1997 Dodge RAM 1500 Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026

38Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints

10.5%Of all 361 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

STRUCTURE58 · 16.1%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION38 · 10.5%

Unspecified / other26 · 7.2%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP15 · 4.2%

AIR BAGS13 · 3.6%

Share of the 361 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 overview page.

What owners report

“TRANSMISSION FAILED TWO WEEKS AFTER ROUTINE SERVICE (FLUID CHANGE, NEW FILTER, BAND ADJUSTMENT). HAD NO PREVIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS BEFORE SERVICE. FLUID LEVEL AND CONDITION CHECKED…”NHTSA complaint 768066 — filed 10/03/2002

“THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 66174 MILES. SO THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT LASTED ONLY 1335 MILES…”NHTSA complaint 766509 — filed 08/31/2002

“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…”NHTSA complaint 8013979 — filed 07/16/2002

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500: 38 of 361 complaints on file (10.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 have in total?

361 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 31 involved a crash, 14 involved a fire, 37 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.