2017 Ram 1500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2017 Ram 1500 has 1164 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 14.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2017 ram 1500. while driving 30 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. the power steering indicator illuminated after the failure occurred and remained lit. the steering wheel resumed normal operation after the engine was restarted. the vehicle was taken to brunswic. ⚠️ 16 fire reports filed.
1164
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
14.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
222 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND REMAINED LIT. THE STEERING WHEEL RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRUNSWIC
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND REMAINED LIT. THE STEERING WHEEL RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRUNSWIC
- • HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS BUT ENGINE DIDN'T PRODUCE ANY CODES.I TOOK TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAID NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT SENSOR PROBLEMS UNTIL CODE APPEARS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ABOUT A HALF MILE FROM HOME MY TRUCK SHUT DOWN. MY ENGINE TURNED OFF AND LOST MY S
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND REMAINED LIT. THE STEERING WHEEL RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRUNSWIC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
186 complaints- • DISSAPOINTED WITH THE PURCHASE OF 17 RAM 1500, TRUCK LOOKS GOOD AND HAS GREAT LOOKS . IT HAS A TAPPING/TICKING NOISE WHEN ITS AT IDLE AT A STANDSTILL, ITS CALLED THE DREADED HEMI TICK, I HAVE A 5.7 MOTOR WITH MDS, THERE IS MANY THREADS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 500
- • TOOK DELIVERY OF NEW 2017 DODGE RAM 1500 AND TWO DAYS LATER TOWED MY BOAT (18') TO LAUNCH TO GO FISHING. STOPPED ON RAMP LEADING TO WATER WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND PUT IN PARK TO UNHOOK BOAT FROM TRAILER. WHEN I LET ME FOOT OFF BRAKE, THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWLY CREEPING BACKWARDS TO THE WATER. I WA
- • EXHAUST ODOR LEAKING INTO THE CAB WHEN IDLING AT A STATIONARY POSITION. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND RUNNING.
“DISSAPOINTED WITH THE PURCHASE OF 17 RAM 1500, TRUCK LOOKS GOOD AND HAS GREAT LOOKS . IT HAS A TAPPING/TICKING NOISE WHEN ITS AT IDLE AT A STANDSTILL, ITS CALLED THE DREADED HEMI TICK, I HAVE A 5.7 MOTOR WITH MDS, THERE IS MANY THREADS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 500”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
126 complaints- • I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL GUAGE AND THE FUEL SYSTEM LIGHTS ON THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY ARE SAYING THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER. THE FUEL GUAGE IS SHOWING NO FUEL IN THE CAR AND I AM CONCERNED THE CAR COULD CUT OFF AND I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF IT. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE P
- • COLD START ENGINE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE TOO LOW
- • THE TRUCK HAS A LACK OF ACCELERATION. WHEN YOU PRESS DOWN THE THROTTLE IT TAKES 5 SECONDS OR MORE FOR IT TO RESPOND CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. SO MUCH THAT YOU CANNOT CROSS TRAFFIC AND OR ACCELERATE UP THE HILL WHERE IT DECLINES IN SPEED. I LIVE IN THE NORTHWEST IN COLDER CLIMATES WAS SNOW AND
“I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL GUAGE AND THE FUEL SYSTEM LIGHTS ON THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY ARE SAYING THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER. THE FUEL GUAGE IS SHOWING NO FUEL IN THE CAR AND I AM CONCERNED THE CAR COULD CUT OFF AND I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF IT. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE P”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
104 complaints- • BUMPER PARKING DISTANCE SENSORS READ FALSE DISTANCE ISSUES WHEN WET, SHUTTING SYSTEM OFF AUTOMATICALLY, GIVING DRIVER FALSE SENSE OF SAFE DISTANCE
- • ON 09/07/2017, I WAS BACKING UP MY VEHICLE IN A TIGHT SPOT AT MY CONDO PARKING GARAGE. I PULLED FORWARD AND SHIFTED THE ELECTRONIC GEAR SELECTOR TO "PARK" SO I COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CHECK THE CLEARANCE. WHEN I WAS HALF WAY OUT THE VEHICLE IT STARTED BACKING UP BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE T
- • POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK WHILE TURNING AND IN MOTION AT CITY SPEEDS - LESS THAN 45MPH. HIGHWAY SPEEDS ~70 MPH. TOTAL INTERMITTENT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION. ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY, LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, TRANSMISSION
“BUMPER PARKING DISTANCE SENSORS READ FALSE DISTANCE ISSUES WHEN WET, SHUTTING SYSTEM OFF AUTOMATICALLY, GIVING DRIVER FALSE SENSE OF SAFE DISTANCE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
97 complaints- • TRUCK WAS LEFT IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY...THE NEXT DAY IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREETWISE GOT INTO THE TRUCK AND VERIFIED THE SHIFTER WAS INDEED IN THE PARK POSITION 2017 RAM 1500 WITH THE 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND ROTARY SHIFTER
- • ROTARY GEAR SHIFT KNOB ISSUE. PUT IN PARK, GOT OUT TO CLOSE MY GATE, TRUCK BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS WENT THROUGH MY YARD CRASHED INTO & OVER MY WATER WELL. NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HASN'T HELD.
- • I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED A REPORT & PICTURE TO YOU ON 07/11/2017 REGARDING THE ROTARY SHIFTER KNOB NOT STAYING IN PARK & ROLLING AWAY IN REVERSE DEMOLISHING MY WATER WELL TO MY HOME. THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN TWICE THIS MORNING 07/27/17 - I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, PUT IT IN PARK (LIGHT ABOVE "P" WA
“TRUCK WAS LEFT IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY...THE NEXT DAY IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREETWISE GOT INTO THE TRUCK AND VERIFIED THE SHIFTER WAS INDEED IN THE PARK POSITION 2017 RAM 1500 WITH THE 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND ROTARY SHIFTER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 1164 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND REMAINED LIT. THE STEERING WHEEL RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRUNSWIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: DISSAPOINTED WITH THE PURCHASE OF 17 RAM 1500, TRUCK LOOKS GOOD AND HAS GREAT LOOKS . IT HAS A TAPPING/TICKING NOISE WHEN ITS AT IDLE AT A STANDSTILL, ITS CALLED THE DREADED HEMI TICK, I HAVE A 5.7 MOTOR WITH MDS, THERE IS MANY THREADS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 500
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL GUAGE AND THE FUEL SYSTEM LIGHTS ON THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY ARE SAYING THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER. THE FUEL GUAGE IS SHOWING NO FUEL IN THE CAR AND I AM CONCERNED THE CAR COULD CUT OFF AND I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF IT. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: BUMPER PARKING DISTANCE SENSORS READ FALSE DISTANCE ISSUES WHEN WET, SHUTTING SYSTEM OFF AUTOMATICALLY, GIVING DRIVER FALSE SENSE OF SAFE DISTANCE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ram 1500 — Year Comparison
How does 2017 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 1164
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 16
- Crash reports
- 82
- Injury reports
- 74
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2017 Ram 1500