The 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 has 1 safety recall and 361 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (70 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints361filed by owners
Crashes · fires31 · 14reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths37 · 1reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA recall 06E024000 · Mar 15, 2006 · 44,386 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Risk: A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
Fix: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
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.
Fuel economy
Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
16mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 20 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel
Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
15mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
14mpg combined
City / highway
12 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
14mpg combined
City / highway
12 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD
14mpg combined
City / highway
12 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
13mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.9 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD
13mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD
12mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 15 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.9 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Structure Body; Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
70
1
0
1
100,000 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
61
1
1
3
70,001 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Electrical system Wiring › Interior/under dash; Ignition
25
0
3
1
100,500 mi
Steering Gear box (other than rack and pinion); Steering wheel/handle bar
23
4
1
2
95,100 mi
Suspension Front › Wheel bearing; Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint
22
1
0
0
121,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Engine
20
0
3
1
31,000 mi
Exterior lighting Headlights; Headlights › Switch
19
0
2
0
104,000 mi
Tires Temporary/emergency spare tire; Tread/belt
16
3
0
2
91,000 mi
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 16, 2020 · 197,000 milesPower train NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS BEFORE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP. TRAVELING ON A SECONDARY TO A CITY STREET SLOWING TO 30 MPH. AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP AT 45 MPH CAUSING A SKID THAT WAS CONTROLLED. AXLE HOUSING SPLIT, DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED, GEAR LUBE DRAINED OUT AND TIRES ARE SEVERELY FLAT SPOTTED. SKID LENGTH WAS 115 FT.
Feb 15, 2020 · 251,235 milesUnknown or other MY 97 RAM HAS ABOUT 95% OF THE DASH MISSING. I HAVE SAVED PIECES OF IT AND PARTS IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BROKEN OFF. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,, HIT A BUMP, AND DASH PIECES WILL FALL ON THE FLOOR. DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THIS.
Dec 30, 2017 · 250,000 miles · fireEngine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CABIN SPONTANEOUSLY FILLED WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,000.
May 15, 2007 · 265,000 milesUnknown or other THE DASH IS COMPLETELY BUSTED AND I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE REASON WHY IS IF I GET INTO A WRECK WHO AM I GOING TO BLAME WHENEVER IT SHORT OF MY PLASTIC DASH COMES TO HIT SOMEBODY IN THE FACE THE NECK OR ANY OTHER PART OF THEIR BODY
Apr 7, 2017Engine WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CLIP ATTACHING THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO THE THROTTLE BODY SNAPPED CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND EFFECTIVNESS OF THE BRAKE. I HAD A 2 MONTH OLD AND MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE TRUCK AS WELL.
Jun 30, 2016Unknown or other THE DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CRACKS AND SEVERAL PIECES HAVE BROKEN OFF OF IT. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER MOTOR COMPANY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE DASHBOARDS ON ANY RAM PICKUP EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 20 YEARS. IF A PIECE COMES OFF THE DASH AND HITS YOU IN THE FACE, IT COULD CAUSE YOU TO SWERVE YOU TRUCK AND CRASH. THERE IN LIES THE POSSIBILITY FOR BODILY INJURY.
Mar 24, 2016 · 200,000 milesAir bags "TAKATA RECALL" TODAYS DATE 4-29-2016,I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK.I HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS COMING ON WITH MY TRUCK.IM NEEDING A REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEM ITS CALLED ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. SUDDENLY I FELT SOME SHAKING IN FRONT TIRES.I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT MY STEERING PUMP WITH OUT AND NOW THE STEERING GEAR BOX.EVERYTIME IM FINISH WORKING ON ONE PROBLEM THE NEXT IS RIGHT BEHIND.MY DASH BOARD IS FALL APART.DASH BOARD IS ALL IN PIECES.GETTING WORST AND WORST EVERYDAY.LAST PROBLEM MY AIR BAG BLEW OUT AND BUSTED IN MY FACE.MY TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAGS,BUT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER…
Mar 8, 2016Wheels IN 3/8/2006 I WAS DRIVING MY 97 DODGE RAM AND SUDDENLY I FELT A SHAKING IN REAR TIRES AND AFTER THAT I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN BRAKING BUT I LOST THE CONTROL OF MY TRUCK AND I SAW MY LEFT REAR TIRE PASSING BESIDE ME. THE NUTS WERE MISSING . I CAN SEE NOW THAT IT'S A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. HOW IT CAN BE CORRECTED?
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP03006 · opened Sep 23, 2003 · closed Apr 8, 2004SEAT BACK FAILURE 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…