1997 Dodge RAM VAN Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RAM VAN years
- Fewer complaints than other years 6th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge RAM VAN. That ranks 6th out of 9 RAM VAN model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (3 complaints, 19%), typically at around 30,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 16owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Dodge RAM VAN 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 19% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 19% | 78,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 19% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 19% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 13% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 13% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 6% | 220,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 6% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 6% | 126,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 6% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Dodge RAM VAN recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 Dodge RAM VAN.
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
- Safety belt cinching latch plate (PE02082) — opened Nov 6, 2002, closed Apr 23, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
This van was a great running vehicle, and had never had any problems other than the normal for a van of this year. My grandson and i were headed out of our neighborhood and i started smelling gas. I thought maybe one of the neighbors had some gas poured out or something. I continued to drive about…
The front frames rot out on steering side and it isn't 1 of them it is almost all of them. Toyota recalled tacomas for this and i want my frame fixed or replaced. This happens early in the life of the vehicles. They have almost gotten away with it . But these are still on the road and could kill…
Traveling on interstate right rear tire tread completely separated from tire and bent fender. *jb
Headlight lens increasingly cloudy to the point of extremely impaired vision. I have contacted chrysler corp and they are not interested in correcting the problem. This is 1997 dodge ram van, [xxx]. *jb updated 07/18/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5…
Please note this was a rented 15 passenger dodge van i'm 90% sure it was a 97 if not it was from 1995 to 2000 in model year i reported it to dodge. Just recently i became aware of your site and decided to report it to you also.*ak 1 normal driving boston to eastern kentucky 2 front disc brake hose…
Other Dodge RAM VAN years
← 1996 RAM VAN · 1998 RAM VAN →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 RAM VAN | 16 | 0 |
| 2002 RAM VAN | 14 | 1 |
| 2001 RAM VAN | 33 | 1 |
| 2000 RAM VAN | 29 | 0 |
| 1999 RAM VAN | 47 | 0 |
| 1998 RAM VAN | 22 | 1 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996 RAM VAN | 18 | 0 |
| 1995 RAM VAN | 14 | 0 |
See all Dodge RAM VAN problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge RAM VAN?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, steering, suspension problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Dodge RAM VAN?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 Dodge RAM VAN a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RAM VAN model years, the 1997 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.