NHTSA vehicle safety data
1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Recalls & Complaints
The 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 361 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Dodge dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
1997 Dodge Ram 1500 owner complaints
Owners have filed 361 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500, describing incidents dated August 14, 1996 to October 16, 2020.
Most-cited components
- Structure 70 complaints
- Power Train 54 complaints
- Service Brakes 52 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 29 complaints
- Unknown or Other 26 complaints
- Air Bags 24 complaints
Of the 361 complaints on file, 31 report a crash and 14 a fire; across all 361 complaints, owners report 37 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11365543 · Filed
NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS BEFORE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP. TRAVELING ON A SECONDARY TO A CITY STREET SLOWING TO 30 MPH. AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP AT 45 MPH CAUSING A SKID THAT WAS CONTROLLED. AXLE HOUSING SPLIT, DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED…
ODI #11309624 · Filed
MY 97 RAM HAS ABOUT 95% OF THE DASH MISSING. I HAVE SAVED PIECES OF IT AND PARTS IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BROKEN OFF. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,, HIT A BUMP, AND DASH PIECES WILL FALL ON THE FLOOR. DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THIS.
ODI #11058073 · Filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CABIN SPONTANEOUSLY FILLED WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE…
Owner-reported
1997 Dodge Ram 1500 mileage at failure
142 of the 361 complaints on file for the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Median 100,000 miles | Middle half 60,000–150,000 miles | Based on 35 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Defect Petition DP03-006: SEAT BACK FAILURE
Closed April 8, 2004
REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER
NHTSA #06E024000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice
Reported March 15, 2006 · K&N ENGINEERING, INC.
Potentially affected: 44,386 vehicles
Owners notified April 20, 2006
Defect description
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Safety consequence
A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
Manufacturer remedy
K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
Notes
THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
Other Dodge Ram 1500 model years
Check your 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Ram 1500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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