Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Dodge Ram
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Dodge Ram has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 398 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E060000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V161000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/THROTTLE LINKAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V153000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/CLOCKSPRING MATERIAL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V040000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/HOOD LATCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V115000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V023000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/AIR BAG NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V126000 CHRYSLER/EXHAUST PIPE-DASH PANEL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V084000 CHRYSLER/TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 77 complaints
- Power Train 70 complaints
- Air Bags 38 complaints
- Steering 35 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 30 complaints
- Visibility 29 complaints
Of the 398 complaints on file, 42 report a crash and 18 a fire; across all 398 complaints, owners report 33 injuries and 7 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$9,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Dodge RAM shows a below-average reliability rating due to a relatively high number of complaints and recalls, particularly in service brakes, powertrain, and airbag components. The data suggests frequent issues with several systems, though specifics on failure mileage and costs are limited.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 75,000–110,000 miles | $300–$900 | very common |
| Powertrain | 80,000–120,000 miles | $800–$3,000 | very common |
| Airbags | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | 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 and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor service
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Coolant system checks
- Tire rotations and inspections
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Brake pedal softness
- Unusual transmission noises
- Airbag warning light
- Sticking throttle
- Overheated transmission fluid
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Dodge Ram at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.