1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Body, Seats & Latches
Body, Seats & Latches leads by volume: 86 of 361 complaints (24%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Suspension, Wheels & Tires include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 298 in 1996 to 361 in 1997.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | vs. 1997 Standard Pickup Trucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,900–5,200 | 3,900–5,200 | 3,900–5,200 | 3,900–5,200 | 3,900–5,200 | |
| Combined MPG | 12–16 | 12–16 | 12–16 | 12–16 | 12–16 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 10–15 / 14–20 | 10–15 / 14–19 | 11–14 / 15–20 | 11–14 / 15–20 | 11–14 / 15–20 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 555–741 | 555–741 | 555–741 | 555–741 | 555–741 | |
| Complaints filed | 213 | 298 | 361 | 520 | 610 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 18 | 31 | 66 | 64 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 14 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 19 | |
| Injuries reported | 10 | 17 | 37 | 56 | 49 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup?
Body, Seats & Latches: 86 of 361 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup get?
EPA rates it 12–16 MPG combined across 8 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup?
EPA estimates $3,900–$5,200 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.9L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks | 14 mpg (high) | 18 mpg | 15 mpg | $4,150 | 592 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 6 | 3.9L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks | 14 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | 16 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 555 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 5.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks | 12 mpg | 17 mpg | 14 mpg | $4,450 | 635 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 8 | 5.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks | 12 mpg | 17 mpg | 14 mpg | $4,450 | 635 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 5.9L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks | 11 mpg (low) | 16 mpg | 13 mpg | $4,800 | 684 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 5.2L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks | 11 mpg (low) | 16 mpg | 13 mpg | $4,800 | 684 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 5-spd | 8 | 5.2L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks | 12 mpg | 17 mpg | 14 mpg | $4,450 | 635 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 5.9L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks | 11 mpg (low) | 15 mpg (low) | 12 mpg (low) | $5,200 (high) | 741 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 23 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 56 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 53 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Steering | 23 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 44 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 26 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 14 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 86 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · Campaign 06E024000 · Mar 17, 2006
Defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Consequence: A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
Remedy: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.