KnownCarProblems2017 Ram 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 882 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ram 1500, most often about the steering (26% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles). It is 6th of 15 1500 model years by number of complaints and has 13 recalls.
Most common 2017 Ram 1500 problems
Steering
228 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, steering control module, hydraulic power assist system, hydraulic power assist.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact pulled over and towed the vehicle to his residence. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer…
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her granddaughter was driving at slower speeds, the steering wheel seized with the wheels turned to the left. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The…
Engine
187 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owned a 2017 Ram 1500. While driving 65 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle made an abnormal revving noise and began to slow down. The contact also stated that the throttle sensor warning indicator began to flash intermittently. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road…
While driving down highway, check engine light and electronic throttle control service light displayed. Exited highway, drove 1-2 miles more and engine was smoking with smoke entering the cabin. Exited the truck at a safe location. Used hood release in cabin but did not open hood because I saw flames through grille.…
Fuel system
129 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 50,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
Fuel pump and fuel tank gauge are one assembly. System failed at 50k miles. Dealer indicated this is a known problem and entire assembly must be changed at a cost of $1200. Ram will not cover under warranty. I contacted chrysler/Ram support and they said they would not be able to assist.
Fuel sensor failure on two different occasions. One was replaced (fuel rail pressure sensor) and the other has not been yet due to the very high price of the repair ($800 - $1000). Fuel gauge reads full and then suddenly drops to empty. I have been advised that this is a common problem.
Electrical
109 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
When backing into garage on 5/24/20 Ram 1500 quad cab steering locked in one position and vehicle accelerator went to the floor. Vehicle accelerated quickly backwards into my garage wall and damaged the garage wall, garage door, and vehicle. I was able to stop the vehicle prior to it hitting the back of the garage and…
Multiple episodes of vehicle codes disabling truck, all related to 'service electronic throttle control' message. This has caused loss off power with vehicle stalling on mountain highway, major safety issue. Other times vehicle has scary delay in throttle response causing nerve wracking moments trying to merge or…
Brakes
100 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, antilock.
Truck rolled down a slight incline 20-30 feet while in park driver not in vehicle and struck another car behind it. Vehicle stationary, in front of 58 parker blvd monsey ny 10952. Driver and passenger of other vehicle witnessed event. Vehicle was in park and off key out of ignition occurrence 03/03/19 830-845 pm.…
Sudden lose of front air suspension while highway driving, negatively effected the vehicles stability, steering, and ability to stop. Truck is currently at dealer. Only explanation given is it might be because its cold outside (which has been known to happen in winter).
Transmission
98 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 21,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
#1. With 21k mi. The service airbag system came on.it it stayed on for 5-7 sec and went off. It was intermittent at first but now it has been doing the same 2 or 3 times per minute. #2 the tailgate latch malfunctions at times and the tailgate falls by itself. It has done this while driving and sitting stationary after…
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. While the engine was turned off and the transmission was in the park position, the vehicle rolled backwards down the driveway. In addition, while operating the vehicle, the transmission erroneously switched from drive into park, although the gear shifter remained in the drive…
Other or unspecified
67 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles.
Tailgate randomly drops by itself. Happens when you lock the truck. It does not happen all of the time. Can happen when vehicle is in motion. Tailgate lock mechanism is missing a tab that allows a plastic piece that controls the tailgate lock to travel to far thus un-latching the tailgate
During heavy rain the back driver side well (underneath rear seat-storage area) fills with water. I have an appointment tomorrow to diagnosis the issue. I believe this is a problem with the rear window drain holes being plugged but not certain. Only a year old and surprised this occurred. Checked youtube and found…
Air bags
53 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
My truck was involved in a head on collision with a guard rail while travelling 55 MPH on ky 210. None of the trucks airbags deployed. The right front tire including the rocker arm snapped off the vehicle. This caused the truck to slide across the road hitting the other guard rail. The truck then slid back across the…
Coasted out of a car wash; engine on, transmission in neutral. After exiting the wash, I applied the brakes and shifted from neutral into drive. The truck accelerated out of control and would not brake. I was able to avoid pedestrians, gas pumps, and the store entrance. I was forced to crash the vehicle against a…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 Ram 1500 recalls
Air bags: inflator
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed february 13, 2025. Owners may contact fca customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca's numbers for this recall are 05c, 09c, and 10c.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2016-2019 ram 3500, ram 1500, 2016-2020 ram 2500, and 2016 ram 3500 cab chassis vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed august 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed october 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated july 2024. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is 66a. This recall is an expansion of recall 20v-475.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2014-2019 ram 1500 and 2014-2020 jeep grand cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0l diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hpfp, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed july 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for jeep grand cherokee owners starting january 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for ram 1500 owners were mailed march 7, 2024. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, lls's number for this recall is z46.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2014-2020 jeep grand cherokee, and 2014-2019 ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0l diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.
