DODGE RAM 3500 · model year

1997 DODGE RAM 3500

153 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997DODGERAM 3500 carries 153 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 12 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 RAM 3500 is exterior lighting:headlights:switch with 16 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (12) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1997 RAM 3500, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

153
Complaints
5
Crashes
12
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

153 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH16
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION7
STEERING7
EXTERIOR LIGHTING7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS4
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
SUSPENSION3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
STRUCTURE3

Recent Complaints

20190325FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. CALLAWAY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (809 S WESTMINSTER AVE, FULTON, MO 65251, (855) 486-1440) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 253,363.

Mileage: 253,363

20180130FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING

THERE IS NO RELAY TO HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSING PIGTAIL TO MELT MULTIPLE TIMES. COULD CAUSE FIRE WHILE DRIVING.... PIGTAIL MELTS AND HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF DURING DRIVE.

Mileage: 70,000

20161221UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED APPROX IN 2007 BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE ON RECALLS. THERE WAS SOMETHING ONE TIME I TOOK INTO FEAR LET ABOUT WINDOW I THINK. RECENTLY I WAS TALKING WITH PREVIOUS OWNER AND FOUND OUT THEY WERE STILL GETTING INFO ON TRUCK OCCASIONAL BUT THREW AWAY AS THEY'D SOLD AND ASSUME I WAS GETTING SAME RECALL NOTICES. I'VE HAD REPLACE TRANSMISSION CAUSE BURN OUT ON LONG TRIP FROM FAIRBANKS APPROX 1 1/2 YEAR AGO LOST MOST FLUID JUST AS I PULL IN TO WASILLA. PAINT HAS PEAKED IN AREA OR TWO AND MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENT YESTERDAY. HAD ISSUES WITH POWER BOAST AS WELL IN PAST ALONG WITH LACK OF HEAT IN WINTER. REPLACED INJECTORS SAME YEAR I PURCHASED

Mileage: 200,000

20161116UNKNOWN OR OTHER

A PASSENGER SAT AN ITEM ON THE DASH, THE DASH SHATTERED AND PIECE FLEW IN MY EYE WHILE DRIVING, I ALMOST WRECKED THE TRUCK ON BUSY INTERSTATE 75. ITEM WASN'T VERY HEAVY AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THE DASH, IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE DASH ROTTED AT ONCE & CAME APART, VERY DANGEROUS.

Mileage: 200,000

20150924EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, WATER ENTERED AND NEARLY FILLED THE HEADLAMP ENCLOSURE CAUSING THE HALOGEN LAMP TO BURST.

Mileage: 98,000

20150731STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

20150731POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

20141007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WAS DRIVING AND HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY WENT OUT. TURNED SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON EACH TIME, BUT WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO BACK OFF. DID SO THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. TURNED ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO GET HOME. THEY WENT OFF A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES IN A 3 MILE TRIP. I FOUND A RECALL ON LIGHT DUTY ONLY, BUT NOTHING ON MY TRUCK. THEY NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS , ALMOST WRECKED THE TRUCK BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AT 1130 AT NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY SON FROM A FOOTBALL GAME. I WAS ON VERY DANGEROUS SWITCH-BACK CURVES WHEN THEY WENT OUT THE THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20141007EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WAS DRIVING AND HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY WENT OUT. TURNED SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON EACH TIME, BUT WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO BACK OFF. DID SO THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. TURNED ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO GET HOME. THEY WENT OFF A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES IN A 3 MILE TRIP. I FOUND A RECALL ON LIGHT DUTY ONLY, BUT NOTHING ON MY TRUCK. THEY NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS , ALMOST WRECKED THE TRUCK BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AT 1130 AT NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY SON FROM A FOOTBALL GAME. I WAS ON VERY DANGEROUS SWITCH-BACK CURVES WHEN THEY WENT OUT THE THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20140704STEERING

POWER STEER/BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED INTO CAB OF TRUCK SATURATING THE CARPETS BEFORE IT COULD BE DISCOVERED. SAFETY FEAR OF CARPET SOAKED WITH POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR

Mileage: 198,000

20140704SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID

POWER STEER/BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED INTO CAB OF TRUCK SATURATING THE CARPETS BEFORE IT COULD BE DISCOVERED. SAFETY FEAR OF CARPET SOAKED WITH POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR

Mileage: 198,000

20130115FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED TWICE WITHIN A NINE YEAR TIME FRAME. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS SETUP LIKE A VACUUM AND THE FUEL CAP ALLOWED AIR TO ENTER INTO THE TANK, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS MANUFACTURED WITH PLASTIC AND DID NOT HAVE A VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

20120827EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 200,000.

