1997 Dodge Ram Van problems
NHTSA has received 26 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Ram Van, and 15% of them involve brakes. After that come suspension (15%) and cruise control (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 26 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 6 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 11 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 11 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 90,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 6 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 92% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Dodge Ram Van with enough data (8 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Steering column destroyed stalling not running if gas is not applied we can't get anyone to fix it, so we are stuck with a messed up van tire blew on us, firestone tires are still on it. I can't drive it anyway cause it wont stay started and I still pay bank 450 a month for a van that doesn't run.
Please note this was a rented 15 passenger dodge van I'm 90% sure it was a 97 if not it was from 1995 to 2000 in model year I reported it to dodge. Just recently I became aware of your site and decided to report it to you also. 1 normal driving boston to eastern kentucky 2 front disc brake hose severed due to proximity of other suspension components consequence loss of all braking capability.
The front frames rot out on steering side and it isn't 1 of them it is almost all of them. Toyota recalled tacomas for this and I want my frame fixed or replaced. This happens early in the life of the vehicles. They have almost gotten away with it . But these are still on the road and could kill people .they need to buy the ones that are still on the road or trade for safe vans or trucks. The service life of these were cut short and almost every junkyard has these and they all look good but they aren't safe.