1997 Dodge RAM 3500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500, and owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
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.
125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 9 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 118,431 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 15 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 westmi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 25, 2019 · Exterior lighting
“There is no relay to headlight switch causing pigtail to melt multiple times. Could cause fire while driving.... Pigtail melts and headlights shut off during drive.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 30, 2018 · Exterior lighting
Compare Dodge RAM 3500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge RAM 3500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Dodge RAM 3500 | 0 | 4 |
| 1992 Dodge RAM 3500 | 0 | 10 |
| 1993 Dodge RAM 3500 | 0 | 20 |
| 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 | 1 | 70 |
| 1995 Dodge RAM 3500 | 1 | 108 |
| 1996 Dodge RAM 3500 | 1 | 124 |
| 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 | 1 | 125 |
| 1998 Dodge RAM 3500 | 0 | 105 |
| 1999 Dodge RAM 3500 | 0 | 104 |
| 2000 Dodge RAM 3500 | 1 | 58 |
| 2001 Dodge RAM 3500 | 1 | 130 |
| 2002 Dodge RAM 3500 | 0 | 44 |
| 2003 Dodge RAM 3500 | 6 | 286 |
| 2004 Dodge RAM 3500 | 4 | 214 |
| 2005 Dodge RAM 3500 | 4 | 196 |
| 2006 Dodge RAM 3500 | 8 | 257 |
| 2007 Dodge RAM 3500 | 11 | 210 |
| 2008 Dodge RAM 3500 | 9 | 173 |
| 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 | 5 | 105 |
| 2010 Dodge RAM 3500 | 9 | 150 |
| 2011 Dodge RAM 3500 | 5 | 225 |
| 2012 Dodge RAM 3500 | 8 | 366 |
Checking a specific 1997 Dodge RAM 3500
How do I know if my 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 (for example 99V024000).
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
- RAM 150012,416 complaints
- Caravan10,526 complaints
- Dakota6,629 complaints
- RAM 25006,443 complaints
- Intrepid6,228 complaints
- Charger5,741 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.