDLE FOR AWHILE OR WARMING UP. I TOOK IT BACK TO AUTO NATION AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY TOOK IT TO DICKINSON DODGE (910) 864-2411 AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED PERIODICALLY UNTIL APRIL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN WHEN I WAS IN REVERSE THEN WOULD TRY TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE AND IT WAS LIKE I WAS IN NUETRAL. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE DRIVE GEAR WOULD KICK IN AND IT WAS FINE. A FEW TIMES I HAD TO PUT IT IN D2 THEN PULL OUT AND PUT IT IN DRIVE. I HAD DICKINSON DODGE CHECK THIS AGAIN AND THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. IN LATE JUNE I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND TOLD DICKINSON TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING OR GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE SLIPPING AND STALLING. THEY DI REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TOLD ME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM BUT IT WASN'T. TWO DDAYS AFTER ON JULY 1ST I WAS DRIVING AROUND FAYETTEVILLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTACTED DICKINSON DODGE AGAIN AND ON 5 JULY TOOK IT IN. INITIALLY THEY SAID THE FAULT REGISTERED AS A DROP IN RPM'S. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THOUGHT IT WAS ELECTRICAL INITIALLY. THEN ON 6 JULY THEY DECIDED TO DROP THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND FOUND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS SEPARATING AND PUTTING METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THIS ATE AWAY THE SEAL FOR THE GEAR BOX AND ALLOWED OIL IN THE CLUTCHES. THAT WAS CAUSING THE SLIPPAGE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT. THEY ALSO SAID MY OVERDRIVE GEAR WAS ALREADY OUT. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1500 TO REBUILD IT. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $95 FOR TESTING WHICH SHOWED NOTHING AND ANOTHER $80 FOR THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACEMENT. I WOULD THINK A TRUCK WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I AM SUSPECTING IT MAY BE A FLOOD VEHICLE.*AK
THE FAILURE OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE MIRROR SUPPORT ARM BECAME LOOSE INTERNAL TO THE CONNECTION BRACKET ON THE VEHICLE AND THE MIRROR WOULD NOT REMAIN STABLE ONCE IT WAS SET AND THE VEHICLE PLACED IN MOTION. AS YOU DRIVE THE MIRROR WOULD JUST FLAP IN THE WIND. AFTER HAVING THE MIRROR REPL…
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THE FAILURE OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE MIRROR SUPPORT ARM BECAME LOOSE INTERNAL TO THE CONNECTION BRACKET ON THE VEHICLE AND THE MIRROR WOULD NOT REMAIN STABLE ONCE IT WAS SET AND THE VEHICLE PLACED IN MOTION. AS YOU DRIVE THE MIRROR WOULD JUST FLAP IN THE WIND. AFTER HAVING THE MIRROR REPLACED AND LOOKING AT THE MALFUNCTIONING MIRROR, MY INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THERE ARE FOUR(4) INTERNAL SCREWS AND A BRACKET THAT SECURES AND STABILIZES AND SECURES THE MIRROR SUPPORT ARM INTERNALLY. TWO(2) OF THE FOUR(4) SCREWS SECURING THE SUPPORT ARM WAS FOUND TO BE LOOSE AND BOUNCING AROUND INSIDE THE SUPPORT COVER. THE SCREWS OR HARDWARE SHOWS NO SIGNS OF BEING STRIPPED OR WORN, THEY WERE JUST LOOSE. WITH THIS MIRROR BEING A SAFETY ITEM, I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ABSORB THIS COSTLY REPAIR OF $379.32 WHEN THESE FAILURES OCCUR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANY INSIGHT OR GUIDANCE YOU MAY PROVIDE IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.
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
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURRED UNDERNEATH DRIVER'S SEAT, POSSIBLY DUE TO MOTOR BURNING UP. CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE DIRECTLY BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. CONSUMER DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO STOP THE FIRE. *AK *ML
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
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER LINKED THE PROBLEM TO THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WHICH WAS FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE, DEALER WAS REPLACING PARTS. *AK *ML
FUEL LEAK @ THE INJECTOR RAIL WHERE FUEL PURES ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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.