1997 Dodge RAM 1500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500, and owners have filed 361 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
361 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 have filed 361 complaints with NHTSA; 31 describe a crash and 14 describe a fire. Reports cite 37 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 103,475 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 31 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 21, 2020 · Power train
“My 97 RAM has about 95% of the dash missing. I have saved pieces of it and parts if the instrument panel is broken off. I can be driving down the road,, hit a bump, and dash pieces will fall on the fl”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 17, 2020 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup (Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 12–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–14 / 15–20 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3.9/5.2/5.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Dodge RAM 1500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge RAM 1500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 7 |
| 1992 Dodge RAM 1500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 6 |
| 1994 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 116 |
| 1995 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 213 |
| 1996 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 298 |
| 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 361 |
| 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 520 |
| 1999 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 610 |
| 2000 Dodge RAM 1500 | 2 | 513 |
| 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 | 2 | 1,112 |
| 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 | 3 | 815 |
| 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 | 1 | 1,171 |
| 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 | 5 | 1,099 |
| 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 | 4 | 1,169 |
| 2006 Dodge RAM 1500 | 9 | 792 |
| 2007 Dodge RAM 1500 | 4 | 517 |
| 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 | 5 | 554 |
| 2009 Dodge RAM 1500 | 2 | 670 |
| 2010 Dodge RAM 1500 | 4 | 486 |
| 2011 Dodge RAM 1500 | 4 | 689 |
| 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 | 6 | 697 |
| 2014 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1997 Dodge RAM 1500
How do I know if my 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Dodge models
- Durango13,770 complaints
- Grand Caravan13,508 complaints
- Caravan10,526 complaints
- Dakota6,629 complaints
- RAM 25006,443 complaints
- Intrepid6,228 complaints
- Charger5,741 complaints
- Journey5,290 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.