FaultScore

1997 Dodge RAM 2500 acceleration problems

16 of the 275 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 2500 are about the throttle and cruise control — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 56,500 miles.

B

16

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 12 75.0%
Cruise Control 3 18.8%
Accelerator Pedal 1 6.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Dodge RAM 2500 year

1994 13 9.2%
1995 39 27.7%
1996 18 12.8%
1997 16 11.3%
1998 18 12.8%
2003 10 7.1%
2004 17 12.1%
2006 10 7.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 142,000 miles Laverne, OK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL REMAINED DEPRESSED EVEN AFTER CONTACT REMOVED THEIR FOOT. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE HOOD AND PHYSICALLY ENGAGE THE THROTTLE CABLE IN ORDER FOR THE PEDAL TO RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS FRAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA complaint #10520556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,000 miles Parowan, UT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR ROD BROKE. *AK THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA complaint #10055654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kennewick, WA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE PROCEEDING TO LEAVE THE MALL PARKING LOT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10044344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reading, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

INTERMITTENTLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT RELEASES SUDDENLY IN A WAY WHICH CAUSED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK THE DEALER COMPLETED THE RECALL WORK ON THE VEHICLE IN FALL 2002 AFTER WHICH THE PROBLEM SURFACED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. (STALLED CONTINUALLY) *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10040342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,000 miles Charlestown, NH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN SPEED, MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER. THIS WAS CAUSED BY OIL FROM THE VACUUM PUMP GOING INTO THE SERVO VACUUM LINES. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10020267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Owatonna, MN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DURING COLD WEATHER, WHEN I SET THE CRUISE CONTOL, THE VEHICLE KEEPS ACCELERATING PAST THE SET POINT. IT DOEN'T STOP ACCELERATING AT ALL. I HAVE TO CANCEL THE CRUISE TO MAINTAIN A SPEED. AFTER THE TRUCK WARMS UP (QUITE A LONG TIME) IT FUNCTIONS BETTER, BUT STILL MAY GO FASTER THAN THE SET SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #10000994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bear, DE

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER STATED THAT CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ellensburg, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE WILL BREAK, AND ROUGH IDLE.PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8018439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ellensburg, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE WILL BREAK, AND ROUGH IDLE.PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8018439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE LINKAGE BAR HAS SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE SOLID STEEL LINKAGE CRACKED INT HE MIDDLE, NO ACCELERATION POSSIBLE.*SLC

NHTSA complaint #897674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bear, DE

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VACUUM LEAK IN ENGINE/LOST CRUISE CONTROL/ENGINE WAS KNOCKING AT 30 MPH OR HIGHER, AND LEAKING GASOLINE ON TOP OF MOTOR. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING GAS, AIR VENTS WOULD GO TO DEFROST AUTOMATICALY.

NHTSA complaint #875417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lompoc, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO LOOSE OR SOFT, AND ON A ROUGH TERRAIN PULLING A TRAILER, IT MAKES THE TRUCK START TO HOP. WHEN IT MAKES THE TRUCK HOP, IT CAUSES THE REAR AXLE DRIVELINE SEAL TO LEAK OIL. THE FACTORY INSTALLED THERMOSTAT IS FAULTY AND MAKES THE TEMPERATURE GO UP AND DOWN BY ABOUT 40 DEGREES. HAD IT REPLACED AND IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #851820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallesport, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE PASSED SET SPEED. DEALER REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #849994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL SPEED FLUCTUATES. YH

NHTSA complaint #606288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chico, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF/STARTS UP AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #533372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marana, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRUCK SURGES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-65 MPH. THROTTLE LINKAGE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #526514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Dodge RAM 2500 problems

← Full 1997 Dodge RAM 2500 report