1997 Dodge RAM

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

• NHTSA recall #02V161000June 14, 200297,500 vehicles affected

  vehicle speed control

  On certain pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines only, the throttle linkage joints Can corrode and cause the throttle to bind or stick.

  This could potentially result in a loss of throttle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the rod ends and ball studs. Owner notification began july 29, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

• NHTSA recall #01V153000May 8, 2001216,100 vehicles affected

  air bags

  Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 16, 2000 through october 23, 2000; st. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 19, 2000 through october 23, 2000; lago alberto assembly plant ("m" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000; and saltillo assembly plant ("g" in the 11TH VIN position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000. Important: vehicles that have already had the proper clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been excluded from this recall. In addition, 1997-2000 model year vehicles that have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been added to this recall.

  When this occurs, the material could interfere with the clockspring ribbon and cause an open circuit. The driver air bag system will become disabled, and the air bag warning lamp will illuminate on the instrument panel.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began june 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, will also be included in this campaign. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

• NHTSA recall #01V040000February 12, 2001701,000 vehicles affected

  latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch

  On certain pickup trucks originally sold in or currently registered in the following "salt belt" states: maine, new hampshire, vermont, massachusetts, rhode island, connecticut, new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, and missouri. Corrosion of the return spring on the hood secondary latch could cause the mechanism to bind in the "release position."

  If the primary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch. Owner notification began september 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

• NHTSA recall #99V115000May 6, 19998,883 vehicles affected

  power train: clutch assembly

  Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with manual transmission, V10 engines and four-wheel-drive transfer cases. Under sustained maximum rated vehicle load, while driving up a steep grade in four-wheel-drive low range in hot ambient conditions, the local exhaust temperature proximate to the hydraulic clutch line Can generate line temperatures that exceed the temperature limit of the clutch line material. If this condition occurs and the clutch is depressed, the line could rupture.

  The fluid could ignite on the hot exhaust possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.

• NHTSA recall #99V023000February 5, 1999250,845 vehicles affected

  air bags: frontal

  Vehicle description: van and wagon model passenger vehicles. If water/road salt gets on the interior floor of the vehicle in the proximity of the air bag electronic control module (aecm), the aecm Can corrode. The resulting corrosion Can cause the driver side air bag to deploy inadvertently.

  Deployment of the air bag without warning could cause a driver to lose vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash and personal injury.

  Remedy

  Dealers wil replace the aecm with an aecm that is sealed from moisture intrusion.

• NHTSA recall #97V126000August 18, 19976,400 vehicles affected

  unknown or other

  Vehicle description: light duty trucks equipped with diesel engines. The exhaust pipe contacts or is in close proximity to the outer dash panel silencer pad.

  If the exhaust pipe generates sufficient heat, the pad material Can smolder and ignite adjacent materials resulting in a vehicle fire.

  Remedy

  Dealers will remove the dash silencer pad adjacent to the exhaust pipe and replace this pad with a thermal heat shield on the exhaust pipe.

• NHTSA recall #97V084000May 5, 1997960,000 vehicles affected

  power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines

  Under certain high load operating conditions, the transmission fluid temperature Can exceed the melting point of the material used in the connector to retain the fluid line to the transmission.

  When these temperatures occur, the fluid line will not stay connected with the transmission and fluid Can spray onto the exhaust manifold, resulting in smoke or fire.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the high temperature side of the transmission fluid cooler line connector fittings with connectors that incorporate a stainless steel retainer.

Other model years

• 1989 28
• 1991 51
• 1992 58
• 1993 54
• 1994 469
• 1995 611
• 1996 625
• 1997
• 1998 483
• 1999 366
• 2000 147
• 2001 318
• 2002 116
• 2003 53
• 2004 58
• 2005 40
• 2006 25
• 2008 25
• 2010 27