1997 Dodge Ram 1500: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 361 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (18% of complaints); the 1995 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 361 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2020
“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.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Feb 2020
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2017
“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.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2016
“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 report · Wheels · Mar 2016
“The hub went out on the vehicle and was replaced immediately with a new one. Drove approximately 10 miles and the brand new hub did the same exact thing. I can not figure out what keeps causing the issue nor can I afford to keep replacing them. I have had several dodge rams over the years and while the hub does go out on them I have never had one go out right after putting it on. I have done my research and noticed this is a very common occurrence with this year model truck. Something needs to be done.”Owner report · Wheels · Jan 2016
“The low beam headlights cut out while I was driving at night to the store a motorist flashed their lights at me while I was at a light.. Checked all fuses and had mechanic look it over. They narrowed it down to the steering column it will be 400$ to fix. The wire harness pin plug had overheated and melted. Almost caused a fire. I had smelled burning electric smell. Was only able to hold hi beam lever to keep hi beams engaged to be able to drive with lights till problem is fixed.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Dec 2015
“Head lights go out when driving or sometimes flickers on/off when driving, traced wiring and noticed that wiring was burnt at pig tail connector which is the head light switch at the part called bezel... Never had any trouble with it until this year and couldn't understand why wire burnt, the plastic/bezel melted first rather than fuse tripping. This occurs when driving anywhere but it occurred first when I was headed to work at 3am in highway 74 which is mountainous and very curvy road... Extremely dangerous. I believe this is a defective part and is safety risk.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge ram 1500. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the shaft and gear inadvertently detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Jul 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 31 of these complaints and injuries in 37 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
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.
Remedy: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact Ram 1500 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 reliable?
NHTSA has 361 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500. The most complained-about area is structure (18% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 100,000 miles or less.
Does the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.