IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1997 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 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
80–25K
1325–50K
2750–75K
2475–100K
44100–150K
28150K+
144 reports with mileage · 217 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.
- Structure. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports14 fire reports24 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
26 reportsFUEL LEAK @ THE INJECTOR RAIL WHERE FUEL PURES ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK
STRONG GAS SMELL; CALLED ONE DEALER WHO WAS BOOKED SOLID, (BYRD DODGE, SALTLICK, KY.) HE SAID "FUEL LEAKS ON THE 97 DODGE RAM 5.2 ARE NOT COMMON"; FUEL RAIL ORDERED FROM DETROIT BECAUSE NOT STOCKED BY ANY LOCAL DEALERS; MANN DODGE SAID NOT TO DRIVE--FUEL DRIPPING ONTO MANIFOLD; FR PART SUPERSEDED AND REQUIRED ADAPTER; OWNER-CUST…
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STRONG GAS SMELL; CALLED ONE DEALER WHO WAS BOOKED SOLID, (BYRD DODGE, SALTLICK, KY.) HE SAID "FUEL LEAKS ON THE 97 DODGE RAM 5.2 ARE NOT COMMON"; FUEL RAIL ORDERED FROM DETROIT BECAUSE NOT STOCKED BY ANY LOCAL DEALERS; MANN DODGE SAID NOT TO DRIVE--FUEL DRIPPING ONTO MANIFOLD; FR PART SUPERSEDED AND REQUIRED ADAPTER; OWNER-CUSTOMER SUSPECTS THE PART WAS FLAWED AT MANUFACTURER. *AK
HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ABOUT A MONTH AGO PER MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDATIONS. NOTICED INTERMITTLY SMELL OF FUEL BUT IT BECAME INCREASING STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. FOUND THE LEAK AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL RAIL NEXT TO THE FIRE WALL ABOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN THE PROCESS …
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HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ABOUT A MONTH AGO PER MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDATIONS. NOTICED INTERMITTLY SMELL OF FUEL BUT IT BECAME INCREASING STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. FOUND THE LEAK AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL RAIL NEXT TO THE FIRE WALL ABOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED.
FUEL GAUGE ISN'T WORKING, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER FILLS TANK UP, GAUGE INDICATES THE WRONG AMOUNT OF GAS. IT SHOWS THAT TANK IS ONLY HALF FULL. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW MANY MILES PER GALLON OF GAS THEY ARE DRIVING. *AK
CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES WHEN HE STARTED TO SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. THEN HE PARKED VEHICLE, BUT WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING VEHICLE STARTED GETTING ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS OF INTAKE MANIFOLD ON OCTOBER 16, 1998. DEALER HAD TOLD CONSUMER THAT…
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CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES WHEN HE STARTED TO SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. THEN HE PARKED VEHICLE, BUT WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING VEHICLE STARTED GETTING ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS OF INTAKE MANIFOLD ON OCTOBER 16, 1998. DEALER HAD TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE. *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.