YearToAvoid

2017 Ram 5500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2017 Ram 5500 has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 8th worst out of 15 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 21 complaints and 7 recall campaigns for this year, with transmission and powertrain issues topping the list at 38% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
50/100
#8 of 15 5500 years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
21
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
7
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2015
lowest-risk (no Good/Best year)

Top 2017 Ram 5500 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain8 (38%)
  2. Brakes7 (33%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (24%)
  4. Engine3 (14%)
  5. Fuel System2 (10%)
  6. Steering2 (10%)
  7. Electrical System1 (5%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the transfer case exploding at highway speeds above 45 mph, sometimes tearing through the driveshaft or cutting wiring harnesses.
  • Some drivers describe violent vibration and a loud bang before the vehicle stalled or lost power on the interstate.
  • Owners report front tires blowing out or wearing unevenly on the outside edge, in one case requiring six tire replacements within 48,000 miles.
  • One owner described the death wobble occurring at low mileage before a dealer could diagnose the cause.
  • Owners report the engine compartment producing smoke and catching fire while driving at highway speed.
  • Some owners noted the ABS and traction control warning lights coming on intermittently along with cruise control failure.
2017 Ram 5500 complaints: complaints filed per month4Jun 2018Sep 2019Nov 2019Feb 2020Jun 2020Feb 2022Aug 2024May 2026
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2022 (4).

2017 Ram 5500 recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V896000Nov 27, 2024Brakes317,630 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The hydraulic control unit (HCU) may fail, which can cause the anti-lock brake (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and traction control systems to fail.

    Risk: A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake HCU, or replace the HCU motor, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed January 9, 2025. Some owner notification letters were mailed January 9, 2025. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated October 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is C4B.

  2. NHTSA 21V398000May 27, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires447,985 vehicles

    Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.

    Risk: Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y26 owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's numbers for this recall are Y26 and Y36.

  3. NHTSA 18V332000May 17, 2018Electrical System4,815,661 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    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.

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

See all 7 recalls for the 2017 Ram 5500 →

2017 compared with other 5500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’08’09’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Caution36138—
2016Caution71177—
2017Caution50217—
2018Avoid79388—
2019Caution64129—

All Ram 5500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Ram 5500 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2017 Ram 5500 a complaint index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 8th worst among 15 model years for this model. Transmission and powertrain problems account for 38% of its complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ram 5500?
Transmission and powertrain issues make up 38% of complaints, followed by brakes at 33% and suspension, wheels and tires at 24%. The median mileage at failure for transmission complaints was 136,500 miles.
Does the 2017 Ram 5500 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2017 Ram 5500, covering brakes, transmission and powertrain, engine, electrical system, and other components. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2017 Ram 5500 compare to other years?
The 2017 model's complaint index of 50 is lower than 2018 (79), 2020 (93), and 2022 (86), all of which carry Avoid verdicts, but higher than 2013 (21) and 2015 (36).
Were there any fires reported for the 2017 Ram 5500?
NHTSA lists 2 fire-related complaints for the 2017 Ram 5500, out of 21 total complaints, with no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.