IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE REGULAR BRAKES WORK, BUT THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE PARKED ON AN INCLINE BECAUSE IT WILL ROLL. DODGE HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 133,000.
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
What owners actually said
213 reportsTHE UPPER DASH COVER CRACKING IN MULTIPLE AREAS. THE CRACKS STARTED SMALL AT THE CORNERS OF THE DEFROST VENTS AND HAVE EXTENDED OVER THE ENTIRE AREA OF THE DASH. THE CRACKS ARE MORE SEVERE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN AND NEARLY CAUSED NUMEROUS CRASHES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NUT ON THE FIFTH GEAR WAS DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. DODGE STATED THAT THERE WAS A REMEDY FOR THE FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN AND NEARLY CAUSED NUMEROUS CRASHES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NUT ON THE FIFTH GEAR WAS DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. DODGE STATED THAT THERE WAS A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 01/02/08.*LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
I HAVE HAD THREE TIRE SEPARATIONS WITH THE GOODYEAR TRACKER AND TRACKER II TIRES LT245-75R16. GOODYEAR STATES THE TIRE WERE MADE FOR WALMART AND WILL NOT GET INVOLVED. WALMART HAS REPLACED EACH OF THE TIRES BUT I BELIEVE THEY ARE UNSAFE. *TR
DODGE RAM DASHBOARD CRACKING. *TR
DASH CRACKED IN MALTIPLE PLACES WITH PIECES FALLING OUT AND WINDSHILD CRACKING
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE PEDAL WENT FREELY TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE BRAKE LINES WERE DETERIORATED AND THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN ALERTED.
I PURCHASED A 1997 DODGE 2500 RAM PICKUP TRUCK IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES HARD. I MANAGED TO CHANGE LANES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND TRIED MANY TIMES AFTER THAT TO GET THE BRAKES TO FAIL. BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL ALMOST A YEAR LATER. SAME RESULT, NO ACCIDEN…
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I PURCHASED A 1997 DODGE 2500 RAM PICKUP TRUCK IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES HARD. I MANAGED TO CHANGE LANES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND TRIED MANY TIMES AFTER THAT TO GET THE BRAKES TO FAIL. BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL ALMOST A YEAR LATER. SAME RESULT, NO ACCIDENT AND COULDN'T REPEAT THE PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SOME WARRANTY WORK AND REPORTED THE BRAKE FAILURE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY TESTED THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES AND STILL COULD NOT PRODUCE BRAKE FAILURE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ELEVEN TIMES MORE SINCE THE LAST FAILURE AND THIS TIME I HAD AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO MISS THE STALLED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BY CHANGING LANES AND HITTING A CAR ALONG SIDE GOING THE SAME SPEED. THIS RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES BUT NO BODILY INJURY. IF I HAD CONTINUED STRAIGHT INTO THE STALLED VEHICLE, GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS OF THE STALLED CAR. MY TRUCK HAS THE DIESEL OPTION AND WEIGHS OVER 9000 POUNDS. IT WOULD HAVE CRUSHED THE STALLED HONDA AND INJURED ALL THE OCCUPANTS. TO DATE, ONLY NORMAL PARTS REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE BRAKE COMPUTER HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE GOING IN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE COMPUTER AT MY COST AND MY REQUEST FOR REPLACEMENT. *NM
MY ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY ABS. IN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM, I FOUND OIL DRIPPING FROM MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER. I REMOVED THE COVER AND FOUND THAT A RING GEAR BOLT HEAD HAD SHEARED OFF AND DAMAGED THE ABS EXCITER RING. THE DIFFERENTIAL COULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC ADVI…
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MY ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY ABS. IN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM, I FOUND OIL DRIPPING FROM MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER. I REMOVED THE COVER AND FOUND THAT A RING GEAR BOLT HEAD HAD SHEARED OFF AND DAMAGED THE ABS EXCITER RING. THE DIFFERENTIAL COULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC ADVISED IT APPEARED THE BOLT FAILED DUE TO A STRESS FRACTURE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOR WOULD A DAIMLER CHRYSLER REP. I TELEPHONICALLY SPOKE WITH. I HAVE THE FAILED PART AND PHOTOS.*JB
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.