IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER SAW FLAMES UNDER HOOD. DEALER REPLACED RELAY SWITCH AND SOLENOID.*AK
1997 Dodge RAM 2500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 2500 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
90–25K
225–50K
1150–75K
1075–100K
13100–150K
15150K+
60 reports with mileage · 153 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports14 fire reports6 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
18 reportsTHE ENGINE WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING. WIRING TO FUEL SOLENOID STARTED BURNING. ENGINE STARTED TO SHUTDOWN AND THE STARTER ENGAGED. THIS APPEARS TO BE COMMON BECAUSE A CUMMINS DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT IT HAPPENS OFTEN ON DODGE TRUCKS AND SO DID ANOTHER DODGE DEALERSHIP ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS AROUND OR ABOVE 75,000 MILES. THE NEW SOL…
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THE ENGINE WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING. WIRING TO FUEL SOLENOID STARTED BURNING. ENGINE STARTED TO SHUTDOWN AND THE STARTER ENGAGED. THIS APPEARS TO BE COMMON BECAUSE A CUMMINS DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT IT HAPPENS OFTEN ON DODGE TRUCKS AND SO DID ANOTHER DODGE DEALERSHIP ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS AROUND OR ABOVE 75,000 MILES. THE NEW SOLENOID IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL. HOW EVER DODGE SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF STD WARRANTY AND WILL NOT ASSIST. IF RESERACHED YOU WILL FIND THAT IN OTHER APPLICATIONS THIS ENGINE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SOLENOID.
AROUND 6 MONTHS AGO A PLUME OF THICK BLACK SMOKE EXITED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE AND FIGURED IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING FALLING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. RECENTLY I DISCOVERED MELTED AND CORRODED WIRES LEADING TO THE FUEL PREHEATER. NO FUSE WAS BLOWN. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS…
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AROUND 6 MONTHS AGO A PLUME OF THICK BLACK SMOKE EXITED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE AND FIGURED IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING FALLING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. RECENTLY I DISCOVERED MELTED AND CORRODED WIRES LEADING TO THE FUEL PREHEATER. NO FUSE WAS BLOWN. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR YET, SO THE COST ESTIMATE IS SIMPLY A GUESS. IF A SHORT EXISTED IN THE PREHEATER, THEN THE FUSE SHOULD HAVE BLOWN. EITHER THE FUSE IS TO LARGE, OR THE WIRE SIZE IS TOO SMALL FOR THE APPLICATION.*AK
BATTERY & IGNITION FAILED. *YC
BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED CALIPER, PAD, DRUM AND SHOE FAILED. YH
HORN IS NOT LOUD ENOUGH. IT CAN BARELY BE HEARD ABOVE THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE AT IDLE. DRIVE RHAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE HE HAD TO USE THE HORN WHERE THE OTHER DRIVER APPARENTLY COULD NOT HEAR IT. IT COULD RESULT IN A COLLISION. *AK
TAPE PLAYER INOPERATIVE.
ENGINE: EXPERIENCED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FIRE TOOK PLACE BECAUSE OF THE CHEAP MATERIAL THAT IS USED FOR THE FIREWALL. *AK
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.