Illustration1997 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH BOARD CRACKS IN SEVERAL PLACES; EVEN HAS A 12" X 9" HOLE IN TOP OF DASH AT THIS POINT. *JB
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 reportsI TOOK MY '97 RAM 1500 TO THE DEALER IN 2002 FOR PAINT DELAMINATION ON THE HOOD. THEY HAD THE HOOD PAINTED FOR A $150.00 CHARGE TO US. SOON THEREAFTER THE PAINT STARTED TO PEEL ON THE RIGHT FENDER AND THE CAB ROOF. AT THIS POINT I WAS STILL UNAWARE OF ANY ACTUAL FACTORY DEFECT, OR PAINT DELAMINATION ISSUES. I TOOK THE TRUCK …
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I TOOK MY '97 RAM 1500 TO THE DEALER IN 2002 FOR PAINT DELAMINATION ON THE HOOD. THEY HAD THE HOOD PAINTED FOR A $150.00 CHARGE TO US. SOON THEREAFTER THE PAINT STARTED TO PEEL ON THE RIGHT FENDER AND THE CAB ROOF. AT THIS POINT I WAS STILL UNAWARE OF ANY ACTUAL FACTORY DEFECT, OR PAINT DELAMINATION ISSUES. I TOOK THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER AGAIN IN 2004. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK PICTURES, AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE MAIN OFFICE. HE MENTIONED TO ME THAT THE PAINT FOR THIS AND PREVIOUS YEARS WAS DEFECTIVE, AND I COULD PROBABLY COUNT ON A PARTIAL PAYMENT BY CHECK, TO HAVE THE TRUCK PAINT FIXED. WE WERE DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUE OF THE MILAGE (139,000) AND THE FACT THAT THEY ALREADY HELPED US ONCE. *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK WITH DEFECTIVE PAINT AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH, REQUEST A RECALL INVESTIGATION. *TS THE PRIMER WAS NOT BONDING TO THE METAL AND AS A RESULT THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND FOUND THAT THE DODGE 350…
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CONSUMER COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK WITH DEFECTIVE PAINT AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH, REQUEST A RECALL INVESTIGATION. *TS THE PRIMER WAS NOT BONDING TO THE METAL AND AS A RESULT THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND FOUND THAT THE DODGE 3500 SERIES PICKUP WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS SAFETY RELATED. *NM
ENGINE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND OIL PRESSURE DROPS. A MINOR CLACKING OR TAPING NOISE COMES AND GOES AWAY. DEALER HAS NO REMEDY AND NO IDEA WHAT IT IS.*AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME, CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE SENSOR. *SLC
THIS IS A USED VEHICLE SO WE ARE UNAWARE OF ADDITIONAL FAILURES OF PREVIOUS OWNERS.
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.