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1997 Dodge Ram recalls

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

11 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026

For the 1997 Dodge Ram. These apply to the model and year, not to one particular vehicle: check your VIN to see whether yours is included and whether it has been repaired.

Has your Dodge been repaired?

Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.

NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. Recall repairs are free.

1997 Dodge Ram recalls, newest first

May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E02500042,540 vehicles potentially affected

Exterior lighting › Headlights

  • Aftermarket equipment: applies only if this part was installed
Summary
Dope, Inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Consequence
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dope, Inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, Inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

April 7, 2009NHTSA 09E01200016,270 vehicles potentially affected

Exterior lighting

  • Aftermarket equipment: applies only if this part was installed
Summary
Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Consequence
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

August 11, 2008NHTSA 08E0500001,921 vehicles potentially affected

Exterior lighting › Headlights

  • Aftermarket equipment: applies only if this part was installed
Summary
K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence
Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility may be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact K2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

June 29, 2006NHTSA 06E06000087,745 vehicles potentially affected

Exterior lighting

  • Aftermarket equipment: applies only if this part was installed
Summary
Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence
Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
Remedy
Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

June 14, 2002NHTSA 02V16100097,500 vehicles potentially affected

Vehicle speed control

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

This recall on nhtsa.gov

May 8, 2001NHTSA 01V153000216,100 vehicles potentially affected

Air bags

Summary
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.
Consequence
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.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

February 12, 2001NHTSA 01V040000701,000 vehicles potentially affected

Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch

Summary
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."
Consequence
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.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

May 6, 1999NHTSA 99V1150008,883 vehicles potentially affected

Power train › Clutch assembly

Summary
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.
Consequence
The fluid could ignite on the hot exhaust possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

February 5, 1999NHTSA 99V023000250,845 vehicles potentially affected

Air bags › Frontal

Summary
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.
Consequence
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.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

August 18, 1997NHTSA 97V1260006,400 vehicles potentially affected

Unknown or other

Summary
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.
Consequence
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.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

May 5, 1997NHTSA 97V084000960,000 vehicles potentially affected

Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines

Summary
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.
Consequence
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.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

Owner complaints

Owners have filed 398 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Ram with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public; NHTSA uses them to decide what to investigate.

Crashes reported
42
Fires reported
18
Injuries reported
33
Deaths reported
4

Most complained-about components

  1. Service brakes88
  2. Hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip39
  3. Power train › Automatic transmission37
  4. Air bags › Frontal31
  5. Fuel system30

Other Dodge Ram years

Other 1997 Dodge models

Most recalled 1997 vehicles

  1. 1997 Ford F-150 (25 recalls)
  2. 1997 Honda Civic (16 recalls)
  3. 1997 Honda Accord (15 recalls)
  4. 1997 Dodge Caravan (14 recalls)
  5. 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier (13 recalls)
All of 1997’s most recalled vehicles

Questions

Does the 1997 Dodge Ram have any recalls?
11 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, air bags, latches/locks/linkages, power train, unknown or other. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.
How do I check if my 1997 Dodge Ram recall has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Dodge dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 1997 Dodge Ram?
398 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.