IllustrationTHE SWITCH FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING MELTED AND CAUSED A BURNING SMELL. *NLM
1997 Dodge RAM 3500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 3500 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
20–25K
425–50K
450–75K
775–100K
13100–150K
11150K+
41 reports with mileage · 84 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.
- Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports12 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
125 reportsFIFTH GEAR WENT OUT ON VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER REPAIR. *TS
FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP BROKE CAUSING TANK TO DROP TO THE PAVEMENT. UPON REMOVAL OF THE TANK, THE FRONT STRAP WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY CRACKED THROUGH. *JB
THE FRONT AND REAR FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS FAILED. *JB
MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. *AK
MANUEL TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. *AK
TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. (6-9 INCHES FROM THE CLIP, THE TWO TUBES HAD RUBBED TOGETHER UNTIL THERE WAS A HOLE IN ONE AND ALMOST A HOLE IN THE OTHER) THE CONSUMER REQUEST(S) REIMBURSEMENT. SCC
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION TUBES WERE RUBBING TOGETHER CAUSING A FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
I BOUGHT NEW A 1998 ROADTREX, CLASS B MOTORHOME ON A 1997 DODGE 3500 MAXI-VAN. SINCE NEW IT WOULD SWAY, SOMETIMES ALMOST UNCOMTROLABLE WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IN THE RUTS ON FREEWAYS" CAUSED BY TRUCKS AND STUDDED TIRES". I TRIED DIFFRENT THINGS TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS, HD SHOCKS, HIGH TIRE PRESSURES, AIR BAGS ON THE REAR AXLE. I TAL…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT NEW A 1998 ROADTREX, CLASS B MOTORHOME ON A 1997 DODGE 3500 MAXI-VAN. SINCE NEW IT WOULD SWAY, SOMETIMES ALMOST UNCOMTROLABLE WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IN THE RUTS ON FREEWAYS" CAUSED BY TRUCKS AND STUDDED TIRES". I TRIED DIFFRENT THINGS TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS, HD SHOCKS, HIGH TIRE PRESSURES, AIR BAGS ON THE REAR AXLE. I TALK TO OTHERS THAT HAD CHANGED TIRES AND NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR AXLE IS NARROWER THAN THE FRONT AXLE, SO THE REAR TIRES WERE NOT FOLLOWING THE FRONT TIRES. THAT IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SWAY WHEN DRIVING IN THE RUTS. I PUT ON A PAIR OF SPACERS FROM CORRECTRACK INC. SO THE TIRES WOULD LINE UP AND THAT ELIMIATED ALMOST ALL OF THE SWAY. MY VAN NOW DRIVES LIKE A CAR, WITHOUT HAVING TO FIGHT THE SWAY AND RUTS. I THINK THAT IT IS A SAFTEY HAZZARD, THAT COULD BE EASILY CORRECTED AT THE FACTORY WITH THE INSTALLATION OF SPACERS OR A WIDER AXLE THAT LINE UP THE WHEELS. THANK YOU.
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION LINE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LINE WERE BUILT SO CLOSED TOGETHER THAT WITHIN THE YEARS THE TRANSMISSION LIQUID CAME OFF. TS
Official recalls
199V024000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Feb 5, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MODEL 3500 LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS ONLY. OPERATION OF THE HEADLAMPS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME CAN RESULT IN HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE, CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS OR PARK LAMPS TO GO OUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH INCLUDING A RELAY IN THE PARK LAMP WIRING CIRCUIT.
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.