Illustration1997 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH DASH DISINTEGRATION. I BELIEVE THE MATERIAL USED IN THIS PART TO BE DEFECTIVE AND NOW POSES SAFETY ISSUES! *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
Structure complaints
11 reportsI HAVE A 1997 DODGE 2500 DODGE RAM PICKUP. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING IN 2008. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AS HAIR LINE CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THE DASHBOARD HAS INCREASINGLY GOTTEN WORSE. NOW THE ENTIRE DASH HAS CRACKED WITH LARGE GAPING HOLES. A SECTION APPROXIMATELY 6" X 11" HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN…
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I HAVE A 1997 DODGE 2500 DODGE RAM PICKUP. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING IN 2008. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AS HAIR LINE CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THE DASHBOARD HAS INCREASINGLY GOTTEN WORSE. NOW THE ENTIRE DASH HAS CRACKED WITH LARGE GAPING HOLES. A SECTION APPROXIMATELY 6" X 11" HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN LOOSE AND IS LYING INSIDE THE PANEL. MANY OF THE OTHER SEGMENTS HAVE CRACKED AND SEPARATED CREATING KNIFE LIKE POINTS. THE FAILURE OF THE DASH CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN DURING A COLLISION AS WELL AS A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO WIRING BECOMING EXPOSED TO THE SUNLIGHT. *TR
MY 1997 DODGE 2500 DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED LEAVING TWO PIECE THAT LOOK LIKE SHARDS OF GLASS. I AM VERY CONCERNED IN A COLLISION THAT THESE PIECES COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUEWITH DODGE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS WITH THE WAY THE DASH CRAC…
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MY 1997 DODGE 2500 DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED LEAVING TWO PIECE THAT LOOK LIKE SHARDS OF GLASS. I AM VERY CONCERNED IN A COLLISION THAT THESE PIECES COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUEWITH DODGE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS WITH THE WAY THE DASH CRACKS. THE DASH SPLITS FROM FRONT TO BACK CREATING DAGGER TYPE PIECES. PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
DODGE RAM DASHBOARD CRACKING. *TR
I WAS WRITING THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DASHBOARDS ON DODGE RAM PICKUPS IN THE 94-02 MODEL YEARS. I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500 THAT HAS HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD WITH A SERIES FORMING A HOLE AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY VIN WAS NO LONGER SECURED TO THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO DODGE, AND THEY TOLD …
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I WAS WRITING THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DASHBOARDS ON DODGE RAM PICKUPS IN THE 94-02 MODEL YEARS. I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500 THAT HAS HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD WITH A SERIES FORMING A HOLE AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY VIN WAS NO LONGER SECURED TO THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO DODGE, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT, BUT I WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. THERE WERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE I KNEW THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM AS WELL. *AK
1997 DODGE RAM 2500 DASHBOARD CRACKED.*MR *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH HEARD A LOUD BANG THE REAR END OF THE PICKUP ROSE 4-6". UPON LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THE SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN FROM ITS STORAGE LOCATION UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. UPON INSPECTION THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TIRE ASSEMBLY HAD CORRODED AND ONE EAR (HALF) OF THE BRACKET BUCKLED AND ALLOWED THE TIR…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH HEARD A LOUD BANG THE REAR END OF THE PICKUP ROSE 4-6". UPON LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THE SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN FROM ITS STORAGE LOCATION UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. UPON INSPECTION THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TIRE ASSEMBLY HAD CORRODED AND ONE EAR (HALF) OF THE BRACKET BUCKLED AND ALLOWED THE TIRE TO FALL.*AK
FRAME HAS CRACKED UNDERNEATH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK DEALER STATES SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *SLC
CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED ON EACH SIDE OF FRAME RAILS, WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. NOTIFIED DEALER, AND ALSO NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER STATES CRACKS ON FRAME RAILS ARE NEAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE. *SLC
THIS IS FIRST DODGE I'VE HAD WITH THIS TRACK BAR DESIGN ON STEERING. PREVIOUS DODGE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE OVER 150,000 MILES ON ORIGINAL STEERING COMPONENTS WITHOUT COMPLAINT USING PAST DESIGN. THE TRACK BAR DESIGN USED ON THESE NEW PICKUPS IS A FLAWED DESIGN PRONE TO FAILURE. DEALER DID NOT HAVE ONE IN STOCK WHEN TRUCK …
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THIS IS FIRST DODGE I'VE HAD WITH THIS TRACK BAR DESIGN ON STEERING. PREVIOUS DODGE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE OVER 150,000 MILES ON ORIGINAL STEERING COMPONENTS WITHOUT COMPLAINT USING PAST DESIGN. THE TRACK BAR DESIGN USED ON THESE NEW PICKUPS IS A FLAWED DESIGN PRONE TO FAILURE. DEALER DID NOT HAVE ONE IN STOCK WHEN TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AND FRONT END ASSESSMENT AT THE TIME SHOWED IT TO BE LOOSE AND DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE STEERING TO WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. NEW TIRES AND BRAKES WERE INSTALLED TO ELIMINATE THEM AS A FACTER. ORIGINAL TRACKBAR WAS REPLACED WITH TRW AFTERMARKET COMPONENT. 6/1/99 THIS COMPONENT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH CHRYSLER COMPONENTS. THIS IS THIRD TRACK BAR AT 54,141 MILES. FRONT END ALIGNMENT SHOPS I,VE TAKEN TRUCK TO TELL ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON SITUATION. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO UPGRADE THIS JUNK COMPONENT TO A MORE STABLE PRODUCT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I WILL NOT LET MY HELP DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND MY WIFE ONLY DROVE IT ONE TIME WHEN I WAS SICK BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANYONE HURT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USED TO DRIVING THIS WANDERING VEHICLE. *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.