1997 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
Owners have filed 468 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 with NHTSA. Structure accounts for 15% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of power train at 13%.
Complaints468
Crashes36
Fires16
Injuries46
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Structure 15.0% · 70
Power train 13.0% · 61
Service brakes, hydraulic 9.8% · 46
Fuel system, gasoline 6.2% · 29
Unknown or other 5.6% · 26
Electrical system 5.3% · 25
Air bags 5.3% · 25
Steering 4.9% · 23
Severity
Of those complaints, 36 describe a crash, 16 describe a fire, 46 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the Dodge RAM 1500 in this data, 1997 sits 16th by complaint volume. 2005 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 38 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 95,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 1997 Dodge RAM 1500. The contact stated while driving with the windows opened, the top of the dashboard suddenly flew up and into the contact's face, obstructing his view of the roadway. The contact was able to locate similar complaints via internet for the exact failure in his year, make and model. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 100,000. Structure · reported at 100,000 miles
Dodge ram with 65,000 miles dash has spit in several places this is uncalled for on a 20,000 dollar truck. There was a malfuction in the production of these dashes and chrylsler should make them good. I took it to the chrylsler company that I purchesed it from, and they said it would cost me around 200 dollars. Its also a safety hazzard, I hope no one gets cut from the sharp edges. Structure · reported at 60,000 miles
Dashboard and all other interior plastic deteriorating, cracked, broken, falling into firewall area. While driving at night on I-95, large piece of dashboard broke off and fell into area behind speedometer and caused dash lights to go out. This scared me terribly and I was able to pull off the road and reconnect the wire coupling to get my dash lights back on. Structure · reported at 92,500 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…