IllustrationI HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 P/UP WITH A CRACKED DASHBOARD. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, AND FEEL DODGE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *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
Structure complaints
70 reportsSEVERE CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD. OTHER VEHICLES FROM MANUFACTURER HAVE EVEN LOST ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DUE TO THE DASHBOARD DROPPING. I AM CONCERNED, AND DODGE SAID TOUGH LUCK YOUR VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM PICKUP AND THE DASH IS CRACKING AND FALLING IN. THIS STARTED IN 2000 AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEARS. DODGE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *TR
I HAVE A DODGE RAM 1500, RECENTLY I DISCOVERED THAT MY DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING INTO SECTIONS ABOUT A-HALF FOOT EACH OR MORE.THERE IS ALSO A GAPING HOLE AT THE VIN NUMBER DISPLAY AREA, THAT ALLOWS ME TO SEE DOWN IN THE INSIDE OF THE DASH. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING? *TR
THE DASH ON MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR
CRACKS IN DASHBOARD. *TR
CRACKING OF DASHBOARD AND SHORT IN HEADLIGHTS. *TR
THE DASH ON THE PICK UP HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL AREAS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT MAY COLLAPSE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR
I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING BY ITSELF AND IS CAVING IN. MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND RESEARCH BY LOCAL TV (WKMG) INDICATE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER- EVERY DASH ON A DODGE PICKUP WILL CRACK AND FALL APART. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE WIRING. DODGE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE…
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I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING BY ITSELF AND IS CAVING IN. MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND RESEARCH BY LOCAL TV (WKMG) INDICATE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER- EVERY DASH ON A DODGE PICKUP WILL CRACK AND FALL APART. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE WIRING. DODGE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
MY FIANCE IS THE OWNER OF A 1997 DODGE 1500 4X4 PICKUP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED/CHANGE 4 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN 2002. I CHECK THE DEFECTS FOR THAT VEHICLE ON YOUR "DEFECT INFORMATION" & SURE ENOUGH THERE IT IS. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS TRUCK SI…
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MY FIANCE IS THE OWNER OF A 1997 DODGE 1500 4X4 PICKUP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED/CHANGE 4 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN 2002. I CHECK THE DEFECTS FOR THAT VEHICLE ON YOUR "DEFECT INFORMATION" & SURE ENOUGH THERE IT IS. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. THE HOOD LATCH IS ALWAYS LOOSE & FINALLY CAUSE THE HOOD TO FLY UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH ME & MY 2 CHILDREN. THE TAIL GATE HAS FALLEN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACE BECAUSE THE IT SAGS. AND FINALLY, THE BUMPER HAS JUST ABOUT COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY SINCE WE'VE OWNED IT. I FEEL WE GOT THE BIGGEST LEMON. I EMAILED DODGE DIRECTLY WITH THIS SAME ISSUE & RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. HOPEFULLY, YOUR AGENCY CAN HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANGELA SAYRE. *NM
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.