31 of the 513 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 43,825 miles.
31
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
PASSENGER EXTERIOR MIRROR WILL NOT STAY LOCKED IN POSITION AND FOLDS BACK WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10056259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
THE SIDE MIRRORS FAILED TO STAY IN THE POSITION IN WHICH THEY WERE SET IN. *JB. BOTH SIDE MIRRORS FOLDED AGAINST THE DOORS WHICH WAS CAUSED BY VARIOUS WIND CURRENTS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES.
NHTSA complaint #10014728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK. AFTER CONTACTING DEALER.*AK CONSUMER HAD THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 20,000 MILES. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WAS LOOSE. BECAUSE OF THE NOISE IN THE STEERING WHILE TURNING, THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REMOVED AND THE STEERING WHEEL REINSTALLED. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. REAR SPEAKER WAS INOPERATIVE AND REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8015642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS TURN INWARD FACING THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE, AND WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE SET POSITION. WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRS THE DRIVER CAN NOT DETERMINE THE DISTANCE OF ON COMING TRAFFIC AND CAN NOT SAFELY CHANGE LANES. *JB
NHTSA complaint #8010398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
SIDE MIRROR MOTIONS BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8004807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WOULD FOLD IN, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN CHANGING LANES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #899015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
DAMAGE FROM RAIN LEAKAGE OF BACK GLASS TO VEHICAL'S INTERIOR HEADLINER AND CARPET.
NHTSA complaint #751161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
MIRRORS FLOP BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE & USE THEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE DODGE RAM BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT -NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THEM CORRECTLY .
NHTSA complaint #747061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
REAR VIEW MIRRORS MOUNTED ON BOTH DOORS OF VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN ONE POSITION AND "FLOPPED IN WIND". DEALERSHIP WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER IN REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #890496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #741201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
SIDE MIRRORS FOLD BACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP ADJUSTED.
NHTSA complaint #739582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
THE OUTSIDE PASSENGER MIRROR FREELY GOES BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER STATED TO REPAIR THIS, A KIT NEEDED TO BE ORDERED, THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND THE DEALER SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 TO 45MPH EXTERIOR MIRRORS STARTED TO FOLD INWARD. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO SOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #873683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
THE FAILURE OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE MIRROR SUPPORT ARM BECAME LOOSE INTERNAL TO THE CONNECTION BRACKET ON THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #730966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
THE FAILURE OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE MIRROR SUPPORT ARM BECAME LOOSE INTERNAL TO THE CONNECTION BRACKET ON THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #730966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHENEVER DRIVING EXTERIOR MIRRORS WOULD TURN INWARD. DRIVER WOULD NEED TO USE INTERIOR MIRRORS TO SEE OTHER VEHICLES ON SIDE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OVER 35,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #870222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM TRUCK AND THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS OUTSIDE MIRROR WILL NOT HOLD INTO POSITION (THEY SWING IN TOWARDS THE DOOR GLASS WHILE DRIVING). I CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER IN MY AREA AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A CONCERN WITH THE MIRRORS, IN FACT THEY TOLD ME THAT DODGE REDESIGNED THE MIRRORS FOR THAT REASON. THE REPLACEMENT MIRRORS ARE THE OLD DESIGN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IN A MATTER OF TIME THE NEW ONES WILL DO THE SAME THING. BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER I WOULD HOPE THAT THE MIRRORS COULD BE RETROFIT TO THE NEW STYLE OR A PERMANENT FIX BE MADE.
NHTSA complaint #724969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S MANUAL MIRRORS MOVES INWARD CONSTANTLY WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE REAR VIEW TO THE DRIVER . THIS MAY CAUSE A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #865747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRRORS MOVE RAPIDLY WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVING AT 45 MPH OR MORE.
NHTSA complaint #865703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
BOTH SIDEVIEW MIRRORS COLLAPSE INWARD WHEN TRAVELING AT 60MPH.
NHTSA complaint #718305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
1. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. AFTER KEEPING THE TRUCK FOR 34 DAYS, DEALERSHIP FINALLY PUT IN A REBUILT TRANNY. 2. DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RENDERING IT USELESS. DEALER BLAMED IT ON THE BUG SHIELD. 3. BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. 4. FRONT WHEELS MAKE CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE...SUSPECT FAILED BEARINGS. 5. STEERING WHEEL MADE CRACKING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO LEFT OR RIGHT...TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. TRUCK IS TOTAL PIECE OF JUNK!
NHTSA complaint #713221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WASHER COMPARTMENT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
OUTER MOLDING FOR FRONT WINDSHIELD MELTED, REAPPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #544431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE FRONT CORNER POSTS ARE EXTREAMLY WIDE, TO THE POINT BLOCKING VISION. ALTHOUGH I HAVE TRAINED MYSELF TO MOVE MY BODY TO BE ABLE TO SEE AROUND THEM I HAVE COME CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT A COUPLE OF TIMES. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM OR DESIGN FLAW. IF SOMEONE DRIVING ONE OF THESE TRUCKS SAYS "BUT I DIDN'T SEE THE OTHER CAR". IT MAY VERY WELL BE TRUE. I HAVE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS WONDERFULL TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #703913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATE WHEN A SPEED OD 35 MPH OR HIGHER IS REACHED. IT CONSTANTLY VIBRATES FROM THAT SPEED ON, AND VIBRATES TO THE POINT THAT IT IS ESSENTIALLY USELESS - YOU CANNOT SEE IN IT. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP (PALMER DODGE) APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES, AND ALSO TO SOUTH TOWNE DODGE. EACH DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE MIRROR AND RETIGHTENED ALL NUTS, BOLTS, SCREWS, ETC., BUT THE VIBRATION WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD US THAT IT OCCURS ON ALL TRUCKS FROM 1994 TO THE PRESENT, AND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION YET. PLEASE HELP ME BE ABLE TO SEE BEHIND ME WHEN I DRIVE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint #700758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD BONDING/SEALANT WOULD LEAK & RUN DOWN THE SIDE EDGES OF THE VEHICLE TO THE FENDER. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT.
NHTSA complaint #830041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO VIBRATION, HOWEVER STILL CONTINUES TO VIBRATE.
NHTSA complaint #537958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 50 MPH AND UP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WIPE WINDOW CLEAN, CAUSING VERY POOR VISIBILTY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS.
NHTSA complaint #820253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 85MPH WHEN HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION. CONSUMER THEN SAW GLASS FALLING TO THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #815663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHENEVER IT SNOWS OR IT IS COLD, ICE BLOCKS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE.
NHTSA complaint #810774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.