1997 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

View complaints related to 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 310 complaints submitted for the 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - KETTERING, OH

    1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP DASH BOARD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THIS IS A REPLACEMENT OF A PREVIOUS DASHBOARD THAT HAD ALSO CRACKED. FIRST DASHBOARD CRACKED AFTER WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED DUE THE A CRACK. WINDSHIELD COMPANY STATED WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM STRESS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - MEXICO, MO

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRES IN THE HOUSING HAD MELTED. AFTER HE PURCHASED THE PARTS FROM THE DEALER, HE PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - SAN FERNANDO, CA

    1997 DODGE 1500 RAM TRUCK, CRACKED DASH BOARD IN SEVERAL PLACES. MANY OWNERS NEW AND OLD ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. DANGEROUS FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND WIRING ISSUES IN DASHES. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - LENOIR, NC

    1997 DODGE RAM 1500 - TAN INTERIOR - 2 CRACKS OPENED UP FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE DASHBOARD ABOUT 1/8" WIDE. THIS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT, WITH NO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND NO CHANGES IN HABITS. NOTHING WAS PLACED ON THE DASHBOARD. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LOCATION OF THE CRACKS WILL INTERFERE WITH OR DAMAGE THE AIR BAG IF IT IS DEPLOYED, NOT TO MENTION THE SHRAPNEL THAT WOULD BE CREATED BECAUSE THE CRACK IS SO CLOSE TO THE AIRBAG AREA ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS ON A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - HEMET, CA

    WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK THERE WERE MINOR CRACKS IN THE DASH NOTHING TO NOTICEABLE AND I DON'T USE ARMOR ALL OR ANY SILICONE BASED PRODUCT ON IT AND THE CRACKS HAVE WORSENED MAINLY ON THE DRIVERSIDE AND ON THE PASSENGERSIDE THE DASH IS CRACKING OVER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND THE WINDOWS ARE 5% TINTED AND A WINDOW SHADE IS ALWAYS USED DAY OR NIGHT PUT I'VE READ UP ON THE PROBLEM AND ITS ON ALL MODELS 94 AND UP AND IT MAKES NO SENSE TO BUY A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER WHEN THE SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED TO MAKE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - WEATHERFORD, TX

    I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 4 WD PICKUP. I HAVE HAD IT FOR 3 YEARS AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS CUTTING ON AND OFF, AND THEN GOING OFF AND NOT COMING BACK ON. I SPENT SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT IT STILL DOES IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT DO THIS TYPE OF WORK FOR A LIVING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE WIRING SOMEWHERE. AND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL VEHICLES( DODGE TRUCKS) WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE NEEDS TO PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND GOT THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I LIKE MANY PEOPLE TAKE MY CHANCES HAVING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - HUMBLE, TX

    UPPER DASH PANEL CRACKING INTO 15 TO 20 PIECES AND THE PIECES ARE FALLING INTO INSIDE OF THE DASH. I'VE USED A DASH COVER THAT FITS IN THE WIDOW SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO

    I BOUGHT A 1997 DODGE RAM SLT 1500. IT IS USED AND HAS 135,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, I LIKE THE TRUCK AND I DON'T WANT TO SELL IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE FOR MY FAMILY AND I TO BE IN. IT HAS CRACKS ALL IN THE DASHBOARD...AND THEY ARE GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY. I CAN ACTUALLY SEE WIRES AND THE INTERNAL PART OF MY DASH COMPONENTS. IT SQUEAKS AND I CAN ALSO SEE STEEL MOUNTING POST THAT LOOK REALLY DANGEROUS FOR A SUDDEN STOP OR EVEN I MINER FENDER BENDER. IT IS ACTUALLY CAVING IN....AND COMPLETELY DETERIORATING. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BY DODGE AS FAR AS I KNOW. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND THERE IS NO RECALL THAT I CAN FIND...AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE ORIGINAL..OR EVEN A SECOND OWNER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS...NOR DO CHRYSLERS JOB...AND MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE FOR DRIVING. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE...AND NOT ONLY IS IT UNSIGHTLY...BUT IS A HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO RISE CONCERN IN ALL DODGE OWNERS.I AM REQUESTING A REPLACEMENT DASH FOR MY VEHICLE EITHER FROM DODGE...OR A SAFETY CERTIFIED AFTER MARKET DASH THAT WILL NOT DO THIS AGAIN!!!! THIS IS ALSO THE SECOND DASH TO DO THIS ON THIS VEHICLE...THAT IS APPARENT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - EDWARDS, MS

    I HAVE A 97 DODGE RAM THAT STARTED CRACKING AROUND 2004 AND HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. AS A RESULT I HAVE A TERRIBLE LOOKING INTERIOR AND I BELIEVE MY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE A TESTAMENT OF THE DASHBOARDS EXPOSING MY ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE SUN. THE ONLY WAY TO HALFWAY FIX IT I'VE FOUND IS TO MOUNT FORMICA SQUARES(NOT CHEAP MIND YOU) OVER THE WHOLES WITH MOUNTING SQUARES, THOUGH IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. MY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: POWER DOOR LOCKS THAT ONLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND POWER WINDOWS THAT ONLY WORK HALF THE TIME AND A CUPHOLDER THAT HAS FALLEN OUT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND CAUSED ME TO RIG BACK INTO PLACE. OF COURSE BESIDES INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING A LOUSY DASH THAT STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE ON A USUALLY SOUND TRUCK, I AM AFRAID OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS IT CAN BRING I.E.: WORSE ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYING WHEN IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO OR NOT DEPLOYING WHEN THERE IS NEED. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 DODGE RAM 1500
    - COWETA, OK

    THE DASH ON MY 1997 DODGE RAM AND 2000 DODGE RAM HAVE CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THEY NOT ONLY HAVE CRACKED BUT THEY LOOK LIKE JIG SAW PUZZLES. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE