IllustrationFRONT REAR TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE WERE REPLACED. SIZE LT2475R16E, DOTMK11C20V366, ORGINAL TIRES. *AK *MJ
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
Tires complaints
26 reportsGOODYEAR WRANGLER, SIZE LT245/75R16, DOT: MD11BT0V446018L ON RAM 250. AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH LEFT REAR GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK *YH
WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 65 M.P.H. THE TIRE TREAD AND BELTS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A TOWING OPERATION NOR WAS IT CARRYING ANY TYPE OF LOAD. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUGGAGE. (DOT NUMBER: C1W288G07R TIRESIZ…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 65 M.P.H. THE TIRE TREAD AND BELTS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A TOWING OPERATION NOR WAS IT CARRYING ANY TYPE OF LOAD. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUGGAGE. (DOT NUMBER: C1W288G07R TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)
THE LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED CATASTROPICALLY. TREAD VIOLENTLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE OCCURRED, BUT NO CRASH RESULTED. THE FAILED TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO REST. THE FAILED TIRE SLOWLY LOST PRESSURE AFTER THE INCIDENT AND W…
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THE LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED CATASTROPICALLY. TREAD VIOLENTLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE OCCURRED, BUT NO CRASH RESULTED. THE FAILED TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO REST. THE FAILED TIRE SLOWLY LOST PRESSURE AFTER THE INCIDENT AND WAS AT A LOW PRESSURE WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO A GOODYEAR DEALER 40 HOURS AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURED. ALL OF THE TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED, PROPERLY INFLATED, AND WERE NOT OVERLOADED. ALL OF THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS. THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER HAS THE ALL OF THE TIRES AND WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )
WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND BEAT ON SIDE OF VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE, TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, FIRESTONE FIREHAWK, SIZE P265/75R16. *SLC
PE00 048; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIM. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. GOODYEAR, RANGLER, 16INCH. *AK GOODYEAR WRANGLER (P245 75 R16) DOT # MD11BT0V087. *SLC
1997, DODGE, 2500 SERIES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES SIZE LT 245/75R16 E DOT# MD11BTOV446 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON DRY BUT BUMPY PAVEMENT CONSUMER NOTICED 1/3 OF TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. GOODYEAR REPAIRED BODY WORK, BUT CONSUMER REPLACED TIRE WITH GOODRICH TIRE. *AK *SLC
TIRE SIDEWALL FAILED AT FREEWAY SPEED WITH FULL RECOMMENDED PRESSURE, WHILE CARRYING A CABOVER CAMPER. NO TREAD SEPERATION OCCURRED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. STOPPED VEHICLE ON SHOULDER/ CHECKED & NOTICED NOTHING WRONG. DROVE FURTHER & THEN 1/3 OF THE TREAD FLEW OFF LEFT REAR TIRE. REPLACED IT WITH SPARE. TIRE WAS NOT FLAT, BUT BALD. BOUGHT A NEW TIRE. TRAVELING 60MPH WHEN THE TREAD PEELED COMPL…
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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. STOPPED VEHICLE ON SHOULDER/ CHECKED & NOTICED NOTHING WRONG. DROVE FURTHER & THEN 1/3 OF THE TREAD FLEW OFF LEFT REAR TIRE. REPLACED IT WITH SPARE. TIRE WAS NOT FLAT, BUT BALD. BOUGHT A NEW TIRE. TRAVELING 60MPH WHEN THE TREAD PEELED COMPLETELY OFF RIGHT REAR TIRE. STOPPED VEHICLE & CHANGED IT WITH SPARE. GOODYEAR WRANLGER RTS LT245/75R16 WITH 47,000 MILES ON 1ST TIRE & 49,000 MILES ON 2ND TIRE. TIRES ON 1997, DODGE, D2500.*AK THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY TIRES. *SLC
I DRIVE 70,000 MILES A YEAR...I HAVE HAD A SET OF 4 MICHLIN TIRES THAT HAVE SHOWN OBVIOS SIGNS OF TREAD SEPERATION ...VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT IS SHOWN ON TV WITH THE FIRESTONE RECALL PROBLEM.......I HAVE BEEN A OVER THE ROAD DRIVER AND DO KNOW WHAT I FEEL IS UNSAFE IN TIRES...I TOOK THESE OFF MY TRUCK WITH OVER 1/2 OF TREAD STILL O…
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I DRIVE 70,000 MILES A YEAR...I HAVE HAD A SET OF 4 MICHLIN TIRES THAT HAVE SHOWN OBVIOS SIGNS OF TREAD SEPERATION ...VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT IS SHOWN ON TV WITH THE FIRESTONE RECALL PROBLEM.......I HAVE BEEN A OVER THE ROAD DRIVER AND DO KNOW WHAT I FEEL IS UNSAFE IN TIRES...I TOOK THESE OFF MY TRUCK WITH OVER 1/2 OF TREAD STILL ON THEM,AS IFEARED THAT THEY WERE TO COME APART...I CONTACTED THE DEALER(SAMS CLUB) FOR ADJUSTMENT...THE STORE MANAGER WAS CALLED IN TO THE PROBLEM AND HE CALLED SOME PAPERPUSHER AT MICHLIN AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM....THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AS THE TIRES DID NOT FAIL,THAT IT APPEARED ACCORDING TO DESCRIPTION THAT IT WAS SURFACE CHECKING,BUT IT IS COMPLETELY AROUND TREAD IN AND OUT SIDE ON ALLL 4 TIRES...THESE WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED REGULARLY ON SERVICE CONTRACT WITH SELLING DEALER..SO THEY HAD ALL MAINT REQUIRED.....I DID REPLACE THEM AS I SAID I FEARED FAILURE....I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER REPORTS ON THIS TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: M32KBHX519 TIRE SIZE: LT245/75/R )
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.