19 of the
468 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 are about the
lighting — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
104,000 miles.
HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN DRIVING OR SOMETIMES FLICKERS ON/OFF WHEN DRIVING, TRACED WIRING AND NOTICED THAT WIRING WAS BURNT AT PIG TAIL CONNECTOR WHICH IS THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AT THE PART CALLED BEZEL... NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH IT UNTIL THIS YEAR AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WIRE BURNT, THE PLASTIC/BEZEL MELTED FIRST RATHER THAN FUSE TRIPPING. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING ANYWHERE BUT IT OCCURRED FIRST WHEN I WAS HEADED TO WORK AT 3AM IN HIGHWAY 74 WHICH IS MOUNTAINOUS AND VERY CURVY ROAD... EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND IS SAFETY RISK.
NHTSA complaint #10812008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 155,000 milesValley, WAFire
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CUT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT TO THE STORE A MOTORIST FLASHED THEIR LIGHTS AT ME WHILE I WAS AT A LIGHT.. CHECKED ALL FUSES AND HAD MECHANIC LOOK IT OVER. THEY NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE STEERING COLUMN IT WILL BE 400$ TO FIX. THE WIRE HARNESS PIN PLUG HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED. ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. I HAD SMELLED BURNING ELECTRIC SMELL. WAS ONLY ABLE TO HOLD HI BEAM LEVER TO KEEP HI BEAMS ENGAGED TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE WITH LIGHTS TILL PROBLEM IS FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10811460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesBean Station, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DASH STARTING CRACKING AND FALLING APART, WIRES GOT MESSED UP AND SOME THINGS DON'T WORK. PARTS OF THE PLASTIC OF THE DASH COME OUT THE VENTS WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HEAT OR AIR. PART WITH THE VIN WENT SOMEWHERE TO PARTS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10659345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesCanton, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE THE NIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT I REPOSITIONED THE STEERING WHEEL CLOSER TO MY LAP AND THE HEADLAMPS WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE I FLICKED ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND WAS ABLE TO SEE AGAIN. BUT IF I HADN'T DONE THAT I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10501032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,500 milesSouth Lake Tahoe, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE TAIL LIGHTS, DASHBOARD LIGHTS, AND EXTERIOR RUNNING LIGHTS ALSO WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,500.
NHTSA complaint #10433972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, OH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10423947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 94,500 milesBotaraton, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ABNORMALLY DIM. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN UNUSUAL YELLOW FILM ON THE HEADLIGHTS LENS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
NHTSA complaint #10386324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesMexico, MOFire
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRES IN THE HOUSING HAD MELTED. AFTER HE PURCHASED THE PARTS FROM THE DEALER, HE PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10297284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weatherford, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 4 WD PICKUP. I HAVE HAD IT FOR 3 YEARS AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS CUTTING ON AND OFF, AND THEN GOING OFF AND NOT COMING BACK ON. I SPENT SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT IT STILL DOES IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT DO THIS TYPE OF WORK FOR A LIVING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE WIRING SOMEWHERE. AND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL VEHICLES( DODGE TRUCKS) WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE NEEDS TO PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND GOT THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I LIKE MANY PEOPLE TAKE MY CHANCES HAVING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10275015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesHomestead, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
DASHBOARD CRACKED/SPLIT INTO PIECES CAUSING WIRES TO BE CUT. LOSS OF HEADLAMPS, TAILLAMPS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. UNKNOWN IF ANY DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. HOW DO I CHECK THAT?
NHTSA complaint #10206769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesHomestead, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DASHBOARD CRACKED/SPLIT INTO PIECES CAUSING WIRES TO BE CUT. LOSS OF HEADLAMPS, TAILLAMPS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. UNKNOWN IF ANY DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. HOW DO I CHECK THAT?
NHTSA complaint #10206769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesHomestead, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
DASHBOARD CRACKED/SPLIT INTO PIECES CAUSING WIRES TO BE CUT. LOSS OF HEADLAMPS, TAILLAMPS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. UNKNOWN IF ANY DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. HOW DO I CHECK THAT?
NHTSA complaint #10206769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hendersonville, NC
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
CONSUMER COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK WITH DEFECTIVE PAINT AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH, REQUEST A RECALL INVESTIGATION. *TS THE PRIMER WAS NOT BONDING TO THE METAL AND AS A RESULT THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND FOUND THAT THE DODGE 3500 SERIES PICKUP WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS SAFETY RELATED.
NHTSA complaint #10139888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 144,000 milesPageland, SC
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: 97 DODGE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT AND THE WIRING BURNED AND MELTED. ALSO HAVE 96 DODGE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10121011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,000 milesAnderson, IN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR IS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONARY AND MOVE AROUND IN THE WIND. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, A SMELL OF FUEL BECAME INCREASING STRONGER AND A WHINING SOUND UPON TAKEOFF BECAME LOUDER. I FOUND THE LEAK AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC! FUEL RAIL NEXT TO THE FIRE WALL ABOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS STARTED AFTER OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE REACHED 1 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. FUEL FALLS DIRECTLY ONTO A REALLY HOT MOTOR. FOG LIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DOES NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10052702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bahama, NC
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
Ooltewah, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF BY THEMSELVES.
NHTSA complaint #10011227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sallis, MS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS ON HIS VEHICLE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8019823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Encinitas, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FRONT LIGHTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #785488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.