11 of the 275 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 2500 are about the body and structure — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 175,000 miles.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE
1997 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH DASH DISINTEGRATION. I BELIEVE THE MATERIAL USED IN THIS PART TO BE DEFECTIVE AND NOW POSES SAFETY ISSUES!
NHTSA complaint #10421360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE 2500 DODGE RAM PICKUP. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING IN 2008. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AS HAIR LINE CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THE DASHBOARD HAS INCREASINGLY GOTTEN WORSE. NOW THE ENTIRE DASH HAS CRACKED WITH LARGE GAPING HOLES. A SECTION APPROXIMATELY 6" X 11" HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN LOOSE AND IS LYING INSIDE THE PANEL. MANY OF THE OTHER SEGMENTS HAVE CRACKED AND SEPARATED CREATING KNIFE LIKE POINTS. THE FAILURE OF THE DASH CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN DURING A COLLISION AS WELL AS A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO WIRING BECOMING EXPOSED TO THE SUNLIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10380160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
MY 1997 DODGE 2500 DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED LEAVING TWO PIECE THAT LOOK LIKE SHARDS OF GLASS. I AM VERY CONCERNED IN A COLLISION THAT THESE PIECES COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUEWITH DODGE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS WITH THE WAY THE DASH CRACKS. THE DASH SPLITS FROM FRONT TO BACK CREATING DAGGER TYPE PIECES. PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10343448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DODGE RAM DASHBOARD CRACKING.
NHTSA complaint #10196427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
I WAS WRITING THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DASHBOARDS ON DODGE RAM PICKUPS IN THE 94-02 MODEL YEARS. I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500 THAT HAS HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD WITH A SERIES FORMING A HOLE AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY VIN WAS NO LONGER SECURED TO THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO DODGE, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT, BUT I WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. THERE WERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE I KNEW THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10190089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
1997 DODGE RAM 2500 DASHBOARD CRACKED.*MR
NHTSA complaint #10120418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH HEARD A LOUD BANG THE REAR END OF THE PICKUP ROSE 4-6". UPON LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THE SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN FROM ITS STORAGE LOCATION UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. UPON INSPECTION THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TIRE ASSEMBLY HAD CORRODED AND ONE EAR (HALF) OF THE BRACKET BUCKLED AND ALLOWED THE TIRE TO FALL.
NHTSA complaint #10106187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRAME HAS CRACKED UNDERNEATH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK DEALER STATES SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #895953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED ON EACH SIDE OF FRAME RAILS, WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. NOTIFIED DEALER, AND ALSO NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER STATES CRACKS ON FRAME RAILS ARE NEAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #891769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THIS IS FIRST DODGE I'VE HAD WITH THIS TRACK BAR DESIGN ON STEERING. PREVIOUS DODGE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE OVER 150,000 MILES ON ORIGINAL STEERING COMPONENTS WITHOUT COMPLAINT USING PAST DESIGN. THE TRACK BAR DESIGN USED ON THESE NEW PICKUPS IS A FLAWED DESIGN PRONE TO FAILURE. DEALER DID NOT HAVE ONE IN STOCK WHEN TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AND FRONT END ASSESSMENT AT THE TIME SHOWED IT TO BE LOOSE AND DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE STEERING TO WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. NEW TIRES AND BRAKES WERE INSTALLED TO ELIMINATE THEM AS A FACTER. ORIGINAL TRACKBAR WAS REPLACED WITH TRW AFTERMARKET COMPONENT. 6/1/99 THIS COMPONENT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH CHRYSLER COMPONENTS. THIS IS THIRD TRACK BAR AT 54,141 MILES. FRONT END ALIGNMENT SHOPS I,VE TAKEN TRUCK TO TELL ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON SITUATION. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO UPGRADE THIS JUNK COMPONENT TO A MORE STABLE PRODUCT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I WILL NOT LET MY HELP DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND MY WIFE ONLY DROVE IT ONE TIME WHEN I WAS SICK BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANYONE HURT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USED TO DRIVING THIS WANDERING VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #716791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOORLOCK CONTROL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #542087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.