1997 Dodge RAM PICKUP: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
45,005 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 16 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure | 3 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 |
Structure: 3; Steering: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 10 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002342 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED UP HILL AND NO WITH WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL DECELERATE EVEN WHEN FOOT IS ON ACCELERATOR, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS.....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006192 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES AFTER THEY HAD THE RECALL 02 V 161 000 FOR THE THROTTLE LEAKAGE DONE ,THE STEERING WHEEL IS INOPERATIVE. THERE'S FUEL LEAKAGE, AND THE ODOMETER READ A DECREASE IN THE MILEAGE. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 25,502 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016478 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
!)AT 36,246 MILES, BOLTS HOLDING TIE RODS TO STEERING BOX BROKE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE. HAD TO FIGHT DODGE TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. ORIGINALLY HAD VEHICLE IN FOR 'WANDERING STEERING' BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY REPLACED STEERING BOX, TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM AND OTHER RELATED COMPONETS. 2)18,276 MILES LATER, SAME DEALERSHIP STATES NEEDS NEW TIE RODS, IDLER ARM, PITMAN ARM, AND BALL JOINTS ON LEFT FRONT. FEEL THESE PARTS SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE AS THEY REPLACED THEMSELVES ONLY 18,000 MILES AGO. HAVE PROVIDED PROPER MAINTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,346 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020290 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)
THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED. *NLM *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,663 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021721 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
NAR 05/28/2003 *MR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED AND BECAME NONO-FUNCTIONAL. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 61,534 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133473 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
1997 DODGE RAM 2500 CAUGHT ON FIRE. *MR THE FIRE OCCURRED UNDER THE SHIFTER AND OUTSIDE UNDER THE HOOD. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE DASH SILENCER PAD. ON ANOTHER OCCASION AFTER REPAIRS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE A/C, CRUISE CONTROL AND TACHOMETER HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE ALTERNATOR WOULD NOT CHARGE, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM AND THE BATTERY WOULD BE DISCHARGED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10133473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144044 · 2005-11-30 (November 30, 2005)
DODGE RAM 3/4 TON 4X4, 1997 . . ALL VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVE. 5 OR 6, ALL HAVE STEERING WHEEL PLAN AND FRONT END WANDER. IN OTHER WORDS YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN IT SOME MORE BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUAL TURNS. ITS LIKE THOSE OLD MOVIES YOU SEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH ALL THE TIME. WELL THAT IS WHAT THESE DODGES DO . . THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND FIXED . . ITS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176535 · 2006-12-19 (December 19, 2006)
AIR CONDITIONING VENT ALWAYS SWITCHES TO THE DEFROSTER AND BACK TO THE AC VENT. WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW AND ICE THE HEATER WAS ON, THE DEFROSTER VENT AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES TO THE VENT ON THE FLOOR AND THE AC VENT CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO ICE UP CAUSING NO VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDOW. DID RUN OFF THE ROAD. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS EVER SINCE THAT DAY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE THAT THE GARAGE ATTENDANT SAID. HAVE DEALT WITH THIS FOR ALONG TIME. TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. SHARP!! THE REASON I AM REPORTING THIS TIME I…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176535 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.