FaultScore

1997 Dodge RAM 1500 tire problems

16 of the 468 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 are about the tires — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 91,000 miles.

F

16

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Tires 12 75.0%
Tread/Belt 2 12.5%
Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire 2 12.5%

Tires across every Dodge RAM 1500 year

1995 14 5.1%
1996 12 4.4%
1997 16 5.9%
1998 27 9.9%
1999 18 6.6%
2000 13 4.8%
2001 35 12.8%
2002 18 6.6%
2003 15 5.5%
2004 19 7.0%
2005 13 4.8%
2007 13 4.8%
2008 11 4.0%
2009 39 14.3%
2011 10 3.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 91,000 miles Wheeling, WV

TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 EQUIPPED WITH A FIRESTONE DESTINATION TIRES, SIZE P265/75/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE FAILED AND CAUSED THE RIM AND ROTORS TO BECOME DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,088.

NHTSA complaint #10554389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Strafford, CT Crash 1 injured

TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 EQUIPPED WITH TOYO NETO ALL TERRAIN TIRES SIZE 285/75/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED ON ALL FOUR TIRES. WHIE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND ONE INJURY WAS REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO SEND IN ONE OF THE TIRES FOR INSPECTION. THE DOT NUMER AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 8/30/11

NHTSA complaint #10415212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,000 miles Phoenixville, PA

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

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.

at 160,658 miles Warwick, RI

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DEFINITE DAKOTA TIRES, (NA) SIZE LT26575R16 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES CONTINUED TO FLATTEN. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKING AT THE OUTSIDE BEAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE TIRE FAILURE. PEP BOYS OFFERED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AT THE COST OF $246.38 FOR LABOR AND OTHER FEES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT PEP BOYS SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES FOR FREE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,658. UPDATED 12-04-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08.

NHTSA complaint #10247113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,586 miles Port Jefferson Station, NY

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

LTR FM CONSUMER WHO (NY) PURCHASED 2-BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE TIRES FOR HIS DODGE TRUCK OWNER HAD TO REPLACE TIRES DEFECT FWD TO NHTSA. *TS TIRE SHOWED SIGNS OF WEAR AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS OF USE. *NM

NHTSA complaint #10157373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Jefferson Station, NY

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER 1997 RAM 1500 FIRESTONE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED TWO OF HIS TIRES SEPARATED WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10154122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bahama, NC

TIRES

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.

Baltimore, MD Crash

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

BRAKE FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE SEAT BELT SAVED THE CONSUMER'S LIFE. MR PH. ALSO THE SPARE TIRE WAS BALD AND IT TOOK 3 MONTHS TO GET IT REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10024079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westminster, CA

TIRES

THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10014829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marlette, MI

TIRES

BLOW-OUT OCCURED, TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE OTHER THREE TIRES PURCHASED ON THE SAME DATE HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS AT THE AREA WHERE TREAD MEETS THE SIDE WALL. TIRES NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON THEM. *AK (TIRESIZE: P245/75/16)

NHTSA complaint #752069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hilo, HI

TIRES

UNABLE TO STOP TRUCK SAFELY. BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR,TRUCK COMES TO STOP VERY,VERY SLOWLY.LT225/75R STANDARD SIZE TIRES REPLACED W/SPORT APPEARANCE PACHAGE P265/75R16 BY MANUFACTURER. TIRES TOO LARGE FOR BRAKE SYSTEM?

NHTSA complaint #736518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Independence, OR

