1997 Dodge RAM 1500 Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 361 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,100miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the seats of the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500, 2% of the 361 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,100 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My truck was at a stand still when I was rear-ended by another vehicle. At point of impact, both the driver and passenger side front seats broke and reclined to the rearward position. Both can be put in the forward and back to the rearward position (totally reclined) by simply pushing it from front to back. The drivers side seat broke to the point that only a small part of the hinge on the right side of the seat remains to hold the backrest to the bottom of the seat. Both seats failed to hold up to the impact! …”
NHTSA complaint #10105847, filed 2005-01, 149,000 miles“Seats will not recline nor flip forward. This has caused a back seat passenger to fall getting out of the 1997 Dodge ram becoming injured. Vehicle misses, stutters and engine pulses at 50 MPH. Has been doing this since first onwer. Transmission rebuilt and still does it. Dealer can not find problem after spending $900.00 on a tune-ep and diagnostics. Check engine light stays on. Doing since first owner. Dealer checks, charged hundreds of dollars and within 8 hours of use light comes back on and stays light. Occasionally it will blink then remain on. …”
NHTSA complaint #10161737, filed 2006-07, 11,200 miles“When driving driver's side seat collapsed to reclining position. Consumer has contacted dealer; the dealer has replaced seat track and anchor to correct the problem. Please provide any further details.”
NHTSA complaint #8002677, filed 2002-01“The vehicles seat recliner utilizes only one recliner mechanism rather than dual mechanisms. The consumer believes this makes the mechanism prone to failure.”
NHTSA complaint #10027184, filed 2003-07“An electrical short occurred underneath driver's seat, possibly due to motor burning up. Caused an electrical fire directly beneath the driver's seat. Consumer disconnected battery to stop the fire.”
NHTSA complaint #862945, filed 2000-06Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 3 | 0% |
| 2009 | 8 | 1% |
| 2008 | 1 | 0% |
| 2007 | 2 | 0% |
| 2006 | 3 | 0% |
| 2005 | 8 | 1% |
| 2004 | 4 | 0% |
| 2003 | 5 | 0% |
| 2002 | 4 | 0% |
| 2000 | 2 | 0% |
| 1999 | 3 | 0% |
| 1998 | 4 | 1% |
| 1997 | 6 | 2% |
| 1996 | 7 | 2% |
| 1995 | 3 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500
70 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
56 complaintsBrakes
53 complaintsFuel system
29 complaintsOther or unknown
28 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsSteering
23 complaintsSuspension
21 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaintsTires
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology