IllustrationDODGE PICKUP 1997 TILT WHEEL, WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN BROKE, DISABLED AIR BAG, ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND OTHER STUFF. 4X4 STEERING IS LOOSE LOTS OF STEERING WHEEL PLAY TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIT ON ROAD, LIKE THAT SINCE NEW. *TR
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
Steering complaints
10 reportsWHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE LOST STEERING . CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AT LOW SPEEDS POWER STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY,WITHOUT WARNING WHICH HAS CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO CHRSYLER DEALERS, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED STEERING LOCKING UP, AND HAVE NOTED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX. ALSO, ALLSTATE INSURANCE SAFETY INSPECTOR CAME OUT TO CHECK VEHI…
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AT LOW SPEEDS POWER STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY,WITHOUT WARNING WHICH HAS CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO CHRSYLER DEALERS, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED STEERING LOCKING UP, AND HAVE NOTED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX. ALSO, ALLSTATE INSURANCE SAFETY INSPECTOR CAME OUT TO CHECK VEHICLE AFTER 2ND ACCIDENT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX. CHRYSLER FINALLY SENT OUT THEIR OWN SAFETY INSPECTOR TO DEALER TO CHECK VEHICLE, AND HE DETERMINED THERE WAS NO DEFECT, EVEN AFTER TWO CHRSYLER DEALERS AND ALLSTATE INSPECTOR INDICATED EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX.*AK
WHILE TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND NOTICED BROKEN BOLTS WHICH HOLDS THE STEERING BOX ON THE FRAME. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
ROD THAT HOLDS THE TIE ROD AND STEERING SYSTEM IS ABOUT TO BREAK WHICH MAY CAUSE NO STEERING ABILITY WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
STEERING LOCKS UP AND STEERING WHEEL MUST BE JERKED HARD TO COMPLETE OR STRAIGHTEN WHEEL. *AK
BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED CALIPER, PAD, DRUM AND SHOE FAILED. YH
STEERING IS VERY LOOSE. VEHICLE WANDERS AND GRABS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE FAILURE.
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM AN INTERSECTION STEERING FAILED, COULD NOT TURN LEFT/RIGHT. STEERING WHEEL SPUN IN EITHER DIRECTION, AND VEHICLE ENTERED INTO LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *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.