Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch (12.8% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch complaints here are 3.5× the median for that category across the 719 model-years tracked on this site.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch | 16 · 12.8% | Recalled | Recall 99V024000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 12 · 9.6% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 10 · 8% | No official action | — |
| Power Train:manual Transmission | 7 · 5.6% | No official action | — |
| Steering | 7 · 5.6% | No official action | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 · 5.6% | Recalled | Recall 99V024000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 125 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 99V024000 · 1999 · reported 02/05/1999
IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. CALLAWAY CHRYSLER…”NHTSA complaint 11191481 — filed 03/25/2019 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
“THE DRIVER OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING…”NHTSA complaint 10434060 — filed 11/03/2011 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
“HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WIRES GET HOT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON MY MODEL TRUCK ( 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 )…”NHTSA complaint 10216531 — filed 01/30/2008 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Exterior lighting:headlights:switch issues are the most-reported category, cited in 16 of 125 NHTSA complaints (12.8%), followed by power train:automatic transmission (12), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10), power train:manual transmission (7). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
125 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, and 9 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 1 NHTSA safety recall campaign, including campaign 99V024000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
