IllustrationWHILE 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
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
What owners actually said
213 reportsCRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED ON EACH SIDE OF FRAME RAILS, WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. NOTIFIED DEALER, AND ALSO NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER STATES CRACKS ON FRAME RAILS ARE NEAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE. *SLC
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
WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 65 M.P.H. THE TIRE TREAD AND BELTS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A TOWING OPERATION NOR WAS IT CARRYING ANY TYPE OF LOAD. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUGGAGE. (DOT NUMBER: C1W288G07R TIRESIZ…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 65 M.P.H. THE TIRE TREAD AND BELTS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A TOWING OPERATION NOR WAS IT CARRYING ANY TYPE OF LOAD. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUGGAGE. (DOT NUMBER: C1W288G07R TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAD RESPONDED IN DETAIL BEFORE. *YH
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
THE LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED CATASTROPICALLY. TREAD VIOLENTLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE OCCURRED, BUT NO CRASH RESULTED. THE FAILED TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO REST. THE FAILED TIRE SLOWLY LOST PRESSURE AFTER THE INCIDENT AND W…
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THE LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED CATASTROPICALLY. TREAD VIOLENTLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE OCCURRED, BUT NO CRASH RESULTED. THE FAILED TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO REST. THE FAILED TIRE SLOWLY LOST PRESSURE AFTER THE INCIDENT AND WAS AT A LOW PRESSURE WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO A GOODYEAR DEALER 40 HOURS AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURED. ALL OF THE TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED, PROPERLY INFLATED, AND WERE NOT OVERLOADED. ALL OF THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS. THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER HAS THE ALL OF THE TIRES AND WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )
GAS GUAGE DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE DODGE TRUCKS, DODGE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEFT IN THE TANK.*AK
BRAKES PULLED HARD RIGHT, REPLACED BRAKES AND HAD THEM SERVICED, NOW THEY PULL HARD LEFT. REQUIRES MAJOR STEERING CORRECTION TO MAINTAIN INTENDED VEHICLE COURSE. OCCURRS EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND I FEAR A COLLISION EVERY TIME I USE THE BRAKES. SERVICING HAS NOT HELPED, PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.…
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BRAKES PULLED HARD RIGHT, REPLACED BRAKES AND HAD THEM SERVICED, NOW THEY PULL HARD LEFT. REQUIRES MAJOR STEERING CORRECTION TO MAINTAIN INTENDED VEHICLE COURSE. OCCURRS EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND I FEAR A COLLISION EVERY TIME I USE THE BRAKES. SERVICING HAS NOT HELPED, PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT, RENDERING HEADLIGHTS INOPERABLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*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.