15 of the 468 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 are about the equipment — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,000 miles.
15
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EQUIPMENT
UPPER DASH PANEL CRACKING INTO 15 TO 20 PIECES AND THE PIECES ARE FALLING INTO INSIDE OF THE DASH. I'VE USED A DASH COVER THAT FITS IN THE WIDOW SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW.
NHTSA complaint #10268889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 97 DODGE RAM THAT STARTED CRACKING AROUND 2004 AND HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. AS A RESULT I HAVE A TERRIBLE LOOKING INTERIOR AND I BELIEVE MY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE A TESTAMENT OF THE DASHBOARDS EXPOSING MY ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE SUN. THE ONLY WAY TO HALFWAY FIX IT I'VE FOUND IS TO MOUNT FORMICA SQUARES(NOT CHEAP MIND YOU) OVER THE WHOLES WITH MOUNTING SQUARES, THOUGH IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. MY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: POWER DOOR LOCKS THAT ONLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND POWER WINDOWS THAT ONLY WORK HALF THE TIME AND A CUPHOLDER THAT HAS FALLEN OUT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND CAUSED ME TO RIG BACK INTO PLACE. OF COURSE BESIDES INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING A LOUSY DASH THAT STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE ON A USUALLY SOUND TRUCK, I AM AFRAID OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS IT CAN BRING I.E.: WORSE ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYING WHEN IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO OR NOT DEPLOYING WHEN THERE IS NEED.
NHTSA complaint #10267173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
FRAGMENTED, BROKEN, AND CRACKED DASHBOARD ON 1997 DODGE RAM 1500, AN ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECTIVE SAFETY PRODUCT, PROVIDING LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES, IN THE EVENT OF CRASH OR ACCIDENT. REPORTED TO DODGE- CHY-JEEP DENIED RECALL STATUS AND DECLINED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS "OUT OF WARRANTY". DENIED APPEAL PROCESS-STATED DECISION WAS FINAL!
NHTSA complaint #10192748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
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.
EQUIPMENT
1997 DODGE RAM 1500 5.2L V8 SINGLE CAB(LARAMIE) DASH IS CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER, CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING ANYMORE AND AIR CONDITIONING GOES IN AND OUT WITH ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10166275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
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. TAKEN TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THIS VEHICLE IS SENSITIVE EVEN A GAS CAP NOT TIGHT WILL TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY ENGINE - NOTHING!
NHTSA complaint #10161737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY GOING OUT. OWN THE TRUCK FOR SINCE 91,000 MILES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT RT HUB ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES. IT SEAMS TO BE GOING OUT AROUND 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS ONE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON 2/04 ,6/03 & 10/02 MILEAGE NOW 141,000 W/ NEW ENGINE THAT ALSO WENT .SPUN A BEARING. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE MANY OF THESE HUB ASSEMBLYS GOING BAD ON 1997 RAMS 5.9 ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10102853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON A TERRIBLE SMELL PERMEATED THE VEHICLE. THIS SMELL OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ODOR.
NHTSA complaint #10075761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN USING THE FIFTH WHEEL IT CAUSED THE TRAILER TO COLLIDE WITH THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRAILER DENTED THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BREAKING A GLASS WINDOW.
NHTSA complaint #10074161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAILER HITCHES
THE TRAILER HITCH BROKE TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10012039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CD PLAYER WAS REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #566423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CONDENSING UNIT WAS REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #566423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ENGINE HAS ALWAYS PINGED ON REGULAR GAS - 5+ TRIPS TO DODGE FOR SERVICE AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT, THEY POURED FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN THE ENGINE WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY TELL YOU NOT TO DO WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHOT AT 50,000 MILES IN OCTOBER, 2001. A MONTH LATER, MY REAR-END WENT UP AT A COST OF $1345. TWO WEEKS LATER, MY TRANSMISSION WENT UP AT A COST OF $1700. IN JUNE OF 2001, MY FUEL PUMP WENT UP AT A COST OF $216. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE REPAIRS DONE AT DODGE ALTHOUGH I PURCHASED DODGE PARTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED ANYTHING WITHOUT EITHER SCREWING UP SOMETHING ELSE OR JUST NOT PROPERLY REPAIRING THE PROBLEMS. I CALLED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR REPAIR PRICES AND THEY WERE MUCH HIGHER THAN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOPS. I WROTE THEM FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THESE REPAIR COSTS BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME BECAUSE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE AT DODGE. THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THEM FOR HELP FIRST BUT I COULD NOT WAIT FOR A RESPONSE FROM THEM BECAUSE I NEEDED MY VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY. I ALSO DID NOT TRUST THEM TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE. OF COURSE, MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. I EVEN TOOK THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR THE ENGINE PING THEY COULD NOT CORRECT AND THEY BROUGHT IN 4 HIGH DOLLAR LAWYERS, SO, OF COURSE, IOST THE CASE. I HAVE NOT YET HAD MY AIR CONDITIONER REPAIRED. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THEM TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPAIR IT WITH SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF I SHOULD TRUST THEM AT THIS POINT. I HAVE SPENT A TOTAL OF $3,331 IN REPAIRS OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS AND AM NOT FINISHED YET. WHAT A LEMON! THEY ALSO COULD NOT PERFORM A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE PROPERLY-THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE OIL PLUG AND THE OIL WAS LEAKING.
NHTSA complaint #759165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
MOPAR RADIO CASSETTE FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #605993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
THE TRUCK WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT A CERTIFICATION LABEL ON THE DOOR, DODGE WILL NOT PUT THE LABEL ON.
NHTSA complaint #842287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.