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1997 Dodge RAM 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

60 reports with mileage · 153 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports14 fire reports6 injury reports

Power Train complaints

32 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 8, 2002
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE ATNI-LOCK REAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHILE PULLING OUT AT A STOP SIGN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD "CAME OUT" FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. THE PINION GEAR WAS IN PIECES IN THE BOTTOM O…

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WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE ATNI-LOCK REAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHILE PULLING OUT AT A STOP SIGN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD "CAME OUT" FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. THE PINION GEAR WAS IN PIECES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING. THE RING GEAR HAD SEVERAL TEETH MISSING AND/OR DAMAGED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR/EQUIPMENT WAS ALSO DAMAGED.THE ONLY PARTS THAT WERE NOT REPLACED WERE THE AXLES AND THE HOUSING. CAUSE OF THE DEFECT IS STILL YET UNDETERMINED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #761686

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2002
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER PARKED FOR THREE DAYS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757053

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL, AND WOULDN'T GO INTO FIFTH GEAR. ALSO, A NUT FELL OUT OF TRANSMISSION. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS COMMON ACCURRENCE IN THAT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #891881

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Power TrainSuspension

ON FOUR OCCASIONS AFTER ENCOUNTERING ROUGH PAVEMENT OR RAILROAD TRACKS THE FRONT END OF THE VEH HAS STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, NECESSITATING COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. HAD STEERING DAMPER AND TRACTION BAR REPLACED AT 36768 MILES. AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 45100 MILES HAD SAME VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT END WHEN C…

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ON FOUR OCCASIONS AFTER ENCOUNTERING ROUGH PAVEMENT OR RAILROAD TRACKS THE FRONT END OF THE VEH HAS STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, NECESSITATING COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. HAD STEERING DAMPER AND TRACTION BAR REPLACED AT 36768 MILES. AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 45100 MILES HAD SAME VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT END WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS. FEELS AS IF TRUCK IS FLYING APART AND OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL ABLE TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP. SELLING DEALER HAS RECOMMENDED REPLACING STEERING STABILIZER. WILL *AK

NHTSA ODI #747496

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Power Train

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A HOWLING NOISE IN REAREND. CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO CONTACT A DODGE DEALER ONCE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COMPLETED REPAIR. MECHANIC HAD SEEN ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT MODEL. MECAHNIC HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PINION BEARING AND AXLE BEARINGS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #887384

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

OIL LEAKS FROM REAR AXLE AND CAUSES REAR BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #741847

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2001
Power Train

THIS IS FIFTH TIME THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION. WHEN SHIFTING GEARS THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE, AND THERE IS LEAKING UNDERNEATH. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878373

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2000
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #557937

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2000
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED 5TH GEAR SUDDENLY LETS GO; ACTS LIKE SUDDENLY PRESSING CLUTCH WHILE AT SPEED. PROBLEM APPEARS WITHOUT WARNING, STARTLES DRIVER AND LEAVES DRIVER WITHOUT POWER TO AVOID VEHICLES APPROACHING IN REAR. ONLY RESPONSE IS TO MOVE TO RIGHT WITHOUT POWER TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAD REPAIRED BY AZ DEALER FIRST…

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WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED 5TH GEAR SUDDENLY LETS GO; ACTS LIKE SUDDENLY PRESSING CLUTCH WHILE AT SPEED. PROBLEM APPEARS WITHOUT WARNING, STARTLES DRIVER AND LEAVES DRIVER WITHOUT POWER TO AVOID VEHICLES APPROACHING IN REAR. ONLY RESPONSE IS TO MOVE TO RIGHT WITHOUT POWER TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAD REPAIRED BY AZ DEALER FIRST TIME WITH "NEW REDESIGNED" PARTS AND SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER ON 2/10/00 AT 87615 MILES. PROBLEM FIXED WITH SAME PARTS AGAIN BY CA DEALER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE TRUCK IS NOT CAPABLE OF DRIVING IN 4TH GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (TRUCK HAS 4:10 RING AND PINION). BOTH TRANSMISSION MECHANICS HAVE REPAIRED SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #725703

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2000
Power Train

ON THREE OCCASIONS REAR AXLE SEAL HAD LEAKED OIL ONTO THE BRAKES, CAUSING BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. A TECHNICIAN FOUND THIS OUT ON A ROUTINE INSPECTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #865243

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.