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 reports
78,000 miles · May 26, 2010
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD BEEN BREAKING INTO PIECES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE CO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD BEEN BREAKING INTO PIECES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.
NHTSA ODI #10332352
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
1997 DODGE RAM 1500 EXPLODED AND CAUGHT MY MOTHER IN LAWS HOUSE ON FIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332070
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2010
Structure
I PURCHASED A 1997 DODGE RAM NEW IN 97. PAINT DEFECT STARTED OVER LAST 7 YEARS. CLEAR COAT BEGAN PEELING OFF ON TOP OF CAB. PAINT IS PEELING OFF IN SHEETS ON BED SIDES AND TAIL GATE. PAINT HAS ALSO FAILED ON LOWER SIDE PANELS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE TO GET FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10330598
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2010
Electrical SystemStructureInjury
1997 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD SHATTERED UNDER CONSUMERS HAND.*CW THE CONSUMER ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAS THE SAME DASH PROBLEM. UPDATED 03/08/10
NHTSA ODI #10317553
150,000 miles · Feb 28, 2010
Structure
I OWN A 1997 DODGE 1500 PICKUP TRUCK AND THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY FALLING IN PIECES. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TREATED WITH A LOT OF CARE AND HAS BEEN DETAILED FREQUENTLY TO KEEP ITS APPEARANCE LIKE NEW. IT SURPRISED ME TO SEE A SMALL CRACK AND I IMMEDIATELY SEALED THE CRACK TO AVOID IT GETTING LARGER. I WAS AMAZED THAT LARGER CR…
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I OWN A 1997 DODGE 1500 PICKUP TRUCK AND THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY FALLING IN PIECES. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TREATED WITH A LOT OF CARE AND HAS BEEN DETAILED FREQUENTLY TO KEEP ITS APPEARANCE LIKE NEW. IT SURPRISED ME TO SEE A SMALL CRACK AND I IMMEDIATELY SEALED THE CRACK TO AVOID IT GETTING LARGER. I WAS AMAZED THAT LARGER CRACKS STARTED APPEARING IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE DASHBOARD AND SOON IT STARTED TO FALL IN PIECES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315006
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2010
Structure
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE 1500. MY DASH STARTED CRACKING, WHICH APPEARS TO BE STRESS CRACKS. SINCE THEN MY WINDSHIELD HAS STARTING CRACKING AS WELL. THEY BOTH HAVE NOT STOPPED CRACKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310239
30,000 miles · Feb 5, 2010
Structure
1997 RAM 1500 CRACKED DASH IS DANGEROUS. PIECES ARE SHARP AND I FEEL IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10306529
100,000 miles · Jan 22, 2010
Structure
1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP DASH BOARD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THIS IS A REPLACEMENT OF A PREVIOUS DASHBOARD THAT HAD ALSO CRACKED. FIRST DASHBOARD CRACKED AFTER WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED DUE THE A CRACK. WINDSHIELD COMPANY STATED WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM STRESS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10301817
140,000 miles · Dec 29, 2009
Exterior LightingFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRES IN THE HOUSING HAD MELTED. AFTER HE PURCHASED THE PARTS FROM THE DEALER, HE PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10297284
Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2009
Structure
1997 DODGE 1500 RAM TRUCK, CRACKED DASH BOARD IN SEVERAL PLACES. MANY OWNERS NEW AND OLD ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. DANGEROUS FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND WIRING ISSUES IN DASHES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291566
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.
1997 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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