1997 Dodge Ram problems
The 1997 Dodge Ram has 513 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (18%) concerns brakes. After that come transmission (12%) and steering (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 513 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 51 and 19
- Injuries and deaths
- 42 and 7
- Typical mileage
- 71,000 miles 42 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 | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 14 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 7 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 42 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 71,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 51 complaints mention a crash; 19 complaints mention a fire; 42 injuries reported; 7 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Dodge Ram with enough data (381 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 safety recall campaigns.
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.
Vehicle was hit by another car on the front. The other vehicle was traveling at about 50 to 60MPH. Driver's side airbag deployed, and driver's sweat pants caught on fire. Drive rhad two pairs of sweat pants on. Fire burned a big hole through the first pair, and singed the second pair of pants. If drive rwould not have had on two pairs of pants, he would have been burned. Vehicle has not been looked at by anyone.
While driving at approximately 45 MPH consumer applied brake and skidded about 10 feet,hit another vehicle head-on. Upon impact,driver airbags did not deploy which have caused injuries. The inspectors from the manufacturer indicated that the air bags did not deploy because the impact dissipated.
Consumer was told vehicle had 4-wheel drive, but soon discovered the vehicle was not equipped with 4-wheel and ruined the transmission.
The paint on my 1997 dodge ram 1500 truck turned a milky white color on the hood and the top of the cab. Estimated cost of repair to paint the truck is $3,400. Mileage on the truck is 138,400 miles.