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1997 Dodge RAM Van

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
16Owner complaints

Model-year median: 15

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
6
199414
199518
199616
199722
199847
199929
2000
Compare all RAM Van years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Steering
3Suspension
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2
All reported categories
Tires
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seat Belts
1Structure
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

1 reports
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220,000 miles · Jun 8, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemFire

THIS VAN WAS A GREAT RUNNING VEHICLE, AND HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE NORMAL FOR A VAN OF THIS YEAR. MY GRANDSON AND I WERE HEADED OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I STARTED SMELLING GAS. I THOUGHT MAYBE ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS HAD SOME GAS POURED OUT OR SOMETHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AND NOTICED THAT I STI…

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THIS VAN WAS A GREAT RUNNING VEHICLE, AND HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE NORMAL FOR A VAN OF THIS YEAR. MY GRANDSON AND I WERE HEADED OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I STARTED SMELLING GAS. I THOUGHT MAYBE ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS HAD SOME GAS POURED OUT OR SOMETHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AND NOTICED THAT I STILL SMELLED THE STRONG ODOR OF GAS. I LOOKED INTO MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW THAT FLAMES WERE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE VAN FROM UNDER THE FRONT AREA WHERE MY GRANDSON AND I WERE SITTING. WE JUMPED OUT OF THE VAN AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP MY VAN WAS COMPLETELY BURNT UP. THE FIREMEN SAID THAT EVIDENTLY THE FUEL LINE HAD FELL OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596929

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

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.