2017 RAM 3500 Problems: Brakes (306 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2017 RAM 3500 is Brakes (44% of 306 owner reports). There are 13 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Brakes — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 306 complaints · 13 recalls
What problems show up on the 2017 RAM 3500?
135 of 306 filings named Brakes (44% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Electrical (21 reports).
There are 13 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Steering, Electrical, Wheels, Brakes, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2016 has 132 reports on file; this year has 306. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Brakes 135 complaints · 44.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 9
- Fires 1
- Injuries 2
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 135 | 44.1% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 21 | 6.9% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 20 | 6.5% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 20 | 6.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 18 | 5.9% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 16 | 5.2% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 14 | 4.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) | 11 | 3.6% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 11 | 3.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 90 | 29.4% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 17V821000 was reported 286 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V100000 was reported 336 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V486000 was reported 170 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V347000 was reported 456 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21V398000 was reported 1,272 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V896000 was reported 2,736 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 25V010000 was reported 2,075 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 22 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V499000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V562000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V821000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V824000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V100000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V332000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V486000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18E096000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V021000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V347000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V398000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V896000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 25V010000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE18016 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA19004 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE22012 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ25003 |
Safety Recalls (13)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Steering, Electrical, Wheels, Brakes, and Airbags.
-
Recall campaign 17V499000
Safety recall 17V499000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If the wheel fractures, a loss of vehicle control can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- AEV will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wheels with wheels of similar value, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2017. Owners may contact AEV customer service at 1-248-926-0256 extension 500.
-
Recall campaign 17V562000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- The leaking water pump can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pumps, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T51.
-
Recall campaign 17V821000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.
-
Recall campaign 17V824000
Safety recall 17V824000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.
-
Recall campaign 18E096000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- The weakened connection may result in a fractured steering drag link, causing a loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Streetcar will notify owners and dealers will inspect and install a new steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact AEV customer service at 1-248-926-0256, extension 500.
-
Recall campaign 18V100000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will update the Body Control Module software. Dealers will also test the BTSI operation, replacing the solenoid as necessary. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U11.
-
Recall campaign 18V332000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 18V486000
Safety recall 18V486000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- If the tailgate latch releases and the tailgate opens while driving, cargo may fall out, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began September 17, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U74.
-
Recall campaign 19V021000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- A drag link separation can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will check the steering linkage jam nut tightness, replacing the drag link assembly or welding the nut to the adjuster sleeve, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V06.
-
Recall campaign 19V347000
Safety recall 19V347000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- If the tailgate opens while the vehicle is being driven, cargo may fall out the vehicle and create a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the tailgate latch, free of charge. The recall began May 23, 2019. Chrysler is expected to notify owners of the expanded population on October 18, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's number for this recall is V44. Note: 2015-2017 MY Ram 1500 pickup trucks with truck beds other than 8 foot, are currently covered under NHTSA recall 18V-486 for this issue.
-
Recall campaign 21V398000
Wheels
- Report date
- Component:
- Wheels (WHEELS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 24V896000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 25V010000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 5 of 306 complaints · page 1 of 13
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I own a 2017 Ram Laramie Longhorn dual-rear-wheel truck with an open recall (NHTSA Campaign 24V896000, Chrysler code C4B) that was issued in November 2024. The dealership has no parts available and RAM Customer Care recommends a "service part" which is also not available. Confirmation from the dealership involves leaving my truck at the service center for several days with no loaner car, which I can not afford to do for work. I am having intermittent warning lights for my Anti-lock Braking System and Traction Control which are directly associated with the above-mentioned recall. I often tow with this vehicle and this issue is now an active safety system problem associated with the recall that makes this vehicle dangerous to drive if the hydraulic unit fails while towing or when driving, the safety systems of Traction Control, Anti-lock Braking System, and Electronic Stability Control will not function. Please help.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on rough terrain, the cruise control failed to remain engaged, and the brake pedal was shuddering abnormally. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated that there were persistent failures with the ABS and traction control. While driving at various speeds, there was an audible chime coming from the vehicle, and the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. Additionally, the cruise control feature was inoperable whenever the warning lights were illuminated. The owner previously received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); but was informed by the dealer that the necessary parts for the repair were unavailable. The contact was concerned that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Recall on anti lock brake system been on wait list for over a year and Ram is not even attempting to fix my truck I have called and talk to Jessica with Ram back in October of 2025 was told part would be available in February of 2026 still no part I have no cruise control and my auto start won’t work with the lights on the dash I don’t know what else to do I just want my truck fixed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2017 RAM 3500?
Owners named Brakes most often — 135 of 306 reports (44%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2017 RAM 3500?
NHTSA lists 13 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Steering, Electrical, Wheels, Brakes, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2017 RAM 3500?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.