Most common 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 problems
Share of the 361 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram 1500 complaints by model year
Best Ram 1500 years: 1997, 2005, 1998. Years to avoid: 2001. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500:
Seat back failure
Odi has identified 30 incidents where it is alleged the seat back collapsed in a rear impact crash.these incidents are alleged to have contributed to 23 injuries and two deaths.the data presented to odi show that the seat back strength of the front seats comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207.
What 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 owners say
Body & structure all 70 →
When driving out of a hospital parking structure, when coming to the exit on the lowest level you must make a sharp right turn into the exit booth lane. When turning right, it was as if a "tooth" inside the steering gear broke off causing a collision with the rail while exiting the parking structure. Now the steering has an excessive amount of play and while in the center of the (steering play) it is as it binds or sticks at times where the "tooth" used to be on the steering gear. It has become quite dangerous to drive, especially at high speeds or on the interstate as the vehicle tends to wander now and follow the cracks in the road. I have owned Dodge Ram pickups for the last 20 years since I bought my first brand new Ram pickup and let me tell you, they have all had issues with loose steering boxes, even the new one. …
Dash board is all cracked and broken apart. With every bump in the road the dash shakes bad and worsens from the lack of no support holding it in place. With the A/C, heat, or defroster blowing out the vents plastic also blows out. Trying to clean out my eye when driving is tough. Just waiting for the day I hit a bump and the dash falls to my feet. Body would be the paint on roof and hood, discoloring and peeling off
Transmission & drivetrain all 56 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while trying to shift the vehicle out of park, it failed to shift. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an unspecified internal transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.
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, gear lube drained out and tires are severely flat spotted. Skid length was 115 ft.
Brakes all 53 →
On December 14 2005 my son was driving my Dodge Ram 1500, he tried to stop and the ABS system locked and he rear ended the car in front of him. The engine stalled and he had no control over the vehicle. The truck slid approximately 20 feet. There was a child injured in the car that he hit.
While driving my 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 on an interstate highway near philadelphia, pa at the 65 MPH speed limit, traffic was slowing. I put my foot on the brake pedal and it went to the floor without warning. Pumping it did nothing. I had total brake failure. Fortunately, there were no vehicles in the two lanes to the right of me, I swerved and got the truck on the shoulder of the highway. If there would have been vehicles to my right, I would have rear ended the vehicle in front of me, causing a multiple vehicle chain-reaction type of crash. Inspection of the vehicle along the highway showed brake fluid running out of the brake line that runs from below the master cylinder to the brake proportioning valve near the proportioning valve. I was not aware that brake systems could have a total, abrupt failure as this system did. The truck was towed to a repair facility. …
1997 Dodge Ram 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 a good car?
Based on 361 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Ram 1500 rates better than average: 51% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ram 1500 at the same age. It is one of the best Ram 1500 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500?
The body & structure — 70 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (56) and brakes (53).
How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997, 2005 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001. See the full Dodge Ram 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.