Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Dodge Ram 2500
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 211 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #06E024000 REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 34 complaints
- Power Train 30 complaints
- Tires 26 complaints
- Suspension 20 complaints
- Electrical System 16 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 14 complaints
Of the 211 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 14 a fire; across all 211 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,500–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Dodge RAM 2500 has a limited recall history with only one campaign related to engine components. It has 211 owner complaints, mainly concerning service brakes, power train, and tires. Due to this moderate amount of complaints and minimal recall activity, the overall reliability is deemed average.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 50,000–100,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| power train | 60,000–120,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change and filter every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual brake noises
- Transmission slipping
- Uneven tire wear
- Stalling engine symptoms
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.