2017 Ram 1500: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2017 Ram 1500: CAUTION — 886 owner complaints (1.77 per 1,000 sold), rated on its recalls: 13 campaigns, 7 for fire or crash risk; top issue: steering (230 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2017 is 1.48, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. Severity drives it: 81% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, published U.S. sales, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
886
NHTSA complaints
1.77
Complaints per 1,000 sold
470
Service bulletins
13
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2017 Ram 1500 problems
Steering leads a spread-out record, named in 26% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2017 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 230 | 26% |
| Engine | 156 | 18% |
| Electrical system | 110 | 12% |
| Service brakes | 100 | 11% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 98 | 11% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2017 Ram 1500 recalls
13 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2017, reported between Mar 23, 2017 and Jan 16, 2025.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 25V010000 | Jan 16, 2025 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 23V411000 | Jun 8, 2023 | Engine & cooling |
| 22V406000 | Jun 9, 2022 | Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 21V632000 | Aug 12, 2021 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 20V475000 | Aug 13, 2020 | Engine & cooling › Engine › Diesel |
| 19V757000 | Oct 24, 2019 | Engine & cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve) |
| 19V347000 | May 9, 2019 | Latches, locks & linkages › Tailgate › Latch |
| 18V486000 | Jul 27, 2018 | Structure › Body › Tailgate |
| 18V332000 | May 17, 2018 | Electrical system › Wiring |
| 18V100000 | Feb 8, 2018 | Powertrain / transmission › Automatic transmission |
| 17V821000 | Dec 20, 2017 | Powertrain / transmission › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift |
| 17V434000 | Jul 7, 2017 | Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly |
+1 more campaigns on the NHTSA record.
2017 Ram 1500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 470 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2017 — close to the 551 of the median 1500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (87), engine & cooling (64), visibility (50). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2017 vs. the year before and after
From the 2016 to the 2017, owner complaints fell 41% (1,503 → 886) — an improvement. The 2018 that followed fell 25% (886 → 667), so the 2018 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 1500 | AVOID | 1,503 | 602 | 17 | — |
| 2017 (this page) | CAUTION | 886 | 470 | 13 | — |
| 2018 1500 | SOLID | 667 | 494 | 15 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ram 1500 years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2017 Ram 1500
Steering (230 complaints on the 2017): check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering at parking speed, and clunks over bumps.
Engine (156 complaints on the 2017): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Electrical system (110 complaints on the 2017): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Service brakes (100 complaints on the 2017): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Powertrain / transmission (98 complaints on the 2017): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Recalls: confirm all 13 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Nearby 1500 years with a better rating: 2018.
Know what to pay for the right 2017 Ram 1500 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2017 Ram 1500 reliable?
2017 Ram 1500: CAUTION — 886 owner complaints (1.77 per 1,000 sold), rated on its recalls: 13 campaigns, 7 for fire or crash risk; top issue: steering (230 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2017 is 1.48, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2017 Ram 1500 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2017 Ram 1500 are steering (230, 26%), engine (156, 18%), electrical system (110, 12%). The manufacturer has 470 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2017 Ram 1500 have?
13 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2017 Ram 1500, most recently 25V010000 (Jan 16, 2025, air bags); 23V411000 (Jun 8, 2023, engine & cooling); 22V406000 (Jun 9, 2022, fuel system, diesel). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2017 Ram 1500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2017 Ram 1500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the per-1,000 rate divides complaints by published U.S. 2017 calendar-year sales; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.