2017 Ram 5500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Ram 5500 has 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: while driving the vehicle on the highway the transfer case exploded, chrysler determined that the repairs would not be covered under warranty. however, we provided proof of service over the time period that the vehicle was in service which was only 6 months. they explained our parts were not properl. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

8 complaints

31%

• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED, CHRYSLER DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WE PROVIDED PROOF OF SERVICE OVER THE TIME PERIOD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE WHICH WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS. THEY EXPLAINED OUR PARTS WERE NOT PROPERL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHFORK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (844-350-9615, LOCATED AT 17725 S FREEWAY, MANVEL, TX 77578
• WHILE DRIVING A VIBRATION WAS NOTICED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. DURING TRANSIT THE TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED CAUSING A MAJOR FAILURE OF MULTIPLE SYSTEMS. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON A STATE HIGHWAY LEAVING WACO TX AT 445 A.M. POLICE WERE DISPATCHED TO BLOCK TRAFFIC FROM FURTHER ACCIDENTS UNTIL A TOW VEHICLE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED, CHRYSLER DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WE PROVIDED PROOF OF SERVICE OVER THE TIME PERIOD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE WHICH WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS. THEY EXPLAINED OUR PARTS WERE NOT PROPERL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

4 complaints

15%

• ABS and traction control light comes on intermittently when driving. Cruise control does not work and chime and warning lights come on as lights come on.
• ABS Pump Faulty and needed replacement at 10, 866 miles in 2022 when vehicle was just 5 years old. Cost at this time was $1459. Now just 2 years later and only 3000 additional miles ABS Pump is again faulty and unable to replace but no module is available at this time.
• The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Several local dealers were made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ABS and traction control light comes on intermittently when driving. Cruise control does not work and chime and warning lights come on as lights come on.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

3 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500 EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN RODIAN TIRES, SIZE: LT235/80R17 (NA). TWO MONTHS AGO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. LATER, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TATE BRANCH ARTE
• LEFT HAND FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT HWY NO WARNING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE. WAS DRIVING AT THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT OF 75 MPH. I WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEXT TO ME OR TRAVELING IN MY DIRECTION AT THE TIME. IT DAMAGED THE FENDER AND INNER LINER, THE TIRE WAS SE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2017 RAM 5500 EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES, TIRE LINE: HDR, TIRE SIZE: 225/70R/19.5, DOT NUMBER WAS A39YLA4V0217. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE ROTATED AND REPLACED 6 TIMES WITHIN 48,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRE WERE WORN-OUT. THE CONT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500 EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN RODIAN TIRES, SIZE: LT235/80R17 (NA). TWO MONTHS AGO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. LATER, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TATE BRANCH ARTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 50-55 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DRIVER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIE
• The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact stated that on several occasions while turned on the vehicle shut off and would not restart. The contact stated that the fuel fuse was replaced at the residence by an independent mechanic but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer wher

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 50-55 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DRIVER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHFORK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (844-350-9615, LOCATED AT 17725 S FREEWAY, MANVEL, TX 77578
• ON I-40 EASTBOUND MILE MARKER 121 VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. I HEAR AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE TRUCK WHICH CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER AND HAD TO FIGHT WITH TRUCK TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD ALL WHY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH. TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED CUTTING WIRE HARNESS IN HALF AND RUPTURING THE FUEL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHFORK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (844-350-9615, LOCATED AT 17725 S FREEWAY, MANVEL, TX 77578”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 26 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED, CHRYSLER DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WE PROVIDED PROOF OF SERVICE OVER THE TIME PERIOD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE WHICH WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS. THEY EXPLAINED OUR PARTS WERE NOT PROPERL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: ABS and traction control light comes on intermittently when driving. Cruise control does not work and chime and warning lights come on as lights come on.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TIRES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500 EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN RODIAN TIRES, SIZE: LT235/80R17 (NA). TWO MONTHS AGO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. LATER, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TATE BRANCH ARTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 5500. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 50-55 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DRIVER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)