Complaints
513
Crashes
51
Fires
19
Injuries
42
Fatalities
7
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Dodge Ram Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#139 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Crash-related:6
#237 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:104,839 mi
Crash-related:2
#331 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:25
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Dodge Ram.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 39 | 6 | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 37 | 2 | — | 104,839 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 31 | 25 | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 20 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 15 | — | — | 43,825 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 12 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 11 | — | 3 | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 8 | 3 | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 8 | — | — | 80,500 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 8 | 1 | — | 54,500 mi | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 | — | — | 72,000 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 6 | — | 1 | 80,000 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 6 | — | — | 83,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 6 | — | — | 106,000 mi | |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 5 | — | 2 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | 59,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 4 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
39
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
37
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,839
Air Bags:Frontal
31
complaints
Crashes
25
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
20
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
43,825
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,500
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
54,500
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,000
Fuel Pump
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
80,000
Manual Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,000
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,000
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Dodge Ram. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Ram Years
1997 Dodge Ram — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Dodge Ram reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1997 Dodge Ram has 513 NHTSA complaints, 51 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 39 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Dodge Ram?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (39 complaints); Automatic Transmission (37 complaints, avg 104,839 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (31 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Dodge Ram?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 82,035 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Dodge Ram include 51 crash-related reports, 19 fire reports, 42 injuries, and 7 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Dodge Ram have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Dodge Ram as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Dodge Ram?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Ram reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Dodge Ram
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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