1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Consumer Reviews
Fuel Economy
13 - 16 mpg
Recent Consumer Reviews
(45 Total Reviews)
Still Smoking
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr SS/T Standard Cab SB
Review
Bought the truck new 'cause I fell in love with it. Happy to say I still am 124K miles later The truck is still the benchmark for styling and has performed almost flawlessly. The exception being the brakes, which was fixed with a higher quality pad. It has towed my boat or my camper for about half of those miles. It still runs like brand new and delivers 17 mpg at 75-80 on the freeway. With platinum plugs and 8 mm wires. Very happy and will probably never let it go.
Favorite Features
Styling, Great ride and handling, Performance Interior layout and size
Suggested Improvements
Brakes could have been better, but a hight quality pad set makes up for a lot of it. Slotted rotors w/ ceramic would be best.
1 out 2 people found this review helpful
Dependable Plow Truck
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 5 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr SS/T Standard Cab SB
Review
Bought my truck from a friend with 30,00 miles on it. Had a 8' western snow plow on it. I put my 7 1/2' western on it. Been an incredible truck. Plowed snow with it every year since I bought it. Every one always says Dodge Transmissions were junk, but mine went strong. Rebuilt it in Feb. of '06 with 128,000 miles on it (not bad considering what snow plowing can do to a truck). Still has original alternator in it. My snow plow's hydraulics are powered by the battery (electric). My dodge now has 150,00 miles on it and is still a great truck. Wish it were a crew cab. Single cab w/ 6' box. Short Wheel base makes plowing very nice though. But now have 2 kids and no room for the whole family.
Favorite Features
Reliability, Fun to drive, great towing capacity. 360 cu. in. motor very powerful and reliable. 150,000 miles and uses about a quart of oil every oil change. Not too bad for a working truck.
Suggested Improvements
Fuel mileage, cup holders not a good place (hit bump and beverage spills onto the stereo controls--Pepsi makes for a sticky volume nob). Bumper and bottoms of doors started to rust at about 135,000 miles, still only surface rust not eating all the way through yet. Cloth interior wears after a while.
10 out 10 people found this review helpful
Reliable, good looks, fun to drive
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 7 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 7 |
| Fuel Economy: | 5 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Standard Cab SB
Review
I thought it would be good to give a review after 6+ months of owning a 1997 Dodge Laramie SLT SB 4WD pickup. I bought it with 182K and now have about 188K. It has been reliable, I did have to replace tie rod ends & track bar (PA inspection), but it has a 3" lift and I don't know the past history-so no complaints. What has impressed me is no rust (Northeast is tough on trucks), paint looks still shiny, interior needed a good cleaning but I'll be installing a new headliner and mat for the floor. I used to own a Ford F150 w/a little higher mileage (205K) but the tranny was shot and it rusting fast. Ram ++Great looks, +comfortable. Motor is real quiet,(not like the Ford)-gas mpg 16/13-just OK ;/
Favorite Features
Looks-tough looking, very comfortable, good ride, quiet engine-decent performance. Lots of room in the cab!!
Suggested Improvements
Gentleman modify your cup holder - I did!, Big side mirrors block view, 5.2L economy so-so. I think engine would probably lack power w/towing 4000+ lb loads recommend a 5.9 L (probably will only give you 1-2 mpg decrease tops).
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
Great truck
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 1 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr SS/T Standard Cab SB
Review
Excellent truck, the women always love it. Very sexy (black with silver stripes). Runs like a Dodge, and keeps on running. I'm selling it only because of the price of gasoline (she can't help it if she loves to chug, it's how she was built!)
Favorite Features
Car like interior
Suggested Improvements
None
1 out 2 people found this review helpful
Dodge Ram
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 7 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 3 |
| Fuel Economy: | 1 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Standard Cab SB
Review
This truck is a gas hog, 13 mpg all of the time, I do have the 4x4 package, I have bought fuel saving products, none work, the trucks sounds great, blows Chevy and Ford out of the water in sound alone. Truck has been reliable other than the transmission going out, but thats the risk you take with any used truck. Remember 60% of people do not keep up the maintenance, so someone else down the line has to pay for it. I would recommend the truck to anyone that doesn't care about gas mileage
Favorite Features
The 1994-2001 Dodge Rams are a tough looking truck, awesome looking when customized.
Suggested Improvements
Add a flowmaster, cold air intake, and Dual Pipes and you will get a great sounding truck. Guaranteed!
7 out 8 people found this review helpful
My Dodge
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 7 | Fun-to-Drive: | 7 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 5 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT Standard Cab LB
Review
Say what you want, this particular truck has delivered the good through all kinds of conditions. I've owned Fords and Chevy's but this has hung together better than either of them.
Favorite Features
Seating, style, visibilty, ease of handling, dash layout
Suggested Improvements
Better (easer) steering, narrower window post
1 out 1 people found this review helpful
This Truck has been Great
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 7 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 4 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Standard Cab SB
Review
Bought the truck with 61,000 miles on it, drove the wheels off of it, this truck never gave me a bit of problems, just routine maintenance. The body style is awesome. The paint has held up great. The cup holder is in the worst possible spot. The interior has lots of room compared to other trucks
Favorite Features
I love this particular body style. It is definetly my favorite,
Suggested Improvements
The cup holders are terrible. Use better holders in a different location
3 out 3 people found this review helpful
Awesome
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 7 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT Extended Cab SB
Review
All I have to say is, Wow. I bought this truck from the original owner, 65 yr old male. Drove the truck like a baby, took awesome care of it, all synthetic liquids throughut the truck. It has 235,000 miles on it and runs like you wouldn't believe. Original everything. Tranny, engine/fuel pump, everything. He kept regular maintence and kept her running beautifully.
Favorite Features
Everything.
Suggested Improvements
Gas mileage stinks, but oh well. Worth it to me. Wish the suspension was a little higher.
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Club Cab 4x4 Sport.
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 6 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB
Review
This is the best truck I have ever owned. It is extremely realible. It is the heavy duty version, so I have not had any transmission problems. The only thing that is bad is the gas. I have did a little work on it to get batter gas mileage so it's not as bad.
Favorite Features
The big tires are a must. 265/75/16 are the biggest that you can get without a lift kit. This truck can tow like you would not believe. Five star crash rating is great too.
Suggested Improvements
Better gas mileage.
4 out 4 people found this review helpful
Gas Guzzler
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 4 | Fun-to-Drive: | 3 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 5 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 1 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB
Review
This truck is reliable and the build quality has surprised me, But the very poor mileage takes all of those benefits away. I get about 11 mpg on the highway right now with 97,000 miles on the clock. It's tuned up always has fresh oil but the gas never gets better. Oh well.
Favorite Features
Exterior design compared to other equal model year trucks.
Suggested Improvements
Better mileage. Better mileage. Oh, and if I forgot to mention it, better mileage
4 out 4 people found this review helpful
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