10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 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 1500 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #6

Jul 022002

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles

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

Consumer was informed not to drive on the highway due to the possibility of the rear differential locking up.

- Brookfield, WI, USA

problem #5

Jul 082002

Ram 1500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While pulling onto a ramp rear wheel locked up. Vehicle taken to a repair shop, and informed consumer that pinion gear sheared off in rear end. Dealer and the manufacturer were notified. The vehicle made a noise when accelerating uphill, the heat shield broke and was fixed. The transmission locked up.

- Wheeling, WV, USA

problem #4

Oct 012000

Ram 1500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
At 60,000 transmission replaced; 68,000 both U-joins replaced; 75,000 differential rebuilt; 80,000 universal joint replaced; now differential slips after stopping

- Mountainburg, AR, USA

problem #3

Sep 142000

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles

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

On 9/14/2000 the rear differential begain to make a moaning noise during deaccelerating. With in 10 miles driving distance at 30 mph during deacceleration the rear end differential made a loud bang while the vehical jerked violently. After the loud noise I heard the drive shaft of the vehical draging on the pavement. I proceeded to attempt to pull to the side of the road and slow down when the vehical jerked violently agian. At this point I was traveling approximately 25 mph and the rear wheels locked up and begain to slide. I released the brake pedal but the sliding continued due to a major failure in the differential. Luckily I did not loose complete control of the truck during wheel lockup. When the truck stopped I looked under the truck and observed the rear end of the drive shaft on the pavement. I could not move the vehical due to the jammed differential, the vehical was towed to to a local Dodge dealer ship. If I had been traveling at freeway speeds it is very possible that a serious or fatal accident could have occured. The biggest issue I have with Dodge is that the differential failed the first time when the vehical was almost new at 13000 miles. The first failure occured approximately on 3/98. Luckly the failing differential made very pronounced humming noises before any catastrophic faluire occured. At that time I took the vehical to allen samuel Dodge in fort worth Texas for repair. Allen samuel Dodge technitions identified that the bearings in the differential had failed and caused the ring and pinion gear to severly wear. Due to the history demonstrated with my experinces I am concerned that Dodge has a problem with the design and or method of manufacturing the rear ends of their 1/2 ton pickups.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #2

Sep 011999

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
Brakes don't stop at low speeds and lock up under wet conditions, ring and pinion due to premature wear at 19500, dead battery (H.D.) after 2 years

- Vineland, NJ, USA

problem #1

Nov 221998

Ram 1500

  • miles
I know of two other people who's rear ends have failed but luckily for them that they still had a little warranty let on their trucks.

- Houston, TN, USA

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