IllustrationDODGE PICKUP 1997 TILT WHEEL, WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN BROKE, DISABLED AIR BAG, ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND OTHER STUFF. 4X4 STEERING IS LOOSE LOTS OF STEERING WHEEL PLAY TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIT ON ROAD, LIKE THAT SINCE NEW. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 2500 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
90–25K
225–50K
1150–75K
1075–100K
13100–150K
15150K+
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
Visibility complaints
9 reportsDASH CRACKED IN MALTIPLE PLACES WITH PIECES FALLING OUT AND WINDSHILD CRACKING
OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT STAY FIXED IN PLACE. THE WIND AND SHUTTING THE DOOR CAUSE THE MIRRORS TO FOLD INSIDE AND REQUIRE CONSTANT READJUSTMENT
THE MOTORIZED EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS MOVED TO AN INWARD POSITION BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THIS RESULTED IN NO VISIBILITY, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MIRRORS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NLM MIRRORS REPLACED AGAIN. HEADLIGHTS FAILED. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN…
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THE MOTORIZED EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS MOVED TO AN INWARD POSITION BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THIS RESULTED IN NO VISIBILITY, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MIRRORS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NLM MIRRORS REPLACED AGAIN. HEADLIGHTS FAILED. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN WHEN USING SWITCH. *TT
THE REAVIEW MIRRORS MOUNTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE, ON A DAILY BASIS, FOLDED BACK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS GOING DOWN THE ROADWAY. IT DEPENDS ON THE SPEED BECAUSE THE WIND IS SOMETIMES STRONGER ON OTHER DAYS AND THE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS OF THE WIND. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DODGE SERVICE SHOPS AND THEY ALL S…
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THE REAVIEW MIRRORS MOUNTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE, ON A DAILY BASIS, FOLDED BACK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS GOING DOWN THE ROADWAY. IT DEPENDS ON THE SPEED BECAUSE THE WIND IS SOMETIMES STRONGER ON OTHER DAYS AND THE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS OF THE WIND. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DODGE SERVICE SHOPS AND THEY ALL SAY THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DODGE RAM VEHICLES AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX/REPAIR IT TO MAKE IT STOP MOVING. IF THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL TO KEEP AN ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING. I CAN'T SEE THE LANES NEXT TO ME WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE MIRRORS FOLD BACK AND IT SCARES ME TO CHANGE LANES THINKING THERE MIGHT BE A VEHICLE BESIDE ME THAT I DIDN'T SEE WHEN I TURNED MY HEAD TO LOOK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD GET BACK WITH ME ON THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT SO I CAN GET MY VAN FIXED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPCOMING VACATION SEASON COMING UP.*AK
MIRROR IS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE AND BLOWS AROUND IN THE WIND WHEN IT FAILS. EMPLOYEES AT DODGE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM REQUIRING TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF MIRROR AT COST OF $250.00 PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. MIRROR IS SUBJECT TO FAIL AT ANY TIME AND FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. IT IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE…
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MIRROR IS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE AND BLOWS AROUND IN THE WIND WHEN IT FAILS. EMPLOYEES AT DODGE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM REQUIRING TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF MIRROR AT COST OF $250.00 PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. MIRROR IS SUBJECT TO FAIL AT ANY TIME AND FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. IT IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.
MIRROR "FOLDAWAY" DETENT FAILED AND MIRROR FOLDED BACK AND WOULDN'T STAY IN PROPER POSITION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER. THIS HAS OCCURED WITH THREE DIFFERENT MIRRORS. THE PROBLEM EXISITS WITH ALL 1996 AND 1997 RAM PICKUPS, WITH POWER MIRRORS.*AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEATER, THE WIRING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL MODULE SHORTED AND BURNED OUT THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, SOLENOID, TEMPERATURE RELAY AND COMPUTER MODULE, WHICH RESULTED IN SMOKE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER. *AK *YC
REAR VIEW MIRRORS VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING.
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.