1997 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a cracked, crumbling dashboard that progresses to pieces falling into the cabin, along with older-truck problems in the transmission, brakes, fuel lines and rear axle. Complaints arrive at high mileage — many past 100,000 miles — so these are largely wear-and-age items rather than failures on a new truck, and several describe gradual worsening over years rather than a single sudden event.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Dashboard cracking and breaking apart

   • 79 complaints (22%)
   • median 99,000 mi at 11.7 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • filed 2004–2020

   The upper dash panel develops cracks that spread into large broken sections, sometimes over a short period and without any impact or chemical use. Owners describe pieces falling into the dash cavity or into the cabin, exposing wiring and gauge hardware, and in a few cases obstructing the driver's view. Dealers quoted owners for replacement or told them they would be responsible for the cost; one owner reported a replacement dash later cracked as well. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 250,000 miles, with many complaints filed on trucks over 80,000 miles and cracking often noted as worsening over several years.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash closely for hairline cracks and listen for rattles or loose panels, and ask whether the dash has been replaced. Note that the structural-repair bulletins in the record concern collision repair parts, not this symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dashboard and all other interior plastic deteriorating, cracked, broken, falling into firewall area. While driving at night on I-95, large piece of dashboard broke off and fell into area behind speedometer and caused dash lights to go out. This scared me terribly and I was able to pull off the road and reconnect the wire coupling to get my dash lights back on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10217838, filed 2008-02, 92,500 miles

   “Dodge ram with 65,000 miles dash has spit in several places this is uncalled for on a 20,000 dollar truck. There was a malfuction in the production of these dashes and chrylsler should make them good. I took it to the chrylsler company that I purchesed it from, and they said it would cost me around 200 dollars. Its also a safety hazzard, I hope no one gets cut from the sharp edges.”

   NHTSA complaint #10114316, filed 2005-03, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks from lines, rails and tank

   • 27 complaints (7%)
   • median 132,000 mi at 12.9 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2015

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell in or around the truck, traced to a cracked or burst fuel line or a leaking plastic fuel rail spraying fuel near hot engine and exhaust parts. Other complaints describe a fuel tank dropping or a rusted tank strap, and an in-tank line that split on top of the tank. Some owners were told the replacement part had been superseded by a new design, while others reported the needed parts were no longer available. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 200,000 miles, with several complaints at 95,000 miles and above.

   What to check: Smell around the engine bay and under the truck after a drive, look for wet or stained fuel lines and rust on the tank straps, and confirm any prior fuel-line repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1997 Dodge RAM 1500. I noticed a strong gas smell and found that the plastics fuel rail was spraying gas onto the intact manifold. This was located on the drivers side by the firewall. I took it to the dealer and I was told that the part was superseded by a new design and it would take a week to get the parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #10054981, filed 2004-01, 73,000 miles

   “Upon exiting vehicle after short trip (2 miles), noticed strong fuel odor. Looked under truck and observed fuel streaming down over hot exhaust pipe beneath engine compartment. Inspection of engine revealed burst line connecting fuel rails, causing fuel to spray over hot engine/exhaust, extreme fire hazard. Cannot be driven due to fire hazard. Line is not rubbing on anything or flexing to cause failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10622216, filed 2014-08, 95,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and unexpected deployment

   • 34 complaints (9%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 12.6 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2018

   Several owners report the air bag warning light coming on and the driver air bag deploying with the truck parked, rolling slowly in reverse, or while the owner was getting out. Others tie cruise-control and surge symptoms to the clock spring in the steering column. One owner stated the manufacturer said the VIN was covered by an air bag campaign. Reported from about 95,000 to 200,000 miles in this sample, often with the truck stationary or moving only a few miles per hour.

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light behaves normally on start-up, ask whether any air bag campaign work was completed for the VIN through a dealer, and have the steering column clock spring inspected if the cruise control or horn acts up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had been driving my 1997 RAM 1500 4x4 truck, I stop the vehicle, shut off the engine, opened the driver's door and started to step out of the vehicle. As I was half way out of the vehicle the driver's airbag went off, hitting my right shoulder as it deployed. I am very lucky it did not deploy a second sooner. I wadded the bag up and taped the steering wheel back together, I guess the is nothing else I can do. I worry now about my father, whom has a 1995 RAM 1500 4x4 truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10761537, filed 2015-09, 134,368 miles

   “While driving the vehicle the air bag light came on. After reaching my destination about 5 minutes or so later. I pulled into a parking space put the truck in park, turned off the ignition, opened the door and the drivers airbag deployed all by itself. Luckily I was sitting back in the seat starting to exit the vehicle when it deployed. Now I have been with this truck since it was purchased and it has never been in a accident. It actually set for a large part of its life because I drove a company vehicle for my job. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10725443, filed 2015-06, 100,890 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting and internal failure

   • 56 complaints (16%)
   • median 94,450 mi at 8.9 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 1997–2020

   Complaints describe transmissions that shift through gears early, slip in overdrive, or refuse to come out of park, with one owner reporting an internal transmission failure diagnosed at a dealer. Owners cite delayed or harsh downshifts that require heavy throttle to get a response. Repairs were often handled at independent shops, with owners noting the cost. Reported from about 58,000 to 130,000 miles in this sample, with several failures noted in the 60,000–70,000 mile range.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the truck through all gears including overdrive and feel for slipping or delayed engagement, and check transmission fluid condition and service history. The service bulletins in the record concern filter and pan part numbers, not a shift-quality fix.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission will shift through all gears approaching 30mph... It will then need to be almost floored to get the truck to down shift so I can begin to move at a quicker rate of speed. Overdrive slips everytime you press the pedal and sometimes won't go into overdrive. From what I understand the torque converter has faulty clutches causing them to break down. The debris clog up the check valve out of the cooler blocking flow of fluid to the transmission... Therefore causing severe damage as early as 20miles within check valve clogging. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10218148, filed 2008-02, 68,000 miles

   “Consumer called about having problems with the rear end that needs the rtp rebuilt. Manufacture stated that there is nothing they can do. Dealer stated that it needs to be rebuilt. The rear pinion seal leaked differential fluid and the rear differential was very noisy. The dealer noticed that the carrier bearings and ring and pinion were worn.”

   NHTSA complaint #10031766, filed 2003-08, 67,165 miles

Buying note. Inspect the dashboard, rear end, fuel lines and air bag warning light carefully before purchase, and ask for service records on the transmission and brakes. Given the age and mileage on most complaints, a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with these trucks is worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.