U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Dodge RAM 1500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

296 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

99,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 144 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 58 of 296 complaints (19.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	41	13.9%
Transmission and shifting	31	10.5%
Fuel system concerns	26	8.8%
Electrical and battery issues	18	6.1%
Steering behavior	16	5.4%
Engine operation	8	2.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags

Tires

Electrical System

Exterior Lighting

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Structure: 58; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 30; Unknown Or Other: 25; Air Bags: 13; Tires: 10; Electrical System: 9; Exterior Lighting: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 44; 150,000 and above: 28

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 152 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2020

2000: 23; 2001: 30; 2002: 25; 2003: 31; 2004: 22; 2005: 22; 2006: 12; 2007: 24; 2008: 16; 2009: 13; 2010: 16; 2011: 19; 2012: 7; 2013: 6; 2014: 11; 2015: 10; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 2

Pattern summary

Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 31 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 26 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10018294 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DOWN SHIFT AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE MAIN BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018294 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021450 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)

THE DISTANCE IN WHICH VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP IS LONGER THAN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN MODERATE TO HARD BRAKING. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE PEDAL FEEL IS AVERAGE BUT THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO GRAB AND STOP THE VEHICLE AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO POOR BRAKING. THE BRAKES DO NOT LOCK-UP ON THE VEHICLE, NOT EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE ABS WILL NEED TO RELEASE THE REAR WHEELS. I HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HAS NOT IMPROVED AT ALL!! AS WELL AS SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS O…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021450 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005360 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)

AUTO. TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT 51,000 MILES

Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005360 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005611 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT THREE TIMES SINCE BUYING NEW. HAS 85000 MILES ON IT. DODGE WILL NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005611 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016492 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK-UP. I RECENTLY NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. WHEN I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK, I DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TANK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEAK APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM NEAR THE TOP OF THE TANK. I CAN'T SEE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK BECAUSE OF THE FRAME. I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE NO HELP SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SINCE THE LEAK IS NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPING, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. THE TRUCK HAD NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF-ROAD, ONLY ON S…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016492 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033115 · 2003-08-19 (August 19, 2003)

I OWN A DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP, 1997, 4-WD, AUTOMATIC. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP THIS WEEK. THE COST INCLUDING LABOR WAS $750.00. I FEEL THAT WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES ON A 1997 VEHICLE, THE FUEL PUMP SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING.*AK THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER'S FIRST REACTION WAS THAT HE FELT I NEEDED ON OF "THOSE LOUSY DODGE FUEL PUMPS". I HAVE A FRIEND WHO ALSO NEEDED ONE REPLACED LAST WEEK, AGAIN A DODGE RAM P/U. I HAD MY WORK DONE AT NEIGHBORHOOD AUTO, IN NEW BEDFORD, MA. WHEN I FOUND OUT THE COST OF THE JOB, I FELT IT WAS ON THE HIGH SIDE. I…

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033115 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10121011 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)

DT: 97 DODGE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT AND THE WIRING BURNED AND MELTED. ALSO HAVE 96 DODGE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121011 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10189475 · 2007-05-02 (May 2, 2007)

I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING BY ITSELF AND IS CAVING IN. MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND RESEARCH BY LOCAL TV (WKMG) INDICATE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER- EVERY DASH ON A DODGE PICKUP WILL CRACK AND FALL APART. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE WIRING. DODGE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189475 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10066117 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)

RIGHT REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SHEARED CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL/LOSS OF STEERING/CONTROL OF THE WEHICLE. TRUCK BED WAS EMPTY AND TRAVELING AT APPROX. 60MPH; UPON OCCURENCE VEHICLE ROLLED 3 TIMES ON BUSY HIGHWAY; BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURED

Owner-reported narrative. 49,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10080360 · 2004-07-05 (July 5, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVE TO THE LEFT AT HIGHWAY SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I TRIED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE,HENCE I DROVE OFF HIGHWAY AND TRUCK ROLLED END FOR END. SEATED BELT WAS USED AND AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED INTERNAL INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 88,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080360 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050109 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. HE TRIED TO REPAIR 3 TIMES,BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050109 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050110 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. HE TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050110 at NHTSA ↗