1997 Dodge Ram 1500 vs 1997 Ford F-150
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 | 1997 Ford F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 361 | 2,758 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 13 | 325 |
| Investigations | 1 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 165 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 262 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 12–16 | 13–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,000 mi | 108,898 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Ram 1500 | Ford F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 529 |
| Tires | 16 | 305 |
| Structure | 70 | 226 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 43 | 213 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 | 215 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 223 |
| Steering | 23 | 202 |
| Suspension | 21 | 204 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 16 | 185 |
| Stalling | 14 | 86 |
| Brake problems | 13 | 37 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 76 |
| Clunking / rattling | 10 | 47 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 24 |
| Check engine light | 6 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 6 | 0 |
1997 Dodge Ram 1500
1997 Ford F-150
Compare all Dodge Ram 1500 vs Ford F-150 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.