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#BS-1997-DODRAM-50DB

1997 Dodge Ram 2500

Based on reports from 275 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Complaints
275
Crashes
11
Fires
18
Recalls
1
TSBs
15
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 275 complaints, 11 crashes, 18 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

cracked dash

14 complaints • Severity 7.6/10

$X,XXX
2

peeling paint

3 complaints • Severity 8.7/10

$X,XXX
3

rust on doors and fenders

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited SlipHIGH

15 owners reported service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip issues — failures commonly reported around 92K miles.

!Inspect the Tires:tread/beltMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

10
0–30K
4
30–60K
19
60–90K
15
90–120K
6
120–150K
17
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (19 reports) • Median: 92K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip (15 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip15 (5%)
Tires:tread/belt14 (5%)
Speed Control12 (4%)
Wheels & Tires11 (4%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components10 (4%)
Power Train:manual Transmission8 (3%)
Other8 (3%)
Suspension7 (3%)

1997 Dodge Ram 2500: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip Issues

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 92,370 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 92K-mile mark.

Tires:tread/belt Issues

Tires:tread/belt complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to tires:tread/belt-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Wheels & Tires Issues

Wheels & Tires complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to wheels & tires-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

29
00
27
01
27
02
23
03
13
04
13
05
3
06
9
07
7
08
1
09
5
10
7
11
3
12
3
13
2
14
3
15
2
16
2
19
1
21

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

06E024000Apr 2006

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Dodge Ram 2500 is the 2004 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 275 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Dodge Ram 2500 Model Years

201220112009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991
View all Dodge Ram 2500 years →

1997 Dodge Ram 2500: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 is related to the service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, with 15 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 reliable?
The 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 has 275 complaints, 11 crash reports, and 18 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 have any recalls?
Yes, the 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Dodge Ram 2500 problems start?
Based on 71 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 92,370 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 275 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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