Most common 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 problems
Share of the 125 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram 3500 complaints by model year
Best Ram 3500 years: 2002, 2000, 1999. Years to avoid: 2012, 2011, 2006, 2007, 2008. Compare all years →
1997 Dodge Ram 3500 recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlamp switch including a relay in the park lamp wiring circuit.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500:
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 3500 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 26 →
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.
Vehicle is unable to pull adequate trailer weight. Vehicle will not exceed 55 MPH in speed, it will start decreasing speed and jerk forward when it gets to 55 MPH. The dealership cannot locate cause.
Lights all 25 →
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, [phone]) 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.
All lights but head lights would not work seams head light switch over heated and melted. 2-06 replaced switch self. 10-06 running lights quit working after long trip at night with lights on. Examined switch and running light circuit was melted again the melted plastic gets in the terminal connections and became an insulator causing failure. Removed terminal and directly soldered the wire to the switch. Now 1-07 the running lights don't work unless switch is pulled to headlight position. After the first time 2-06 I have noticed that the area around the switch gets very hot when the lights are on. It is a good feeling to wonder if your lights are going to work or not and if they will stay working. I believe Dodge has recalled all 3500's from 94 to 96 for this problem and that the 97 to 981/2 are the same switch and are starting to have the same problems.
Brakes
Dt: brake lines rusted. This happened without warning. The caller had to replace the brake lines. He was coming to a stop sign and when hitting the brake pedal it went to the floor. The rear brakes lost all the fluid. He pumped the brake and got vehicle to stop. The caller said that when they were trying to find where a hole was the fluid sprayed out and vehicle caught on fire. Dealer and manufacturer have not been contacted yet.
Anti-lock brake failure - the brake failure was accompanied by the brake and anti-lock brake light indicators on the dash to intermittantly appear and disappear. The brake pedal intermittantly ranges from soft to hard. A periodic vibration in the pedal is noted with nearly a total loss in brake pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 a good car?
Based on 125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Ram 3500 rates average: 18% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ram 3500 at the same age. 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 3500?
The transmission & drivetrain — 26 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the lights (25) and brakes (17).
How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500, the most recent from February 5, 1999 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram 3500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2000 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2011, 2006, 2007 and 2008. See the full Dodge Ram 3500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 108,000 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.