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 reports
22,000 miles · Jan 9, 2003
Exterior LightingVisibility
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…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10002407
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
CONSUMER STATED THAT CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023935
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE GASKETS BLEW WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. CONSUMER NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023934
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2002
Parking Brake
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED TRUCK TO ROLL BACKWARDS OUT OF DRIVEWAY THROUGH A BOARD FENCE DOWN A HILL OFF OF A 8 FT. CLIFF LANDING ON REAR BENDING BUMPER DOWN AND SHOVING BED IN THE CAB AND LANDING INCHES FROM THE RIVER! DT
NHTSA ODI #769099
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE WILL BREAK, AND ROUGH IDLE.PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8018439
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
CONSUMER MADE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS FOR RECALL REPAIRS, BUT EVERYTIME CONSUMER ARRIVED FOR APPOINTMENT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER SHIP WAS NOT AWARE OF CONSUMER HAVING AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8018107
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Power Train
THE TWO METAL TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES WERE INSTALLED DURING TRUCK ASSEMBLY WITHOUT SUFFICIENT SPACERS TO PREVENT ABRASION AGAINST EACH OTHER. THIS ALLOWED ONE LINE TO RUB A HOLE INTO THE SIDE OF OTHER LINE RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING SPRAYED AGAINST HOT ENGINE COMPONTENTS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE…
Read full complaint
THE TWO METAL TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES WERE INSTALLED DURING TRUCK ASSEMBLY WITHOUT SUFFICIENT SPACERS TO PREVENT ABRASION AGAINST EACH OTHER. THIS ALLOWED ONE LINE TO RUB A HOLE INTO THE SIDE OF OTHER LINE RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING SPRAYED AGAINST HOT ENGINE COMPONTENTS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSON OR A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #766487
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING DOWN DRIVEWAY HEARD AS LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AND NOTICE A TRAIL OF FUEL ON GROUND. FUEL TANK HAD DROPPED UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8017544
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO TO THE FLOOR AND DO NOT HOLD. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS IS A REOCCURING PROBLEM, AND THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID FOR HER FAMILY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT EVERY 10K TO 12K MILES. CONSUMER FEELS UNSURE/UNSECURE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND FEELS THAT CHRYSLER …
Read full complaint
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO TO THE FLOOR AND DO NOT HOLD. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS IS A REOCCURING PROBLEM, AND THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID FOR HER FAMILY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT EVERY 10K TO 12K MILES. CONSUMER FEELS UNSURE/UNSECURE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND FEELS THAT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE IS POSSIBLY KILLED. *SCC
NHTSA ODI #8013931
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES WITH 49100 MILES ON VAN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #764012
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 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration