1997 Dodge RAM 3500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RAM 3500 years
- About as many complaints as other years 11th of 18 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500. That ranks 11th out of 18 RAM 3500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (26 complaints, 21%), typically at around 42,500 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 12 fires, 9 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 125owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 26 | 21% | 42,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 25 | 20% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 | 14% | 139,275 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 8% | 198,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 7% | 124,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 8 | 6% | 97,305 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 5% | 129,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 5% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 4% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3% | 198,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 3% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 3 | 2% | 152,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2% | 29,455 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 175,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 36,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Dodge RAM 3500 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:headlights:switch
Problem: Vehicle description: model 3500 light duty trucks only. Operation of the headlamps over an extended period of time can result in headlamp switch failure, causing the headlamps or park lamps to go out.
Risk: If the lights fail, a visibility problem could occur, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the headlamp switch including a relay in the park lamp wiring circuit.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Seat back failure (DP03006) — opened Sep 23, 2003, closed Apr 8, 2004.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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, [redacted]) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE…
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.
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…
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.
While driving in heavy rain, water entered and nearly filled the headlamp enclosure causing the halogen lamp to burst.
Other Dodge RAM 3500 years
← 1996 RAM 3500 · 1998 RAM 3500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 RAM 3500 | 366 | 8 |
| 2011 RAM 3500 | 225 | 5 |
| 2010 RAM 3500 | 150 | 9 |
| 2009 RAM 3500 | 105 | 5 |
| 2008 RAM 3500 | 173 | 9 |
| 2007 RAM 3500 | 210 | 11 |
| 2006 RAM 3500 | 257 | 8 |
| 2005 RAM 3500 | 196 | 4 |
| 2004 RAM 3500 | 214 | 4 |
| 2003 RAM 3500 | 286 | 6 |
| 2002 RAM 3500 | 44 | 0 |
| 2001 RAM 3500 | 130 | 1 |
| 2000 RAM 3500 | 58 | 1 |
| 1999 RAM 3500 | 104 | 0 |
| 1998 RAM 3500 | 105 | 0 |
| 1997 | 125 | 1 |
| 1996 RAM 3500 | 124 | 1 |
| 1995 RAM 3500 | 108 | 1 |
See all Dodge RAM 3500 problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
Similar Dodge models
Embed this 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500?
Owners most often report power train, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 26 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RAM 3500 model years, the 1997 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.