Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Dodge Ram owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Park position with ignition key in the lock position, vehicle shifter moved out of park , knocked owner down and ran over me, continued to roll back hit second car, continued to keep going until it hit a curb. This was a very dangerous and could have caused other accidents. Consumer sent in a fax copy of the internet voq.
While driving at 35-45 MPH vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating. The vehicle felt as if it was in neutral. Transmission burned fluid, causing it to fail. A mechanic ant the transmission repair shop indicated that this was due to the coolant not circulating through the transmission when vehicle was idling in the park gear. Transmission needed to be rebuilt. Consumer was told by two different mechanics that rear wheel drive Chrysler vehicles if in park with the engine running, coolant doesn't circulate to the transmission. Consumer phoned Chrysler customer service and they advised her to contact NHTSA for a possible recall. Consumer learned of the trans coolant connect recall. Then she recalled that part being replaced prior to the failure. The fluid was checked before the vehicle was towed, and it was thick and brown as a result of being burnt. …
Tranmission fluid temperature exceeded, causing the vehicle to catch on fire, melting everything under the hood. The fire department came out to put out the fire out and found out that the tranmission cooling lines caught on fire.
The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair of the fuel gauge, fifth gear and recall. When the vehicle was picked up two weeks later the other work was done but the recall work was not performed.
The paint on my 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 truck turned a milky white color on the hood and the top of the cab. Estimated cost of repair to paint the truck is $3,400. Mileage on the truck is 138,400 miles.
The dealers were notified and they weren't able to fix the problem. I was told that other people have reported similar problem and that it happens on hot days. Since they were not able to repeat the problem when they test drove my vehicle they were not able to pin point the problem to attend to. They didn't think it was a safety issue. I disagree! Here is the problem. After a complete stop the vehicle sometimes would hesitate to accel when I step on the gas peddle. I hear the RPM going up as I press the gas but the vehicle doesn't respond accordingly. I see the safety issue in these possible situations: when I am making a left turn after a complete stop if my vehicle doesn't get out of the intersection as I expect it to, it could turn into a dangerous situation for me and the on coming traffic. Another situation would be when I enter the freeway after a complete stop. …
Made three trips to dealer for engine light over a period of 45 days. First trip was on 10/3/01with a charge of $132.25 tech found torque converter not working. Cleaned torque converter solenoid. Second trip to dealer was made on 10/30/01 with check engine light on again. Tech found same problem again and replaced torque converter solinoid for charge of $246.58. Third trip was made on 11/13/01 with check engine light again on. This time tech said probably an internal leak "somewhere" but don't know where. Said OK to drive until transmission starts slipping. Check engine light came on again on the way home and trans began slipping next day. Returning to dealer on 11/15/01 the transmission gave out completely and had to be towed. Dealer called on 11/16/01 stating that the front plate in transmission had failed and probably could never get all the metal out of transmission. …
Continuous transmission trouble:minor slipping,searching for a gear,surging,not going into passing gear,when it does it does not stay there,clunks hard when put in rev. Vibration at start up(moving) heat shield or rear-end,@time of original trade,when they changed the oil they eiter didnt put any in or very little I had to add 5qts now there is a ticking noise on the pass, side of engine,the salesman lied to me about the truck I asked him "has this ever plowed or towed anything before?" he said "no" after talking to prev.owner they were towing a big boat with it .at this time I have a complaint with the me. Atty gen,Dodge,file#9921927 on 4-18-02,May I please have a copy of this with your letterhead as well as a reply so I can foward this to the atty gen. Thank you!!!!
Driving 45-55mph, vehicle would vibrate, but can be controlled. Taken to dealership twice for vibration. Had drivershaft replaced to correct problem. Also been to tire retailer due to possibility of tires causing problem. Tires were the problem. Contacted manufacturer , informed consumer nothing could be done. It was characteristic of truck, and could not be repaired. Consumer states vibration has existed in vehicle since purchased, consumer also states the vibration causes him to have to drive under 40 MPH or over 50 MPH to avoid the vibration.
The rearend in the Dodge truck makes a clunk when shifting from park to drive and drive to reverse it will make the same clunk (ring) when driving down the road when the trans. Shifts through the shift pattern. I took it to a dealer to get it checked out they said play in the rear end was normal but tey reprogramed the power control module to lower the rpms so that the clunk would not be heard, they put a $1.65 sticker on the truck some where . The clunk is still there and sounds louder . I know of three other Dodge trucks with the same noise.
Related recalls
Power train › Clutch assembly
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with manual transmission, v10 engines and four-wheel-drive transfer cases. Under sustained maximum rated vehicle load, while driving up a steep grade in four-wheel-drive low range in hot ambient conditions, the local exhaust temperature proximate to the hydraulic clutch line can…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
Under certain high load operating conditions, the transmission fluid temperature can exceed the melting point of the material used in the connector to retain the fluid line to the transmission.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high temperature side of the transmission fluid cooler line connector fittings with connectors that incorporate a stainless steel retainer.
NHTSA investigations
Transmission quick connectors
On April 17, 1997, the Chrysler corporation filed a defect information report concerning approximately 800,000 1994 through 1997 Dodge Ram pickups equipped with v6 or v8 engines and automatic transmissions, 1995 through 1997dodge Ram pickups equipped with the v10 engine and automatic transmission, and the 1995 and 1996 Dodge Ram van/wagon equipped with automatic transmission.odi has received eleven reports…
Transmission complaints in other Ram years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1997 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA has 72 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1997 Dodge Ram, 17% of the model year's 415 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (38 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Dodge Ram transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-115 (clutch assembly, May 6, 1999); NHTSA recall 97V-084 (cooling unit and lines, May 5, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Ram transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.