1997 Dodge RAM Air Bags:frontal Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · data through 07/14/2026

31Air Bags:frontal complaints

7.8%Of all 398 complaints

#3Most-reported category

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

How air bags:frontal ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP39 · 9.8%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION37 · 9.3%

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL31 · 7.8%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL20 · 5%

Unspecified / other15 · 3.8%

Share of the 398 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Dodge RAM overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ATTEMPTED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.”NHTSA complaint 842432 — filed 07/15/1999

“VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 60MPH, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE.”NHTSA complaint 839393 — filed 06/11/1999

“WHILE DRIVING THE VAN BETWEEN 20-25 MPH, GOING AROUND A CURB, DRIVER SLIGHTLY TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL, RELEASED THE PEDAL AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL…”NHTSA complaint 827884 — filed 09/14/1998

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

Air Bags:frontal complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Dodge RAM have air bags:frontal problems?

Air Bags:frontal is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Dodge RAM: 31 of 398 complaints on file (7.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

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

398 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 42 involved a crash, 18 involved a fire, 33 reported injuries, and 4 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags:frontal category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 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.