1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 4X4 Laramie SLT review from North America
"Great performance with zero reliability"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Serpentine belt breaks every eight to ten thousand miles.
Power steering failure.
ABS brake failure.
Explosion of fuel pre-heater.
Alternator failure.
A/C compressor failure.
Roadside assistance shows up days later and is incompetent. This truck has been flat-bedded six times.
General comments?
This truck performs amazingly well in most repects. It is a wonderful hauler, it is fuel efficient and it is quite comfortable. Driveability is very competent.
On the downside, this truck is exceedingly unreliable. Long distance trips are tricky at best, roadside assistance is dreadful and many dealers are simply unable to properly service this vehicle.
The worst breakdowns have required weeks and not days for repairs. The longest down-times are as follows: 5 1/2 weeks, 3 weeks, 9 days, 7days, 6 days and several four day periods.
The worst roadside assistance times were
5 days (central Maine), 4 days (eastern Maine) and 3 days (New Brunswick, Canada).
The roadside assistance times refer to the elapsed time from the call for assistance and the time assistance showed up!
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | Cummins diesel Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 3/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 78000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford F250 |
| Date of Entry | 15th January, 2003 |