Air bags: inflator
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the sabic assemblies, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on october 4, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on may 26, 2022. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is y55.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2015-2020 ram 1500 classic, 2015-2016 ram 3500, and ram 2500 vehicles, and 2016 ram 3500 cab chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating less than 10,000 lbs. The side air bag inflatable curtain (sabic) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Engine: diesel
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Fca US will notify owners, and dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on may 13, 2021. Owners may contact fca US customer service at 1-800-853-2002. Fca US's number for this recall is w58.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2014-2018 ram 1500 and 2014-2016 jeep grand cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0l diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Engine: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)
Risk: Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EGR cooler, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and, as necessary, replace the intake manifold. The recall began april 16, 2020. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is vb1.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2014-2019 ram 1500 and 1500 classic pickup trucks equipped with 3.0l eco diesel engines. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If the tailgate opens while the vehicle is being driven, cargo may fall out the vehicle and create a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the tailgate latch, free of charge. The recall began may 23, 2019. Chrysler is expected to notify owners of the expanded population on october 18, 2019. Owners may contact fca US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US's number for this recall is v44. Note: 2015-2017 my ram 1500 pickup trucks with truck beds other than 8 foot, are currently covered under NHTSA recall 18v-486 for this issue.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2015-2017 ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with an 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. Chrysler is also recalling all 2013-2014 and 2018 ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks built before april 1, 2018 with a 6 or 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. On august 29, 2019 chrysler expanded the recall to include an additional 693,128 model year 2013-2014 ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate actuator limiter tab may fracture and cause the tailgate to unlatch and open while driving.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If the tailgate latch releases and the tailgate opens while driving, cargo may fall out, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began september 17, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is u74.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2015-2017 ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with a power locking tailgate and either a 5 foot, 7 inch or 6 foot, 4 inch bed. The tailgate actuator limiter tab may fracture and cause the tailgate to unlatch and open while driving.
Electrical: software
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began june 4, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2014-2018 dodge journey, charger and durango, ram 2500, 3500, 3500 cab chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 cab chassis and 5500 cab chassis, jeep cherokee and grand cherokee and chrysler 300, 2014-2019 ram 1500, 2015-2018 dodge challenger, 2015-2017 chrysler 200, 2016-2018 ram 3500 cab chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 chrysler pacifica and 2018 jeep wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will update the body control module software. Dealers will also test the btsi operation, replacing the solenoid as necessary. The recall began february 26, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is u11.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2017-2018 ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 3500 cab chassis, 4500 cab chassis, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in park may cause the brake transmission shift interlock (btsi) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of park into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
Transmission: column shift
Risk: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the btsi, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began february 26, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is t79.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2016-2017 ram 3500 cab chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 cab chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 ram 1500 and 2010-2017 ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in park may cause the brake transmission shift interlock (btsi) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of park into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: In the event of a rollover crash, leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. The recall began on august 10, 2017. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is t45.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2017 ram 1500 trucks. The fuel tanks in the affected vehicles may have a broken fuel tank control valve which might leak fuel if the vehicle were to become inverted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 301, "fuel system integrity."
Transmission: differential unit
Risk: A broken or locked up differential may result in a loss of motive power and possibly a loss of vehicle control. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the differential retaining pin, free of charge. The recall began april 24, 2017. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is t20.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2016-2017 ram 1500 trucks. The differential pin retaining screw may come loose while driving, potentially causing the differential to break or lock up.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Post recall remedy brake transmission shift interlock (btsi) failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received 14 vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) reports and 6 ewr death & injury (d&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (btsi) system in certain model year (my) 2013-2018 ram pickup trucks.the subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shift lever.the failures of the btsi described in the voqs occurred on vehicles that had all previously been repaired under recall 17v-821 or 18v-100.both recalls address a potential condition which can cause the btsi locking pin to become stuck allowing the transmission to be shifted out of park without
High pressure fuel pump failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe21-021 on october 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (my) 2019-2020 ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7l cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, odi sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both fca and bmw, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by fca and bmw.during the investigation fca filed rec
Vehicle rollaway
Summary
Basis â on december 16, 2016, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe16-014 to investigate 43 vehicle rollaway incidents with operators alleging they had shifted to park and then exited the vehicle prior to the rollway incidents.â these complaints involved multiple fiat chrysler automobiles (fca) model and model year vehicles that share a common electronic rotary shifter design. â of the 43 consumer complaints, 25 complaints alleged crashes, and eight complaints alleged at least one injury. Subject vehicles â when NHTSA opened the investigation, the subject vehicles were model year (my) 2013-2016 ram 1500 vehicles and my 2014-2016 dodge durango vehicles
Questions about the 2017 Ram 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ram 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (228 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); engine (187 complaints, typically around 44,000 miles); fuel system (129 complaints, typically around 50,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 Ram 1500 have?
- 13 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 16, 2025 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the Ram 1500?
- It is 6th of 15 1500 model years by number of complaints, with 882 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.