2017 RAM 1500 Problems And Complaints

2017 RAM 1500 Problems

Electrical issues:

• Key fob issues: Many RAM 1500 owners report that the key fob doesn't do its intended job. When one wants to lock/unlock the truck, there is no action from the key fob even at closer proximity. The complainants got the batteries changed but to no avail. Another issue people complain about is the inability of the ignition coil to detect the key fob inside the cabin. Such an inability renders the truck inoperable. 
• Rear parking sensor failure: Owners report the parking sensors in the truck failing and unable to give a correct estimate of the distance behind the vehicle. The failing sensors also affect the truck’s blind-spot monitoring system and park assist. 
• Fuel sensor failure: A common issue in the truck is when the RAM 1500 fuel sensors malfunction. This is complementary to the fuel pump sensor malfunctioning. The common effect of both the issues is misreporting of the fuel levels in the truck. Many people have reported the truck stop due to an empty tank despite the gauge showing nearly 18 miles left. In contrast, the people also report the truck flashed premature fuel empty warnings. This forces the drivers to take additional fuel stops. 

Mechanical issues:

• Air suspension failure: Many complainants report the RAM 1500 air suspension failing when the temperatures drop. The people claim that the front suspensions deflate and cause a massive drop in the stance of the truck. This is also a safety issue as the drivers have lost the truck’s control when the problem occurs. There have been reports of the braking system getting affected due to this malfunction as well. 
• Death wobble: A peculiar issue observed in many body-on-frame chassis vehicles is what the people call a death wobble. The RAM 1500 death wobble is nothing different from the others and causes the front axle to vibrate violently when the truck goes over a bump in a certain way. The issue is the most prominent in the Jeep Wrangler but has also made its way to trucks like the Ford F-150. A death wobble causes a loss in the handling capacity of the vehicle and may lead to collisions, causing injuries. 
• Transmission issues: The RAM 1500 transmission issues include a disconnect between the transmission and the gear indicator. There have been many complaints reporting that the transmission doesn’t engage park. This causes confusion and has led to unintended movement of the vehicle that has injured exiting occupants. Apart from this, there have been numerous complaints of the gears getting stuck in drive and not shifting to neutral/reverse.
• Exhaust manifold issues: The RAM 1500 exhaust manifold issues have been in the limelight for quite some time now. People have complained about the manifold bolts breaking off in the previous model years as well. Breakage of the bolts results in the exhaust breaking apart and causing a loud ticking noise. Worse, the broken manifold causes the exhaust fumes to make their way into the cabin and cause carbon monoxide poisoning to the occupants. 

Interior issues:

• Seat problems: The majority of the RAM 1500 seat problems comprise a mold and mildew formation below the seats. The complainants report that mold forms under the seats as well as on the carpet and on the floor. There is also a foul odor due to this formation. The dealerships deduce that the mold formation was due to a vent leakage that allowed rainwater to enter the cabin and soak the discussed components. 

Exterior issues:

• Tailgate latching malfunction: The RAM 1500 tailgate malfunction affects lots of trucks across model years and has been reported to the NHTSA and to the car manufacturer. The tailgate is reported to open up automatically while the truck is moving. In many cases, the tailgate hatch failed and did not lock the tailgate. This leaves the bed open and might cause the objects to fly out, making them a safety risk. 

Safety issues:

• Airbag deployment issues: The RAM 1500 airbag issues have a range of problems to be dealt with. Many people have reported a failure of airbag deployment during a crash. This failure caused a lot of injuries to the people inside, sometimes requiring immediate hospitalization. In some cases, the airbags deployed without any impact and startled the driver, causing him/her to crash the truck. 
• Cruise control malfunction: The RAM 1500 cruise control does not engage while the truck is moving. This causes a lot of issues and the driver has to re-start the truck to get the system working. The most feared issue is that the cruise control doesn’t disengage in some cases. This causes the truck to drive at a constant speed. In some cases, this failure to disengage the cruise control resulted in accidents. 

