The Ram 1500’s reputation for reliability is well-earned, but it does have its issues. Namely, wonky electrical systems & a whole bunch of NHTSA recalls.
Key Points
- The 2017 Ram 1500’s most common problems are electrical, but these issues are often mistaken for transmission failure as they affect the powertrain control module.
- There have been two recalls addressing the truck’s potential to roll away if parked without the parking brake engaged, but the NHTSA investigation on the matter remains open.
- The truck has been recalled by the NHTSA ten times in total as of the time of this writing.
2017 Ram 1500 is a Good Pickup, but it’s had a Few Problems
From the 3.0L Turbo Diesel V6 engine to the spacious interior and handsome all-American styling, there’s a lot to love about the 2017 Ram 1500. Sure, the F-150 may lead the full-size class in sales, but test-drive a Ram and you’ll see why some people swear by it.
But, there’s no such thing as a car, SUV, or pickup that doesn’t have its share of problems, and the Ram 1500 is no exception to the rule.
Now, the bad news is that the truck has ten recalls on record with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), plus one investigation. But the good news is that it’s considered to be a fairly affordable mid-size truck to keep running when we’re talking regular maintenance costs, and severe engine troubles are rare. So don’t take the following as a warning to stay away from the 2017 Ram 1500, just a heads-up on problems to be on the lookout for.
The 2017 Ram 1500 has an Above-average Rollaway Risk
When you hear that there’s an open investigation on a vehicle, that always sounds scary. But there are a few things worth noting about the vehicle rollaway investigation that the NHTSA has been running on the Ram 1500 since December 2016.
The rollaway issue sees a number of Ram 1500s and Durangos rolling down hills while in Park. So far, this has resulted in 43 complaints, with an alleged nine injuries and 25 crashes. Sounds bad, but in most of these cases, the engine was running, and in all cases, the parking brake was off.
That doesn’t mean that you should expect your truck to start rolling down hills because you forgot the parking brake. But, the issue is hardly a death sentence for the 2017 Ram 1500’s reputation as a safe, reliable truck. If you remember to put on the brake, your truck should stay put.
Further, the investigation may remain open as of the time of this writing, as it is unclear if all of these rollaway incidents stem from the same problem, but a recall actually has been issued to address rollaway, with the notification having been sent to the owners and dealers of around 1.5 million Ram pickups in late 2017. And a follow-up recall was issued a few months later, addressing nearly two hundred thousand 2017-2018 Rams that the first recall missed.
In short: don’t let an open investigation scare you off of a 2017 Ram. If you make sure your truck has undergone the appropriate repairs, and if you remember your parking brake, you shouldn’t have to worry about rollaway.
NHTSA Safety Recalls for the 2017 Ram 1500
The 2017 Ram 1500 currently has ten recalls on file with the NHTSA, ranging all across the spectrum in size and severity, from relatively minor issues like the tailgate failing to a latch, to more severe concerns including potential fire hazards and airbag failure.
One of the most worrying recalls affecting the truck is also the most recent, an August 2021 recall for potential side curtain airbag rupture. The rupture means that not only will an airbag not deploy properly, it could even launch the end cap or other components into the cabin as a result of compressed gas escaping from the unit. An airbag is like a champagne bottle. You really need to make sure that the end cap is on there good and tight. This recall affected 212,373 Ram pickups from the 2015-2020 model years.
A less common, but still concerning recall addressed a potential fire hazard with the EGR cooler. If you’re driving a 1500 with a 3.0L Diesel engine, the truck’s Exhaust Gas Recirculation cooler may crack, allowing vaporized coolant to leak and ignite. This recall affected 107,980 Ram pickups between the 2014-2019 model years.
Recalls are always paid for by the manufacturer, and they don’t expire. Whether it’s a month-old recall for a faulty transmission or a decade-old recall for a misprint in the owner’s manual, you can drive into your nearest dealer and claim the repairs at no charge. So there’s no good reason not to use our VIN lookup tool and make sure that you’re covered.
2017 Ram 1500: Bad Wiring & Faulty Features
While the 2017 Ram 1500’s recalls are plentiful, major mechanical issues are thankfully few. The truck has 315 complaints on file with the NHTSA, and considering that the truck sold around half a million units in 2017, that only comes out to one Ram owner in every fifteen hundred experiencing an issue severe enough to bother reporting to the NHTSA.
The most common reported issues would seem to concern the engine and transmission, with 57 complaints listed under powertrain. Most of these are some variation on the truck moving when it’s not supposed to, stalling or stopping when it’s supposed to be going, or stuttering and rattling while accelerating. Basically the whole range of transmission failure issues, typically starting at under 75k miles on the odometer.
But, it might not always be the transmission.
The most common issues with this truck really come down to electronics. While the complaints may be filed under different categories, the broader patterns point to bad wiring.
What seems like a failing transmission may, in many cases, be a matter of electronic throttle control failing to properly regulate the truck’s speed. This would seem to be backed up by the fact that these “transmission failure” incidents are often accompanied by the radio and interior lights flickering on and off, warning lights flashing on after hitting a bump in the road, and the backup camera failing to engage.
While the NHTSA only has 40 complaints listed in the electrical systems category, many of the complaints you’ll find under powertrain, airbags, and vehicle speed control point directly to ECU systems and electrical components that just aren’t pulling their weight.
The bad news is that these problems can be tough to diagnose without a visit to the mechanic, but the good news is that it’s a whole lot cheaper to update an onboard computer module than it is to swap out the transmission. If your engine starts stalling and stuttering, Repair Pal estimates that the average powertrain control module replacement should run you around $745 to $758. More than you’d probably like to spend, but if you go with a CPO deal, your warranty should cover it.
How Much Does it Cost to Maintain a 2017 Ram 1500 Pickup?
The bottom line on the 2017 Ram 1500 is that it has its share of issues, but only its share. Repair Pal estimates the average cost of maintenance for the truck to be around $568 a year, and they give the truck an overall rating of three and a half out of a possible five stars. Not great, not terrible, just average. But hey, you could do a whole lot worse than average.
Photos: Stellantis
