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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Structure complaints

70 reports
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92,500 miles · Feb 12, 2008
Structure

DASHBOARD AND ALL OTHER INTERIOR PLASTIC DETERIORATING, CRACKED, BROKEN, FALLING INTO FIREWALL AREA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON I-95, LARGE PIECE OF DASHBOARD BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO AREA BEHIND SPEEDOMETER AND CAUSED DASH LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THIS SCARED ME TERRIBLY AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RECONNECT THE WIRE COUPLIN…

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DASHBOARD AND ALL OTHER INTERIOR PLASTIC DETERIORATING, CRACKED, BROKEN, FALLING INTO FIREWALL AREA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON I-95, LARGE PIECE OF DASHBOARD BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO AREA BEHIND SPEEDOMETER AND CAUSED DASH LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THIS SCARED ME TERRIBLY AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RECONNECT THE WIRE COUPLING TO GET MY DASH LIGHTS BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217838

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2007
Structure

DASH BOARD CRACKING ALL UP AND FALLING APART MAKING SHARP EXPOSED PLASTIC PIECES EASILY TO GET CUT ON . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211268

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2007
Structure

DASH HAS CRACKED IN NUMEROUS PLACES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE INTEGRITY OF WIRING AND AIRBAGS BENEATH THE DASH MAY BE COMPROMISED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210846

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2007
Structure

DASH CRACKED AND STARTED TO FALL INSIDE, LARGE PIECES FELL ON FLOOR. I HARD TO PAY 3 HOURS OF LABOR PLUS THE PRICE OF THE NEW DASH BOARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210146

57,000 miles · Oct 24, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure

DASHBOARD CRACKED/SPLIT INTO PIECES CAUSING WIRES TO BE CUT. LOSS OF HEADLAMPS, TAILLAMPS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. UNKNOWN IF ANY DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. HOW DO I CHECK THAT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10206769

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2007
Structure

DASH CRACKING ON A 97 DODGE RAM 1500. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10203877

84,000 miles · May 21, 2007
Structure

THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING UP AND FELL INTO THE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING THE LIGHT TO SHORT OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10191353

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2007
Structure

THE 1997 DODGE RAM DASHBOARD IS CRACKED THROUGH OUT. I HAVE TRIED TO BANDIED THE PROBLEM , BUT IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10191134

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2007
Structure

PURCHASED A USED 1997 DODGE RAM IN 2001. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK. NOW, THERE I WAS A LARGE HOLE WHEN PART OF THE DASHBOARD BROKE OFF, AND ANOTHER CRACK WAS BEGINNING TO FORM. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT THIS ITEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL O…

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PURCHASED A USED 1997 DODGE RAM IN 2001. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK. NOW, THERE I WAS A LARGE HOLE WHEN PART OF THE DASHBOARD BROKE OFF, AND ANOTHER CRACK WAS BEGINNING TO FORM. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT THIS ITEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM EITHER. I RESEARCHED PRICES ON A REPLACEMENT DASHBOARD, AND THEY WERE VERY EXPENSIVE, TIME CONSUMING, AND LABOR INTENSIVE PROJECT. THIS DASHBOARD SHOULD LAST MORE THAN FOUR YEARS , A FOUR YEAR OLD DASHBOARD SHOULD NOT BE FALLING APART. THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THIS DODGE LINE OF EQUIPMENT. NOTE: I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IF IT WERE NOT FOR CHANNEL 6 NEWS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10190673

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2007
Structure

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 SPORT. THREE YEARS AGO I NOTICED CRACKS FORMING ON THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. SINCE THEN THE CRACKS HAVE WORSENED TO THE POINT THAT LARGE PIECES WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. I HEARD RECENT REPORTS THAT WHEN THE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS EXPOSED THAT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED, LOST LIGHTS, E…

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I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 SPORT. THREE YEARS AGO I NOTICED CRACKS FORMING ON THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. SINCE THEN THE CRACKS HAVE WORSENED TO THE POINT THAT LARGE PIECES WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. I HEARD RECENT REPORTS THAT WHEN THE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS EXPOSED THAT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED, LOST LIGHTS, ETC. I HAVE HEARD OF THESE PIECES FALLING IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE GAS PEDAL WASLOCKED IN A POSITION. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY IN THE TRUCK.) I HAD GOTTEN A QUOTE TO HAVE THE DASHBOARD REPLACED LAST YEAR BUT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10190239

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.