10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 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 2500 suspension problems

suspension problem

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1997 Dodge Ram 2500 Owner Comments

problem #14

Dec 232010

Ram 2500

  • miles

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

On all Dodge Ram trucks, specifically 2500 models, have a death wobble that occurs all the time. What happens is, when you hit a bump or a crack in the road, the truck starts wobbling out of control. It has to do with the front suspension and there's no way to fix it. It's horrible because it usually occurs when you're on highways at high speeds and it can cause a serious accident. More details include severe truck shaking and loss of control of the vehicle. To see this happen on camera, please go to www.youtube.com/watch?V=Z6H5eh261gw. Millions of people are having this problem!! it has even been reported with Jeep Wrangler. Please sent out a recall for all Dodge Ram trucks and Jeep Wrangler!!!

- St. Charles, MO, USA

problem #13

May 082001

(reported on)

Ram 2500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Driving 45-55mph, vehicle would vibrate, but can be controlled. Taken to dealership twice for vibration. Had drivershaft replaced to correct problem. Also been to tire retailer due to possibility of tires causing problem. Tires were the problem. Contacted manufacturer, informed consumer nothing could be done. It was characteristic of truck, and could not be repaired. Consumer states vibration has existed in vehicle since purchased, consumer also states the vibration causes him to have to drive under 40 mph or over 50 mph to avoid the vibration.

- Niceville, FL, USA

problem #12

Aug 011997

Ram 2500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While braking, vehicle will not stop, dealer states brakes are withing specification. Front tires keep wearing, dealer can not find reason for wear.

- St. Clare Shores, MI, USA

problem #11

Jan 052000

Ram 2500 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

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

Consumer had problems with front end/steering. Vehicle had a 60,000 mile warranty. Dealer drove vehicle & said it was fine. On April 5, 2000, dealer said front end needed to be replaced. Steering gear box, and 4 tires had to be repaired to pass inspection. Consumer has put out $839 the first time & now steering box is leaking which cost $900. Dealer didn't seem to know what real cause was.

- New Hollland, PA, USA

problem #10

Jun 302000

(reported on)

Ram 2500 4WD

  • miles
This vehicle leans severely to the left - we have taken it in to the Dodge dealer who stated it was because that is where the fuel tank is located. They suggested we take the truck to les schwab to have the tires looked at also. We did this and les scwab stated that it was a major defect with the truck and the dealership just wanted us out because they are aware of the defect and therefore sent us to les schwab.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

problem #9

Jan 011999

Ram 2500

  • miles
Gear box and pitman arm were replaced. Currently, vehicle is experiencing premature wear of the tires.

- Oakhurst, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 201999

Ram 2500 4WD Diesel

  • miles

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

Vehicle makes a hard left turn when braking. Dealer advised it to be front end alignment, ( which they don't do) or brakes or tire problem. Brakes were replaced, front end aligned, tires were replaced without any impact on condition. Further research and time and $ spent finds Chrysler has a tsb #05-03-97 that tells you to put a spacer between the hub and wheel of varying sizes untill you find one that changes the front end geometry till it nolonger pulls. This is after you have filed brake componets. If this does not cure the problem, then you are to replace the entire hub assy which then may cause you to have to go through the trial and error shim business again. This vehicle is dangerous to drive and warranty including Chrysler maximum wrap warranty will not cover this fix accourding to auffenburg and a dealer in olathe ks I stopped at last week. A person, if they had the funds could literally spend thousands of dollars on trial and error fixes on this braking problem on Dodge 4X4 pickups. Also cape girardeau mo atty don thomason had a client that was injured in an accident with a pickup that had the same problem after multiple attepmt to fix it. Chrysler needs to fix this before people are killed.

- Jackson, MO, USA

problem #7

Oct 081999

Ram 2500 4WD

  • miles
I contacted you by phone but was not satisfied with the operator and I am submitting you this E-mail ontop of the info I gave the operator. While driving N. bound on I69 my truck had a shake in the front end for a split second and the rim and tire flew off. After getting the truck off the highway I observed that all the studs that hold the rim on had snapped off at the base of the threads. The holes in the rim for the lugs showed no sign of wear that would have indicated that the lugnuts were loose. These tires were last removed by danville Dodge dealer on 3/26/99 to replace the U-joints that went bad on the front axel. The tow truck operator informed me that he had picked up several Dodge trucks with the same problem. I also have a cousin that had a Dodge on which one rim had all the lugnuts break off. The truck is currently at mike anderson Dodge, 3527 S western ave., marion in, 46953, phone# 765-674-3394, my contact is ed in the service dept. I have contacted daimler Chrysler customer center who has opened a file #6331098 and is sending a investigator to look at the damage and determine the cause. Thanks rick

- Danville, IN, USA

problem #6

Dec 011997

Ram 2500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle pulling due to alignment and faulty control arm.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #5

Mar 031998

Ram 2500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Since July of 1997, I have experienced the transmission slipping out of gear into neutral at highway speeds. Also, a thump in the front end intermittently while driving down all types of road, a spark knocked so loud I sometimes wonder if the motor is going to last. There is often the smell of burning wires and burning fluid and sometimes the cab fills with smoke. In addition, cruise control gains speed (sometimes 5 to 8 mph over what it is set at). The odometer gains miles.

- Germfask, MI, USA

problem #4

Dec 071998

Ram 2500 4WD Diesel

  • miles

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

2500 while changing gears with a 5-speed manual tran. You could hear a poping sound comming from the dana 80 rear axle. I took the truck to the dealership. And the problem was the (2) spider gears in the rear axle were made to large and where loose and making a poping sounds when engaged. Also I have a proplem with the independent front suspension. The truck will not stay in alignment in front and it wears out the outside of the tires down to the steel belts. I have replaced the front tires 3 times and had the trucks 4 wheel alignment done 2 times and it still is eating my tires up within a few weeks after I put new tires on the front. The dealership told me this was a very big problem with the 2500 and 3500 4 X 4 club-cab trucks with the cummins diesel motor.

- Meadowview, VA, USA

problem #3

Nov 291997

(reported on)

Ram 2500 4WD

  • miles
Vehicle experiences excessive vibration. Truck has slid off groved highway in the rain due to tire failure, had large lumps on the sidewalls.

- Vista, CA, USA

problem #2

Apr 171997

(reported on)

Ram 2500

  • miles
The vehicle sways and tilts.

- Islip Terr, NY, USA

problem #1

Sep 231996

Ram 2500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When driving along the vehicle wanders on the road ; also, there seems to be too much play in the steering.

- Dunedin, FL, USA

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