2017 Ram 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
50/100
#7 most-complained of 13 1500 years
The 2017 Ram 1500 has a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 7th worst out of 13 model years, earning a 'Caution' rating. NHTSA lists 878 complaints, 13 recalls, and 80 crashes tied to this year, with Engine and Steering issues each making up 26% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 878
- Recalls
- 13
- Crashes / fires
- 80 / 16
- Injuries / deaths
- 77 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 23 hwy
Top 2017 Ram 1500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine226 (26%)
- Steering226 (26%)
- Fuel System129 (15%)
- Electrical System116 (13%)
- Brakes100 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain98 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires70 (8%)
- Other69 (8%)
- Airbags53 (6%)
- Structure & Body46 (5%)
What owners report
- Owners report the electronic rotary shifter failing to hold park, causing the truck to roll backward unexpectedly, in some cases striking objects or other vehicles.
- Multiple reports describe the vehicle shifting into reverse on its own while parked, leading to low-speed collisions.
- Some owners report front and side airbags deploying without warning during normal driving, causing loss of control.
- Other owners report airbags failing to deploy during a rear-end crash and rollover, resulting in injury.
- Tire blowouts on the front and rear driver's side were reported at highway speed, leading to loss of control.
- One owner reported the parking brake failing to hold the truck on an incline, causing it to roll into a tree.
2017 Ram 1500 recalls
13 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V010000Jan 16, 2025Airbags6,066 vehicles
Air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator
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.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 23V411000Jun 8, 2023Engine80,629 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 22V406000Jun 9, 2022Fuel System138,645 vehicles
Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump
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.
Risk: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
2017 Ram 1500 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Midgrade
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Ram 1500 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 Ram 1500 a Complaint Index of 50, ranking it 7th worst among 13 model years and earning a 'Caution' verdict relative to other Ram 1500 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ram 1500?
- Engine complaints make up 26% of reports (226 complaints, median mileage 39,700) and Steering complaints also make up 26% (226 complaints, median mileage 64,000), followed by Fuel System issues at 15%.
- Does the 2017 Ram 1500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 13 recalls for the 2017 Ram 1500, covering airbags, engine crankshaft position sensors, fuel system components, and tailgate latch/actuator issues, with none marked do-not-drive.
- How does the 2017 Ram 1500 compare to other years?
- The 2017 model (Complaint Index 50) is worse than the 2018 (17), 2020 (25), 2021 (33), and 2023 (8) model years, but better than the 2014 (92), 2019 (100), and 2016 (83) model years.