14 of the 513 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM are about the body and structure — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,000 miles.
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE
97 DODGE RAM CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DASH HAS MANY CRACKS AND THE FRONT SPEAKERS ARE NOT WORKING AND WITH SEVERAL UNEXPLAINED ELECTRICAL ISSUES**CC
NHTSA complaint #10193171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE 1997 DOGE RAM DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING, AND NOW THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10191167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD HAS BEGUN TO CRACK. THE CRACK TRAVELS FROM THE WINDSHIELD DOWN TO THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD HAS CONTINUED TO CRACK INTO TINY PIECES. THE ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 169,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE DEALER CONTACT INFORMATION IS ALSO UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10190339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINING WEATHER OR DRIVING IN FAST SPEED THERE IS A CONSTANT LEAK THROUGH WEATHER STRIPS OF BOTH DOORS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8011928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE, FRAME ON PASSENGER'S SIDE CRACKED WHERE FRONT COIL SPRING WERE ATTACHED.
NHTSA complaint #8007388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. PART ON PASSENGER SIDE IS LOOSE. BOLTS FELL OUT OF BUMPER MOUNTING BRACKETS. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8000637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING WELDS TO THE BODY OF THE DOORS ARE COMING UNDONE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #855248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IT TAKES TRUCK 190 FEET TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #849631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE SQUEAKING/GRINDING NOISES & NOT GRABBING TO STOP VEHICLE. ALSO, STRUCTURE SEAMS CAUSE LEAK OF WATER INSIDE OF VEHICLE/STEERING PUMP PIN HAD SHEARED OFF & THE POWER STEERING HAD SEIZED UP, AND WATER PUMP FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #843679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CENTER CONSOLE REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #544431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER HAS HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH WIND/ROAD NOISE, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES. CONSUMER BELIEVES PROBLEM IS A 'KNOWN' DEFECT AND IS BEING CONCEALED BY MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #544795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER EXPRIENCING PROBLEM WIT DOOR NOT SECURING WITHOUT SLAMMING DOOR SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE DOOR IS CLOSED. DOOR APPEARS TO BE TOO LARGE FOR DOOR PANEL. BY SLAMMING DOOR, IT ALSO CAUSES ELECTRONIC COMPONENT WITHIN DOOR TO LOOSEN, ELECTRIC WINDOWS MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE IT'S DISLODGING FROM INSIDE OF DOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFOMED COSUMER NOTHING COULD BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #828485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DEFECT IN DRIVER'S DOOR CAUSES WINDSHIELD TO BUCKLE UP FROM THE PRESSURE OF THE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #520440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
FIRE STARTED IN INSULATION ON FIREWALL CAB; MATERIAL CLOSE TO EXHAUST PIPE CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #522564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.