1997 Dodge RAM Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026
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
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
“WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AN D WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE IS STALLING/GRINDING AND JERKING. ALSO, WHEN THERE IS ALOT OF PRESSURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 836428 — filed 04/02/1999
“AT SPEED ABOVE 50MPH, TRANSMISSION/ENGINE SURGES UP APPROXIMATELY 150 RPM. THIS GENERALLY OCCURS WHEN LOAD IS PLACED ON ENGINE, AS IN GOING UP A LONG…”NHTSA complaint 701732 — filed 12/30/1998
“WHEN MY TRUCK GOES INTO OVERDRIVE, THERE IS A GRINDING, VIBERATING NOISE THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE TRANNY FLUID WARMS UP…”NHTSA complaint 701433 — filed 12/17/1998
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 have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Dodge RAM: 37 of 398 complaints on file (9.3%). 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 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.
