IllustrationFUEL TANK IS HANGING ON BY ONE STRAP. DEALER SUGGESTED TO GET ONE STRAP FROMJUNKYARD AND PUT IT ON. DEALER COULD ORDER A STRAP, BUT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE.*AK
1997 Dodge RAM 3500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 3500 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
20–25K
425–50K
450–75K
775–100K
13100–150K
11150K+
41 reports with mileage · 84 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.
- Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports12 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
125 reportsWHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-35 MPH VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AND WHOLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SIDE FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK RIGHT FRONT WHEEL INNER HUB OR BEARING FAILED. *YH
DIESEL ENGINE HAS REPLACEMENT PART SUCH AS TIMMING CHANGE INJECTOR PUMP. TRANSMISSION SENDER SWITCH AND SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. FRONT AND BACK BRAKES REPLACED. ALSO, TAIL PIPE HAD TO WELDED BACK ON. TAIL PIPE FELL OFF. THERE WAS VIBRATION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF PRIME-LOC (WWW.ASH-TEC.COM) FUEL FILTER RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST (8000LBS), CAVITATION OF INJECTOR PUMP, AND ATOMIZED DIESEL FUEL COVERING WINDSHIELDS AND OBSCURING VISION OF FOLLOWING VEHICLES. SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD FROM ATOMIZED FUEL FILLING ENGINE COM…
Read full complaint
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF PRIME-LOC (WWW.ASH-TEC.COM) FUEL FILTER RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST (8000LBS), CAVITATION OF INJECTOR PUMP, AND ATOMIZED DIESEL FUEL COVERING WINDSHIELDS AND OBSCURING VISION OF FOLLOWING VEHICLES. SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD FROM ATOMIZED FUEL FILLING ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. OF THE THREE OTHER PRIME-LOC OWNERS I HAVE CONTACTED, EACH OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES. DISCUSSIONS WITH PRIME-LOC ENGINEER INDICATED POSSIBILITY OF NUMEROUS OTHERS SIMILAR FAILURES....) MANUFACTURER IGNORING ALL COMPLAINTS, CONTINUES TO SELL. I HAVE RETAINED ALL HARDWARE AND IT REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR METALLURGICAL INSPECTION (SUSPECT HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT DURING PLATING PROCESS).*AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL STRAP WHICH BROKE, FUEL TANK DROPPED, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH OR A FIRE. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED GAS INDICATOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE IT AS BEING A PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE PULLING A TRAILER WITH VEHICLE ON IT CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING FUNNY, CONSUMER ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND BLACK SMOKE ROLLED IN, THEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND VEHICLE BURNED UP. *AK
WHEN DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, THERE IS A BURNING SMELL PRESENT. AFTER TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN TURNING IT BACK ON, HEADLIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
NUT AND GEAR FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER/VEHICLE CONTROL WHILE PULLING A TRAILER AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC.
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER/CONTROL IN TRAFFIC DURING ACCELERATION AND DEACCELERATION. *AK
Official recalls
199V024000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Feb 5, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MODEL 3500 LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS ONLY. OPERATION OF THE HEADLAMPS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME CAN RESULT IN HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE, CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS OR PARK LAMPS TO GO OUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH INCLUDING A RELAY IN THE PARK LAMP WIRING CIRCUIT.
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.