1997 Dodge RAM 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
152 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
97,655 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 152 complaints (7.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 18.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.6% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Structure | 7 |
| Tires | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Structure: 7; Tires: 7; Electrical System: 6; Exterior Lighting: 6; Air Bags: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 15
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 92 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 25 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 25; 2001: 24; 2002: 22; 2003: 19; 2004: 12; 2005: 10; 2006: 3; 2007: 8; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 6; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10009063 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATED, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS, THE BRAKES, U JOINTS, AND BEARINGS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009847 · 2002-05-29 (May 29, 2002)
ON TRIP TO CAMPING GROUND IN SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, STARTED TO SMELL "HOT BRAKES" ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT BEEN USING THEM AT THAT POINT. THOUGHT BRAKE SHOE MAY BE DRAGGING OR THAT IT COULD BE ANOTHER MOTORIST. APPROACHED CAMP GROUND WITH GROWING CERTAINTY IT HAD TO BE MY TRUCK. AFTER PARKING IN CAMPING SPACE AND SHUTTING DOWN MOTOR, I NOTICED SMOKE ISSUING FROM UNDER HOOD. OPENED HOOD TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND FLAMES LICKING UP FIREWALL/TOE BOARD. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT FIREWALL INSULATION HAD FALLEN DOWN ONTO EXHAUST PIPE AND STARTED ON FIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,360 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009779 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A LEAK. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026028 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE NEEDS REPLACING. THE COOLER LINE HAS A PLASTIC COUPLING IN IT THAT COULD MELT AND CAUSE A FIRE OR SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION UNDER LOAD. DEALER WILL REPLACE A COOLER LINE ON A GASOLINE ENGINE PER RECALL BUT NOT ON A DIESEL. MY TRUCK IS A DIESEL, AND THINK THAT THE LINE SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THE PLASTIC COUPLING MELTED ON A FRIENDS TRUCK THAT IS THE SAME AS MINE (DIESEL). I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE COUPLING/LINE AS NOT GASOLINE ENGINE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD EFFECTING ALL MODLES WIT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259754 · 2009-02-24 (February 24, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH HIS HAND WAS INJURED. HE STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TIED THE AIR BAG TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. HE THEN DROVE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER IGNORED THE RECALL NOTICE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. 175,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341381 · 2010-07-04 (July 4, 2010)
DODGE PICKUP 1997 TILT WHEEL, WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN BROKE, DISABLED AIR BAG, ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND OTHER STUFF. 4X4 STEERING IS LOOSE LOTS OF STEERING WHEEL PLAY TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIT ON ROAD, LIKE THAT SINCE NEW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10341381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038734 · 2003-09-11 (September 11, 2003)
1997 DODGE DIESEL 2500: FUEL LINE DIRECTLY BEHIND DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAS A HOLE WORN IN IT BY WAY OF CONTACT WITH NEIGHBORING FUEL OR OTHER LINE. THE NEIGHBORING LINE HAS A CONNECTOR OR FITTING THAT THROUGH VIBRATION AND DIRECT CONTACT HAS WORN A HOLE IN THE METAL FUEL LINE. THE LINE IS PRESSURIZED ADN RELEASES DIESEL FUEL THROUGH THE HOLE ONTO THE VEHICLE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE. RATE OF LEAKAGE IS SUFFUCIENT TO RELEASE APPROXIMATELY ONE GALLON OF FUEL IN A 20 MINUTE PERIOD. LINE IS ALSO CORRODED FROM YEARS OF WINTER ROAD SURFACE TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 141,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048565 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH 1997 DODGE 2500 PICKUP.*MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL SMELL, HE LEFT THE VEHICLE AT IDLE AND DISCOVERED FUEL ON THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED TWO METAL ELBOWS ONE WAS ATTACHED TO THE SENDING UNIT LOCATED ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND THE OTHER WAS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL LINE, THE SECOND ELBOW DEVELOPED A CRACKED AND LEAKED WHICH WAS CAUSED BY SALT MATERIAL USED ON THE HIGHWAYS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE SENDING UNIT JUST TO REPLACE THE TWO METAL ELBOWS. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019826 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT OF A GAS STATION, THERE WAS A SMELL OF PLASTIC BURNING. SUDDENLY FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE MECHANIC STATED THE MAIN BOLT FOR THE 120 AMP VIBRATED OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE WIRING TO HEAT UP AND CATCH FIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380160 · 2011-02-03 (February 3, 2011)
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE 2500 DODGE RAM PICKUP. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING IN 2008. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AS HAIR LINE CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THE DASHBOARD HAS INCREASINGLY GOTTEN WORSE. NOW THE ENTIRE DASH HAS CRACKED WITH LARGE GAPING HOLES. A SECTION APPROXIMATELY 6" X 11" HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN LOOSE AND IS LYING INSIDE THE PANEL. MANY OF THE OTHER SEGMENTS HAVE CRACKED AND SEPARATED CREATING KNIFE LIKE POINTS. THE FAILURE OF THE DASH CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN DURING A COLLISION AS WELL AS A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040342 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
INTERMITTENTLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT RELEASES SUDDENLY IN A WAY WHICH CAUSED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK THE DEALER COMPLETED THE RECALL WORK ON THE VEHICLE IN FALL 2002 AFTER WHICH THE PROBLEM SURFACED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. (STALLED CONTINUALLY) *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050390 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY CRACK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS TOO HIGH IN THE PRESSURE RESERVE TANK AND THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE REPLACED. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050390 at NHTSA ↗