10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,969 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Dodge Ram 1500 engine problems

engine problem

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1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #31

Aug 142011

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 197,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving 97 Dodge Ram my daughter almost wrecked due to vehicle sudden surge, stall and shut down causing loss of power steering and other control of vehicle. Also happened to me multiple times when I test drove it. Subsequent events found to include air bag light illumination, cruise control light on steering wheel comes on and vehicle surges with RPM's up to @ 2,000 before full stall. Code P0123 on obdii scanner. Sensor replaced and still happening. Stopped problem completely by disconnecting the clock spring connections. Researched other complaints and found many listed under vehicle speed control, clock spring, airbag, electrical etc covering many years and including injuries. NHTSA needs to cross reference these complaints and connect the dots as there is no place I can find to type in the actual component name "clock spring" which is an extremely poor setup for a complaint site. Also limiting mileage to 3 numbers is ridiculous. Speed ranged from barely moving @ 2mph to 45mph. Somebody is going to get killed if they haven't already.

- Lithia, FM, USA

problem #30

Nov 012010

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
Tonight my throttle got stuck on my 97 Dodge Ram 1500 (all stock parts). After stopping at a light, I pulled out, then accelerated to 50 mph, and let off the gas; but the truck kept accelerating. The throttle was stuck wide open, so pressed the brake, put the truck in neutral, shut off the engine and pulled over to the side of the road. It seems to be linked to the cruise control (which I never had on), or some sort of binding in the firewall where the cable links to the pedal in the cabin. Everything seems to be working fine now, but I'm still going to investigate this further.

- Eatonville, WA, USA

problem #29

Apr 132005

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40 miles
A long list is available at humes of waterford, pa. The most amazing failure of the vehichle was when the driver's door flew open while driving around the bend and I was lucky thaat no oncoming traffic was coming. Humes(dealer) fixed it by a horrible weld on the latch.

- Harborcreek, PA, USA

problem #28

Jun 012004

Ram 1500

  • 94,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While sitting at a gas station on a slight incline vehicle rolled backwards about thirty feet and collided with a fuel pump. The fuel pump was demolished, and fuel flooded the immediate area. Vehicle suffered scratches, a bent bumper and several dents.

- Chetek, WI, USA

problem #27

Mar 172004

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,000 miles
I own a 1997 Dodge 1500 Ram P.U. I started my truck up towarm up. I then backed out of the drive. When I put truck in drive, it stalled. I started it back up and put it in drive again. The engine was going full throttle and it took off like a rocket. I cut the enging to look for a problem. Everything appeared ok so I started it up again and put it in gear. The engine was running so fast that even though I held the brake peddal to the floor the engine pulled me right thru a stop sign. I played with the gas peddal and it began to run normal. I then took it to my service station and had them look at it. They advisd me that it was a dealer problem and they could do nothing. I then proceeded towards to the freeway when it suddenld accelerated again. I then brought the truck home and am scared to drive it. I called Chrysler Corp. To see what the problem may be and they said they have never had any complaints about this and yet I have found several same or simular problems listed on your site. I also have had a problem with the cruise control. While driving on the freeway it suddenly stopped functioning, and hasen't worked since. Again Chrysler claime to not be aware of any problems. The exact same thing with the cruise control happened on my 1998 Plymouth van and it was taken care of under recall. It appears that either you are not relaying all these complaints to Chrysler Corp., or they are living in a vacuum.

- Fairview Park, OH, USA

problem #26

Feb 191999

Ram 1500 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
The vehicle suddenly accelerated out of control, which resulted in a collision/injury. There was a recall regarding the issue.

- Getzville, NY, USA

problem #25

Nov 012002

Ram 1500 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The consumer had a recall #B15, but the throttle was sticking at times. The consumer found out that the bracket for the bell crank was missing, causing the linkages to twist. The accelerator was sticking, and found the tps wiring bracket not bottled up, the tps bolts were loose and rear half of the bell crank were broken causing the bell crank to pull sideways, binding the throttle. The back part of the bell crank was replaced. Scc

- Manning , SC, USA

problem #24

Oct 222002

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
The consumer hasn't recieved recall service to replace the throttle linkage due to lack of parts. (NHTSA#02V161000).

- Ridgecrest, CA, USA

problem #23

Aug 222002

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
Dealer refused to repair recall 02V161000 throttle linkage. Consumer has made an appointment with another dealer.

- Manon, AL, USA

problem #22

Jun 102002

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving, throttle linkage has broken in half in same location. Dealer has been notified. Mechanic has repaired this on several occasions; however unable to remedy this problem. Consumer states problem was covered under recall 02V161.

- Alburn, WA, USA

problem #21

Jun 022002

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After starting vehicle consumer shifted to reverse, suddenly vehicle accelerated and engine revved. Consumer applied brakes, which did not stop vehicle. After about 100 feet consumer shut off engine, and passenger shifted to park. While accelerating on its own, the vehicle damaged the garage doors and part of the house.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

problem #20

Feb 012002

Ram 1500 Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 55-60 mph in 5 th gear engine revved, but vehicle started to slow down. Consumer shifted out of gear into neutral, and then tried to shift back, was not able to shift back into gear. Please add further details.

- Mount Pleasant, TN, USA

problem #19

Sep 112001

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
The thottle stuck in the wide open position and would not return to idle. The brakes were just able to stop the vehicle. Shifting to neutral caused the engine to go well into the redline on the RPM indicator. Pulling up on the accelerator pedal did nothing. The dealer said the linkage was rusted tight. They don't have new parts so they scrapped the rust off, oiled it and put it back together. They said the throttle cable was not the problem as in the recall of "95-96 vehicles. This is a hard truck to get stopped when the throttle is stuck wide open. Good thing my wife wasn't driving it.

- West Bend, WI, USA

problem #18

Aug 012001

Ram 1500

  • miles
When driving on highway Z wink within throttle linkage broke which caused consumer to pull off to the side of the road. Consumer has contacted dealer. Dealer refused to provide any assistance.

- Evans, GA, USA

problem #17

Sep 012000

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
It jerks when lightly accelerating.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #16

Oct 262000

(reported on)

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The fuel solenoid was replaced due to failure which caused the engine to shut down, the replacement was 1/3 larger with a different mounting bracket.

- East Longm, MA, USA

problem #15

Sep 011998

Ram 1500 Diesel

  • miles
Cruise control will not maintain speed, it keeps on accelerating until max vehicle speed is obtained. Dealer notified under warrenty did not receive part until after warrenty was over, will not repair now

- Chamblee, GA, USA

problem #14

Nov 011998

Ram 1500

  • miles
The throttle body and injector system failure caused loss of power steering and brakes.yh

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #13

May 152000

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
Truck acceelrated upon putting into drive.....the pedal went to the floor....could not stop it. The ABS activated and vehicle crashed into a building....it squeeled the tires as soon as I stepped on pedal and it went to the floor......crashed into a building and it was still revving at full throttle.........can you help us......we dont want to drive it again unless we know what caused it to do this.........the exterior damage is being repaired but we still dont know why it did that........thankyou...

- Saginaw, MI, USA

problem #12

Aug 011998

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Cruise control failed.

- Covina, CA, USA

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