IllustrationMY 97 RAM HAS ABOUT 95% OF THE DASH MISSING. I HAVE SAVED PIECES OF IT AND PARTS IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BROKEN OFF. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,, HIT A BUMP, AND DASH PIECES WILL FALL ON THE FLOOR. DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THIS.
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
26 reportsTHE DASH IS COMPLETELY BUSTED AND I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE REASON WHY IS IF I GET INTO A WRECK WHO AM I GOING TO BLAME WHENEVER IT SHORT OF MY PLASTIC DASH COMES TO HIT SOMEBODY IN THE FACE THE NECK OR ANY OTHER PART OF THEIR BODY
THE DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CRACKS AND SEVERAL PIECES HAVE BROKEN OFF OF IT. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER MOTOR COMPANY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE DASHBOARDS ON ANY RAM PICKUP EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 20 YEARS. IF A PIECE COMES OFF THE DASH AND HIT…
Read full complaint
THE DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CRACKS AND SEVERAL PIECES HAVE BROKEN OFF OF IT. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER MOTOR COMPANY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE DASHBOARDS ON ANY RAM PICKUP EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 20 YEARS. IF A PIECE COMES OFF THE DASH AND HITS YOU IN THE FACE, IT COULD CAUSE YOU TO SWERVE YOU TRUCK AND CRASH. THERE IN LIES THE POSSIBILITY FOR BODILY INJURY.
DASH BOARD IS ALL CRACKED AND BROKEN APART. WITH EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD THE DASH SHAKES BAD AND WORSENS FROM THE LACK OF NO SUPPORT HOLDING IT IN PLACE. WITH THE A/C, HEAT, OR DEFROSTER BLOWING OUT THE VENTS PLASTIC ALSO BLOWS OUT. TRYING TO CLEAN OUT MY EYE WHEN DRIVING IS TOUGH. JUST WAITING FOR THE DAY I HIT A BUMP AND THE DA…
Read full complaint
DASH BOARD IS ALL CRACKED AND BROKEN APART. WITH EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD THE DASH SHAKES BAD AND WORSENS FROM THE LACK OF NO SUPPORT HOLDING IT IN PLACE. WITH THE A/C, HEAT, OR DEFROSTER BLOWING OUT THE VENTS PLASTIC ALSO BLOWS OUT. TRYING TO CLEAN OUT MY EYE WHEN DRIVING IS TOUGH. JUST WAITING FOR THE DAY I HIT A BUMP AND THE DASH FALLS TO MY FEET. BODY WOULD BE THE PAINT ON ROOF AND HOOD, DISCOLORING AND PEELING OFF
DASH BOARD IS ALL IN PIECES. GETTING WORST AND WORST EVERYDAY. GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE DASH IS ALWAYS SHAKING AND BOUNCING AROUND BECAUSE THERE IS REALLY NOTHING HOLDING IT IN PLACE NOW. I USE TO LOVE THIS TRUCK, BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1997, MOST OF THE TIME I DON'T LIKE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ UPDATED 11/07/2017*…
Read full complaint
DASH BOARD IS ALL IN PIECES. GETTING WORST AND WORST EVERYDAY. GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE DASH IS ALWAYS SHAKING AND BOUNCING AROUND BECAUSE THERE IS REALLY NOTHING HOLDING IT IN PLACE NOW. I USE TO LOVE THIS TRUCK, BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1997, MOST OF THE TIME I DON'T LIKE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN
DASH STARTING CRACKING AND FALLING APART, WIRES GOT MESSED UP AND SOME THINGS DON'T WORK. PARTS OF THE PLASTIC OF THE DASH COME OUT THE VENTS WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HEAT OR AIR. PART WITH THE VIN WENT SOMEWHERE TO PARTS UNKNOWN. *TR
THE DASH IN 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS ACROSS IT. THE CRACKS ARE BECOMING MORE NUMEROUS AS TIME GOES ALONG. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I FEAR THE DASH WILL BRAKE APART IN NUMEROUS SHARP PIECES IF A CRASH OCCURS.
DASH TOP BROKEN INTO MULTIPLE PIECES. LOOSE PIECES DO NOT STAY IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. *TT
MULTIPLE CRACKS ON DASHBOARD, APPROX. 13 CRACKS
97 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH CRACKING IN MANY PLACES , DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP, SAFETY HAZZARD IF IT FALLS INTO DASH . FRONT BEZEL MAY FALL OFF BECAUSE IT IS CONNECTED TO THE CRACKING DASH.
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.