TIRES

OUR FIRST BLOW OUT CAME ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OF OUR NEW DODGE RAM VAN. AFTER RETURNING TO A GOODYEAR DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE ONE TIRE. SINCE THAT DATE UP UNTIL JULY 1999, I HAD 11 FAILED TIRES. EITHER BLOW OUTS OR FLATS. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALER MARK THOMAS MOTORS, CHRYSLER, MARK III CONVERSION, GOODYEAR (THIS PROCESS TOOK ABOUT 4 MONTHS), THEY AGREED MAYBE MY TIRES HAD A PROBLEM. THEY AGREED TO PAY 200.00 TOWARDS A 500.00 BILL TO REPLACE THE TIRES. I HAD NO CHOICE SINCE I REALLY WANTED TO DRIVE MY NEW VAN. THEY SAID THE TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN TO LIGHT TO BE PUT ON THE HEAVY DUTY VAN. I HAVE SINCE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REPLACEMENTS, ALSO GOODYEAR WRANGLERS. THESE WERE TO BE FOR HEAVY DUTY WEAR. THEY ARE FAR FROM WEARING WELL. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT NONE AS SERIOUS AS THE TIRE PROBLEM. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS I WAS TOLD BY ALL AGENCIES THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST REPORTED THIS ORIGINAL TIRE PROBLEM. IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD ALONG WITH A FINAL THREAT TO CALL MY ATTORNEY BEFORE I GOT ANY ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE FIRESTONE PROBLEM..I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WANT TO BRING THIS PROBLEM OUT TO THE PUBLIC..MY CHILDREN, THEIR FRIENDS, MY HUSBAND AND MY LIFE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. TO BAD GOODYEAR DOES NOT FEEL THE SAME. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MY DEALER AGAIN AS OF TODAY 112100. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND OBVIOUS CONCERNS IN THIS MATTER. KAREN BACA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA complaint #736667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Agua Dulce, CA

TIRES

ON MAY22 A TIRE SEPARATED. GOODYEAR WAS NOTIFIED, AN OTHER FAILED ON OCTOBER 3. TIRE WAS ADJUSTED AT GOODYEAR DEALER. OCTOBER 22, THE TIRE SEPARATED ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE TRED SEPARATED AND FLEW INTO THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE TRAVELING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN, A YOUNG MOTHER, AND 2 SENIOR CITIZENS, PLUS A VERY VALUABLE JUNIOR RODEO HORSE. A FRIEND CAME BY AND HELPED US GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. GOODYEAR WAS NOTIFIED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2000 THAT THESE TIRES WERE MALFUNCTIONING, AND DID NOT DISCLOSE TO US THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THEY WERE TOLD THAT WE HAUL. HORSES AND CHILDREN, AND CHOSE TO KEEP IT A SECRET. THESE CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED A TERRIBLE TRAUMA BEING OUT ON THE FREEWAY WITH THIS TIRE FAILING AND CAUSING A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN IT HIT THE FENDER, CAUSING DAMAGE TO IT. THIS IS A VERY SCARY THING. GOODYEAR ADVERTISES THAT THEIR TIRES ARE SAFE FOR FAMILIES. NOT TRUE. (TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )

NHTSA complaint #735210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sebastian, FL Crash 1 injured

TIRES

BELT SEPARATED ON THIS STEEL TEX 16 WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL RUNNING THE TRUCK INTO A DITCH. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ONE INJURY DUE TO INCIDENT. *AK *MJS

NHTSA complaint #872070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apex, NC

TIRES

THIS PROBLEM IS IN REGARDS TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: INTERMINTENT SURGE,BUCK,DRIVELINE CLUNK, OR TRANSFER HARSHNESS. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN # 96-40, NHTSA ITEM # SBO49106. I HAVE BEEN ESPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS FOR SOME TIME I HAVE APPROACHED 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS ,HENDRICK DODGE AND BUMPOUS DODGE. THEY RECEIVED MY TRUCK WITH 29,000 MILES ON IT CONTINUED TO DRIVE TILL WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM IT HAS LOOSENED THE THE REAR SHACKLES CAUSING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSE EXTREME WEAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO SATISFACTION WITH THE EITHER DEALERSHIP THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON. IN THE PAST I HAD TO RETURN IT 7 TIMES TO HAVE A WATER LEAK FIXED, OF COURSE NO DOCUMENTATION WAS GIVEN TO ME, AT THE TIME IT NEVER OCCURED TO ME THAT THIS WOULD BE USEFUL. SMART ON THEIR PART. I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP DEALING WITH THIS MATTER, AS I AM ONE INDIVIDUAL WITH VERY LITTLE POWER AND RECOURSE. THANK YOU KEVIN CARLSON

NHTSA complaint #714619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Towanda, PA

TIRES

TIRES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK HAVE ALL GONE FLAT (7 TIRES). THE INFORMATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR RECOMMENDS (LT225/75R16 TIRES), THE TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE TRUCK ARE (P245/75R16).

NHTSA complaint #522006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 problems

← Full 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 report