IllustrationI HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM AND THE DASH BOARD IS NOW CRACKED IN 4 DIFFERENT PLACES WERE ONE OF THE SCREWS IS HOLDING IT ON THERE WERE NOW YOU CAN SEE WIRES THROUGH THE DASH SO MY LAWYER TOLD ME TO CHECK WITH U ALL TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE DASH BOARDS ??? *TR
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
What owners actually said
361 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DEFINITE DAKOTA TIRES, (NA) SIZE LT26575R16 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES CONTINUED TO FLATTEN. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKING AT THE OUTSIDE BEAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOY…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DEFINITE DAKOTA TIRES, (NA) SIZE LT26575R16 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES CONTINUED TO FLATTEN. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKING AT THE OUTSIDE BEAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE TIRE FAILURE. PEP BOYS OFFERED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AT THE COST OF $246.38 FOR LABOR AND OTHER FEES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT PEP BOYS SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES FOR FREE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,658. UPDATED 12-04-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08.
THERE WAS NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DASHBOARD JUST STARTED CRACKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. *TR
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE FAILURE BEHIND THE FUEL TANK AND BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS. WOULD NEVER GO FASTER THAN 40 MILES AND HOUR. *TR
DASH BOARD CRACKING AND FALLING OFF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 55 MPH WITHOUT HIM PRE-SETTING THE SPEED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 55 MPH WITHOUT HIM PRE-SETTING THE SPEED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO DISENGAGE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,900. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED
1997 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH IS CRACKING AND FALLING OUT IN CHUNKS. BEZEL IS ALSO CRACKING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING SIGNS WERE ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO LOCAL MECHANICS, BUT …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING SIGNS WERE ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO LOCAL MECHANICS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT IS PLANNING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,885.
HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT NEEDS DONE AND WORRIED ABOUT THE DASH CRACKING WHEN PUT BACK IN, IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH A PRIOR 97' RAM I OWNED AND KNOW IT'S A CHRYSLER PROBLEM AND CONCERNED ABOUT MY DASH ON THE 01' I NOW OWN. *TR
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.