10 of the 468 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 are about the doors, latches and locks — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 112,497 miles.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING, MOUNTED SPARE TIRE DROPPED FROM UNDER THE PICKUP TRUCK ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CABLE STORAGE SUSPENSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10376730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
MY FIANCE IS THE OWNER OF A 1997 DODGE 1500 4X4 PICKUP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED/CHANGE 4 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN 2002. I CHECK THE DEFECTS FOR THAT VEHICLE ON YOUR "DEFECT INFORMATION" & SURE ENOUGH THERE IT IS. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. THE HOOD LATCH IS ALWAYS LOOSE & FINALLY CAUSE THE HOOD TO FLY UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH ME & MY 2 CHILDREN. THE TAIL GATE HAS FALLEN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACE BECAUSE THE IT SAGS. AND FINALLY, THE BUMPER HAS JUST ABOUT COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY SINCE WE'VE OWNED IT. I FEEL WE GOT THE BIGGEST LEMON. I EMAILED DODGE DIRECTLY WITH THIS SAME ISSUE & RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. HOPEFULLY, YOUR AGENCY CAN HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANGELA SAYRE.
NHTSA complaint #10176049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
A LONG LIST IS AVAILABLE AT HUMES OF WATERFORD,PA. THE MOST AMAZING FAILURE OF THE VEHICHLE WAS WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING AROUND THE BEND AND I WAS LUCKY THAAT NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING. HUMES(DEALER) FIXED IT BY A HORRIBLE WELD ON THE LATCH.
NHTSA complaint #10116859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY I-70 EAST BOUND, THE HOOD LATCH RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE HOOD FLIPPED BACKWARDS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR REPLACED YET.
NHTSA complaint #10104935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY I-70 EAST BOUND, THE HOOD LATCH RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE HOOD FLIPPED BACKWARDS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR REPLACED YET.
NHTSA complaint #10104936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HOOD LATCH FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10083671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HEADLIGHT SWITCH PROBLEMS FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY OXYGEN SENSORS PAINT CHIPPING AND FADING BURNS OIL WORST THAN ADVERTISED FUEL MILEAGE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR PREMATURELY EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR PREMATURELY
NHTSA complaint #10036777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
THE HOOD LATCH BROKE AND CAUSED THE HOOD TO FLY UP WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER HAD RECIEVED A RECALL FOR THE LATCH FROM CHRYSLER CORP(RECALL 01V04)AND HAD TAKEN IT TO NEOSHO CHRYSLER, IN WHICH THEY FAILED TO PLACE ONE ON AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD SET UP THE APPOINTMENT. THE CONSUMER WOUNDED UP TAKING THE VEHICLE TO HOFFER DODGE WHO THEN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8015800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
INOPERABLE SAFETY LATCH WAS INOPERABLE, AND HAS BEEN. HOOD FLEW OPEN TO 90 DEGREES, AND CAUSED LOSS OF ROAD VISION. I HAD JUST CHECKED FLUID LEVELS AND CLOSED HOOD AT HOME. I DROVE TO A LOCAL MARKET, AND WAS RETURNING ON A SURFACE STREET NEAR MY HOME, WHEN THE HOOD UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED. I NOTICED THAT WHEN I PERFORM MY PERIODIC MAINTENANCE, AND I RELEASE THE HOOD, I CAN OPEN HOOD WITHOUT RELEASING THE SECONDARY LATCH. NOW I KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS, BUT LUCKILY I WASN'T INJURED. BUT, MY INSURANCE COMPANY MUST PICK UP THE TAB AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL POLICY HOLDERS.
NHTSA complaint #738337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.