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 reports
91,000 miles · Dec 2, 2013
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 EQUIPPED WITH A FIRESTONE DESTINATION TIRES, SIZE P265/75/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE FAILED AND CAUSED THE RIM AND ROTORS TO BECOME DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 EQUIPPED WITH A FIRESTONE DESTINATION TIRES, SIZE P265/75/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE FAILED AND CAUSED THE RIM AND ROTORS TO BECOME DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,088.
NHTSA ODI #10554389
130,000 miles · Sep 24, 2013
Service Brakes
BRAKE LINE BURST BEHIND FUEL TANK ON DRIVER'S SIDE, LEADING TO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND LOSS OF BRAKE USE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10545142
150,000 miles · Jul 22, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SEVERELY CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #10526129
271,371 miles · May 21, 2013
Service Brakes
THE BRAKE LINE ALONG FRAME RAIL BEHIND THE FUEL TANK RUSTED AND BURSTED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10512947
105,000 miles · Mar 2, 2013
Exterior Lighting
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE THE NIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT I REPOSITIONED THE STEERING WHEEL CLOSER TO MY LAP AND THE HEADLAMPS WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE I FLICKED ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND WAS ABLE TO SEE AGAIN. BUT IF I HADN'T DONE THAT I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10501032
113,000 miles · Jan 31, 2013
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT BECAME SPONGY AND EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND HE WAS FORCED TO TAP THE PEDAL CONTINUOUSLY. THE FRONT AND REAR DISC PADS WERE REPLACED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CALIPERS WE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT BECAME SPONGY AND EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND HE WAS FORCED TO TAP THE PEDAL CONTINUOUSLY. THE FRONT AND REAR DISC PADS WERE REPLACED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE BLED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA ODI #10495320
190,000 miles · Dec 29, 2012
Structure
THE ENTIRE DASH PANEL HAS CRACKED AND SHATTERED. THE ENTIRE TOP PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL IS MISSING, EXPOSING THE GAUGES AND WIRES. THE BEZEL AROUND THE GAUGES AND CUP HOLDER IS CRACKED. THE REMAINING PART OF THE DASH PANEL IS LOOSE AND VIBRATES, MAKING NOISES DURING TRAVEL. DASH CONTINUES TO CRACK AND FALL APART DURING TRA…
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THE ENTIRE DASH PANEL HAS CRACKED AND SHATTERED. THE ENTIRE TOP PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL IS MISSING, EXPOSING THE GAUGES AND WIRES. THE BEZEL AROUND THE GAUGES AND CUP HOLDER IS CRACKED. THE REMAINING PART OF THE DASH PANEL IS LOOSE AND VIBRATES, MAKING NOISES DURING TRAVEL. DASH CONTINUES TO CRACK AND FALL APART DURING TRAVEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490448
90,000 miles · Dec 22, 2012
Unknown Or Other
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.
NHTSA ODI #10490001
145,000 miles · Oct 15, 2012
Service Brakes
LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY - BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO RUST/CORROSION BEHIND GAS TANK ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10480153
131,000 miles · Sep 11, 2012
Structure
MY DASH IS LITERALLY FALLING APART. I BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY WITH 0 CRACKS AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE A PIECE OF PEANUT BRITTLE. I SEARCHED AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. I JUST WANT IT FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10475042
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.
1997 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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