2017 RAM 1500 Recalls

S. No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1.	March 23, 2017	17V198000	Powertrain	A loose differential pin retaining screw may cause the differential to break or lock up. This might cause a loss of handling or loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.	Chrysler began a recall on April 24, 2017. The dealers will inspect and replace the pin if needed.
2.	July 7, 2017	17V434000	Fuel System, Gasoline	A broken fuel tank control valve might leak fuel if the vehicles are to be inverted, increasing the risk of fire in presence of an ignition source. The affected units fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS Number 301, "Fuel System Integrity”.	Chrysler began a recall on August 10, 2017. The dealers will replace the fuel tanks free of charge.
3.	December 20, 2017	17V821000	Powertrain	In the vehicles equipped with a column shifter, pressing the brake for a prolonged period may stick the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin in an open position. This causes free movement of the transmission from park to any gear, increasing the risk of unintended movement.	Chrysler began a recall on February 26, 2018. The dealers will replace the BTSI pin and update the software free of charge.
4.	February 8, 2018	18V100000	Powertrain	In the vehicles equipped with a column shifter, pressing the brake for a prolonged period may stick the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin in an open position. This causes free movement of the transmission from park to any gear, increasing the risk of unintended movement.	Chrysler began a recall on February 26, 2018. The dealers will replace the BTSI pin and update the software free of charge.
5.	May 17, 2018	18V332000	Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control	Inability to disengage the cruise control due to a short circuit within the vehicle’s wiring increases the risk of a crash.	Chrysler began a recall on June 4, 2018. The dealers will perform a software flash free of charge. The manufacturer also advised the owners to not engage the cruise control. If they did, they are advised to steadily apply brakes and put the shifter to neutral, followed by placing the gear in park after the vehicle is stopped.
6.	July 27, 2018	18V486000	Structure, Latches/Locks/Linkages	A fracture in the tailgate actuator limiter tab may unlatch the tailgate while the vehicle is moving, increasing the risk of a crash.	Chrysler began a recall on September 17, 2018. The dealers will repair the vehicle free of charge.
7.	May 9, 2019	19V347000	Latches/Locks/Linkages	A fracture in the tailgate actuator limiter tab may unlatch the tailgate while the vehicle is moving, increasing the risk of a crash.	Chrysler began a recall on May 23, 2019. The dealers will repair the tailgate latch free of charge.
8.	October 24, 2019	19V757000	Engine and Engine Cooling	A crack in the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the cooler and cause an explosion in the intake manifold, increasing the risk of fire.	Chrysler began a recall on April 16, 2020. The dealers will replace the EGR cooler free of charge.
9.	August 13, 2020	20V475000	Engine and Engine Cooling	Delamination of the crankshaft position sensor tone wheel causes a loss of sync between the camshaft timing and the fuel injector pulses. This can stall the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.	Chrysler began a recall on May 13, 2021. The dealers will update the PCM software to maintain vehicle propulsion free of charge.
10.	August 12, 2021	21V632000	Airbags	Detachment of the Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may rupture the sidewall and let the compressed gases escape. This might propel the end cap in the cabin and injure the occupants inside.	Chrysler began a recall on October 4, 2021. The dealers will inspect and replace the SABIC components free of charge.

Should you buy the 2017 RAM 1500?

If it wasn’t the 2017 RAM 1500 we were talking about, recommending such a problematic vehicle would be madness! The number of complaints and recalls alone is enough to put people off. But since the segment we’re talking about is pickup trucks, the complaints ought to be high and there ought to be multiple recalls. Still, that doesn’t make an excuse for the frequent issues people have to face with the RAM 1500. The pickup truck has seen a lot of mechanical issues reported along with several other electrical and safety issues. The issues are solvable and have readily available remedies at the dealerships. If Chrysler could cut down on the back order times, the truck’s issues would’ve been solved even more promptly. If you want to go for a pickup truck, the RAM 1500 makes a pretty good bet for the comfort and poshness on offer but we’d recommend moving ahead with caution since the list of issues is pretty long. If you want to go for a used one, always do a thorough check on the vehicle and do proper due diligence.