NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Dodge Ram 3500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 125 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 3500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1997 Dodge Ram 3500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500, describing incidents dated February 22, 1997 to November 1, 2018.

Most-cited components

Power Train 26 complaints
Exterior Lighting 25 complaints
Service Brakes 16 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 15 complaints
Steering 9 complaints
Electrical System 6 complaints

Of the 125 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 12 a fire; across all 125 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11191481 · Filed March 25, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. CALLAWAY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (809 S WESTMINSTER AVE, FULTON, MO 65251, (855) 486-1440) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE…
ODI #11065790 · Filed January 30, 2018
THERE IS NO RELAY TO HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSING PIGTAIL TO MELT MULTIPLE TIMES. COULD CAUSE FIRE WHILE DRIVING.... PIGTAIL MELTS AND HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF DURING DRIVE.
ODI #10936778 · Filed December 21, 2016
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED APPROX IN 2007 BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE ON RECALLS. THERE WAS SOMETHING ONE TIME I TOOK INTO FEAR LET ABOUT WINDOW I THINK. RECENTLY I WAS TALKING WITH PREVIOUS OWNER AND FOUND OUT THEY WERE STILL GETTING INFO ON TRUCK OCCASIONAL BUT THREW AWAY AS THEY'D SOLD AND…

Read all 125 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 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

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

DAIMLERCHRYSLER/HEADLAMP SWITCH

NHTSA #99V024000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported February 5, 1999 · DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 79,366 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 819 · Owners notified June 14, 1999 · Vehicles built July 31, 1993 – October 31, 1996 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MODEL 3500 LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS ONLY. OPERATION OF THE HEADLAMPS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME CAN RESULT IN HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE, CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS OR PARK LAMPS TO GO OUT.

Safety consequence

IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH INCLUDING A RELAY IN THE PARK LAMP WIRING CIRCUIT.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

125 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11191481

Fire

Incident: November 1, 2018 · Filed: March 25, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. CALLAWAY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (809 S WESTMINSTER AVE, FULTON, MO 65251, (855) 486-1440) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 253,363.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11065790

Fire

Incident: January 29, 2018 · Filed: January 30, 2018

THERE IS NO RELAY TO HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSING PIGTAIL TO MELT MULTIPLE TIMES. COULD CAUSE FIRE WHILE DRIVING.... PIGTAIL MELTS AND HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF DURING DRIVE.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10936778

Incident: December 21, 2016 · Filed: December 21, 2016

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED APPROX IN 2007 BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE ON RECALLS. THERE WAS SOMETHING ONE TIME I TOOK INTO FEAR LET ABOUT WINDOW I THINK. RECENTLY I WAS TALKING WITH PREVIOUS OWNER AND FOUND OUT THEY WERE STILL GETTING INFO ON TRUCK OCCASIONAL BUT THREW AWAY AS THEY'D SOLD AND ASSUME I WAS GETTING SAME RECALL NOTICES. I'VE HAD REPLACE TRANSMISSION CAUSE BURN OUT ON LONG TRIP FROM FAIRBANKS APPROX 1 1/2 YEAR AGO LOST MOST FLUID JUST AS I PULL IN TO WASILLA. PAINT HAS PEAKED IN AREA OR TWO AND MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENT YESTERDAY. HAD ISSUES WITH POWER BOAST AS WELL IN PAST ALONG WITH LACK OF HEAT IN WINTER. REPLACED INJECTORS SAME YEAR I PURCHASED

Unknown or Other

ODI #10926336

Incident: November 15, 2016 · Filed: November 16, 2016

A PASSENGER SAT AN ITEM ON THE DASH, THE DASH SHATTERED AND PIECE FLEW IN MY EYE WHILE DRIVING, I ALMOST WRECKED THE TRUCK ON BUSY INTERSTATE 75. ITEM WASN'T VERY HEAVY AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THE DASH, IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE DASH ROTTED AT ONCE & CAME APART, VERY DANGEROUS.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10776400

Incident: September 5, 2015 · Filed: September 24, 2015

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, WATER ENTERED AND NEARLY FILLED THE HEADLAMP ENCLOSURE CAUSING THE HALOGEN LAMP TO BURST.

Steering; Power Train

ODI #10745392

Incident: July 1, 2007 · Filed: July 31, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #10643097

Incident: September 24, 2014 · Filed: October 7, 2014

WAS DRIVING AND HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY WENT OUT. TURNED SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON EACH TIME, BUT WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO BACK OFF. DID SO THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. TURNED ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO GET HOME. THEY WENT OFF A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES IN A 3 MILE TRIP. I FOUND A RECALL ON LIGHT DUTY ONLY, BUT NOTHING ON MY TRUCK. THEY NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS , ALMOST WRECKED THE TRUCK BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AT 1130 AT NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY SON FROM A FOOTBALL GAME. I WAS ON VERY DANGEROUS SWITCH-BACK CURVES WHEN THEY WENT OUT THE THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. *TR

Steering; Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10608223

Incident: April 5, 2010 · Filed: July 4, 2014

POWER STEER/BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED INTO CAB OF TRUCK SATURATING THE CARPETS BEFORE IT COULD BE DISCOVERED. SAFETY FEAR OF CARPET SOAKED WITH POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10493027

Incident: January 12, 2013 · Filed: January 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED TWICE WITHIN A NINE YEAR TIME FRAME. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS SETUP LIKE A VACUUM AND THE FUEL CAP ALLOWED AIR TO ENTER INTO THE TANK, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS MANUFACTURED WITH PLASTIC AND DID NOT HAVE A VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 175,000.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10472573

Incident: August 18, 2011 · Filed: August 27, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 200,000.

Other Dodge Ram 3500 model years

Check your 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Ram 3500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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