Mileage: 32,000

20111103EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SHUT OFF. THE INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH ALSO BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 126,342

20110805AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

OWNER/DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHTHAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND WAS GOING ABOUT THREE MILES PER HOUR. AS HE WAS TURNING WITH HIS ARM ACROSS THE STEERING WHEEL, THE AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S ARMS WERE PUSHED TO THE BACK WINDOW BY THE IMPACT. THE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE. DRIVER'S RIGHT WRIST WAS FRACTURED AND OWNER SUFFERED TEAR IN RIGHT ROTATOR CUFF THAT REQUIRED SURGERY TO CORRECT. HE WILL NOW NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY. DRIVER IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PAIN IN LEFT ROTATOR CUFF AND WANTS TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. DODGE WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *TT

Mileage: 140,000

20110616SUSPENSION:FRONT

I HAVE OWNED A 1995 DODGE 2500 AND A 1997 DODGE 3500. I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH A STEERING PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS. IF A POTHOLE OR RAILROAD TRACKS ARE HIT AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH MY 1995 I SPENT OVER $400.00 IN JUST PARTS REPLACING ALMOST ALL OF THE STEERING PARTS. NOW THIS IS HAPPENING WITH THE 1997. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC AND IN MY OPINION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD END UP RESULTING IN DEATH IF NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT YET ON THE 1997. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT PARTS WEAR OUT ON TRUCKS IT SHOULD NOT PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN A BUMP OF SOME SORT STARTS THE PROCESS. *TR

Mileage: 97,305

20110307CHILD SEAT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 THAT SECURES A COSCO TOURIVA OVERHEAD SHIELD CHILD RESTRAINT, MODEL NUMBER UNKNOWN, MANUFACTURED JUNE 1, 2009. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A METAL COMPONENT OF THE RESTRAINT HARNESS FRACTURED AND THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE.

20101214STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND CHANGING LANES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700.

Mileage: 225,000

20101204STRUCTURE

DASH STARTED TO BRAKE ON MY 1997 DODGE 3500 TRUCK LEAVING SHARP EDGES, I HAVE LOST APPROX 50% OF THE TOP OF DASH EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRING AT PRESENT UNABLE TO USE A/C AS SMALL PIECES OF PLASTIC FLY UP OCCASIONALLY I HAVE A DASH MAT AT THE PRESENT TIME AND STILL CANNOT USE A/C SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE NO-ONE IN FLORIDA IS COMFORTABLE DRIVING WITH NO A/C AND I DON NOT THINK I SHOULD DRIVE WITH A MAT COVERING THE DASH FOR THE NEXT 5 OR SO YEARS I HAVE COMPLAINED TO DODGE AND THEY JUST IGNORE THE FACT THEY USE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20101204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DASH STARTED TO BRAKE ON MY 1997 DODGE 3500 TRUCK LEAVING SHARP EDGES, I HAVE LOST APPROX 50% OF THE TOP OF DASH EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRING AT PRESENT UNABLE TO USE A/C AS SMALL PIECES OF PLASTIC FLY UP OCCASIONALLY I HAVE A DASH MAT AT THE PRESENT TIME AND STILL CANNOT USE A/C SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE NO-ONE IN FLORIDA IS COMFORTABLE DRIVING WITH NO A/C AND I DON NOT THINK I SHOULD DRIVE WITH A MAT COVERING THE DASH FOR THE NEXT 5 OR SO YEARS I HAVE COMPLAINED TO DODGE AND THEY JUST IGNORE THE FACT THEY USE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

Compare 1997DODGERAM 3500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 have?
The 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 has 153 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 12 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 DODGE RAM 3500?
The most-complained component for the 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.