Model year record
1997 Dodge Dodge Truck recalls & problems
The 1997 Dodge Dodge Truck has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 18 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is suspension (6 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 Dodge Dodge Truck.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| SuspensionFront; Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint | 6 | — |
| Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring | 5 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 3 | — |
| SteeringLinkages; Gear box (other than rack and pinion) | 3 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys | 3 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior | 2 | — |
| Parking brakeConventional | 1 | — |
| Air bags | 1 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 1 | — |
| WheelsLugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Structure | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
FOR SEVERAL YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN LOSS OF MY HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH 82000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED THAT I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM MUCH MORE OFTEN WHEN OPERATING THE HIGH BEAMS FOR 10-15 MINUTES. I TOOK IT IN TO A SERVICE SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THEY COULD NEVER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ON 12/28/08, I BEGAN SMELLING AN ELECTRICAL SMELL IN THE CAB AND THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE TRUCK OFF. AFTER 10-15 MINUTES, THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY I DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUED (#819) FOR 1994-1997 DODGE RAM 3500 SERIES FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS…
- Structure
1997 DODGE RAM HAS DASHBOARD COVER CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. PIECES HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE DASH AMONG THE INTERNAL WIRING. THIS IS NOT JUST A COSMETIC PROBLEM. IF THE PIECES THEMSELVES DO NOT SHORT OUT THE WIRING AND CAUSE A FIRE, THE JAGGED EDGES COULD POTENTIALLY CUT OPEN AN AIRBAG UPON DEPLOYMENT CAUSING A BAG FAILURE DURING A CRASH. *TR
- Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
IT WAS REQUESTED THAT DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS LOG INFORMATION AS TO IF THEY HAVE EXCESSIVELY WORN BALL JOINTS AND / OR FAILURES. I AM AN ENGINEER AT AN EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER AND BELIEVE THIS IS A FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AT LOW MILEAGE. MY 1997 DAKOTA SLT HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND SINCE I DO NOT DRIVE IT MUCH I WAS HOPING THERE WOULD BE RECALL BEFORE IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE JOINTS.A NUMBER OF CAB PLASTIC ISSUES WHICH WERE DESIGN CHANGED (YEAR OR TWO LATER) AND NOT RECALLED, MISC ITEMS BREAKING - DRIVERS WINDOW SWITCH PLATE, AUTOMATIC GEAR SELECTOR HANDLE CRACKING, ASH TRY PIVOT POINT (NON-SMOKER - BROKE WHEN I TRIED TO CLEAN IT!). NOT TO MENTION THE 3.9 L ISSUES OF POOR…
- Steering › Linkages
BALL JOINTS ARE TOTALLY WORN OUT AND COULD HAVE FAILED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. THIS TRUCK HAS HAD VERY GOOD CARE TAKEN OF IT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN THIS BAD ON A VEHICLE WITH THIS FEW MILES ON IT AND WITH THE CARE TAKEN OF IT. *AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 3.3L ENGINE. SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT CONSISTENTLY SLIPS OFF OR SHREDS WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND EVENTUALLY ALL POWER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER, 2" DEEP PUDDLES, CAN CAUSE THIS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. SO FAR, BELT HAS COME OFF AND/OR SHREDDED 7 TIMES FROM 8/02 - 1/04. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE. WE HAVE REPLACED THE TENSIONER PULLEY 3 TIMES AFTER IT HAD EITHER BROKEN OR SUDDENLY BECAME MISALIGNED. NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OCCURS. THANK YOU.*AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
ENGINE WILL RANDOMLY STALL. ONLY DISCERNIBLE PATTERN IS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED MORE THAN 45 MINUTES, HOWEVER EPISODES ARE VERY SPORADIC. ENGINE WILL RESTART ONLY AFTER A WAIT PERIOD OF 20-30 MINUTES (THEN RUNS FINE). ENGINE CODE IS A MISFIRE, HOWEVER AFTER DIAGNOSTICS MULTIPLE SHOPS AND DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. WILL CONTINUE TO TROUBLE SHOOT, AS SPORADIC ENGINE STALLS ARE DISCONCERTING DUE TO ITS SAFETY IMPACT. *JB
- Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
MIRRORS SIMPLY FOLDS BACK TO THE VEHICLE BODY AT HWY SPEED. THE REARVIEW SIDE MIRRORS ARE NOT USABLE ON HIGHWAY DRIVING. REPLACE BOTH MIRRORS STILL DO THE SAME THING.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 36000 MILES. WATER PUMP SEAL FAILED AT 47000 DUE TO PITTING AND CORROSION OF ALUMINUM HOUSING. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT AND NORMALLY OCCURS AFTER EXTENDED DRIVING - TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" WHEN DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 1ST GEAR. HAS HESTITATED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN COMMON AND INCREASING - UNEXPECTED WINDSHIELD WIPER ACTIVATION, UNEXPECTED ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK AND CAR ALARM ACTIVATION, MOST RECENTLY IGNITION FAILURE DURING INITIAL ATTEMPTS TO START IN THE MORNING.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.