- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the brake HCU, or replace the HCU motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 9, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is C4B.
Vehicle safety record
2017 Ram 5500 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 2017 Ram 5500 with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (8) and the brakes (7). Those complaints describe 2 fires. It is covered by 7 recalls, the latest in November 2024 for the control unit / module. For comparison, the 2016 has 17 and the 2018 has 40.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical 5500 year, for its age
#171 most complained-about 2017 vehicle
- Complaints
- 21
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2017 Ram 5500 problems
Share of all 21 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2017 Ram 5500 recalls 7
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 RAM 1500, 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
- The risk
- If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2017 RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines that have Concentric-brand water pumps without a vent hole. These water pumps may leak coolant.
- The risk
- The leaking water pump can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
21 complaints about the 2017 Ram 5500
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact stated that the ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The braking system was not operating normally. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
My vehicle does not currently show an open recall in the NHTSA VIN lookup, but the vehicle has experienced repeated and potentially catastrophic wheel and brake-related failures. I am requesting that NHTSA review these incidents for a possible safety defect and determine whether an investigation or safety action is warranted. I checked the NHTSA VIN recall database on [redacted], and my vehicle, VIN [[redacted]], currently shows 0 unrepaired recalls. However, this same vehicle has experienced two serious and...
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potentially catastrophic wheel/brake-related failures. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate these incidents and determine whether they may represent a safety defect or a defect pattern affecting this vehicle or similarly equipped RAM 5500 vehicles." "Please provide the complete manufacturer/dealer service and campaign history associated with VIN [[redacted]], including all open and closed recalls, campaigns, Customer Satisfaction Notices, warranty claims, dealer repair orders, recall completion dates, mileage at completion, dealership identification, parts replaced, and any wheel, wheel-stud, hub, rotor, brake, ABS, ESC or related repairs. Mopar says its VIN recall system is used to determine current recall status, but your current NHTSA result of 0 unrepaired recalls does not tell us whether a recall was previously completed I HAVE PLENTY OF PICTURES AND BULLETINS RECALL INFORMATION WILL UPDATE OR UPLOAD LATER INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact stated that an unknown warning light appeared on the instrument panel which stated that the ABS function was not available and that the 4WD was disabled. The vehicle was taken a dealer where they kept the vehicle for over a week where they eventually replaced the brake hydraulic control unit ("HCU"). The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available....
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Two local dealers were made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. Additionally, the contact was informed that the part that was used to repair the vehicle was a defective part and that it would need to be replaced once parts were available. 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 failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Several local dealers were made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
ABS Pump Faulty and needed replacement at 10, 866 miles in 2022 when vehicle was just 5 years old. Cost at this time was $1459. Now just 2 years later and only 3000 additional miles ABS Pump is again faulty and unable to replace but no module is available at this time.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact stated that on several occasions while turned on the vehicle shut off and would not restart. The contact stated that the fuel fuse was replaced at the residence by an independent mechanic but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the TIPM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V398000 (Wheels) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70-75 MPH, there was an abnormally loud banging sound coming from the vehicle. The driver pulled to the side of the roadway and became aware that the transfer case had fractured into several pieces, and the front driveshaft had also fractured in several pieces. The contact stated that the fuel lines and the exhaust pipe were severely damaged. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the fuel lines, brake line, electrical wiring, transfer case, front driveshaft and the entire exhaust system were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 310,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving approximately 70-75 MPH, there was a loud banging sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the transfer case had fractured and the front driveshaft had failed. The vehicle was towed and remained at the towing lot. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure however, the vehicle was not towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the failure was a known failure however, the vehicle was not under recall for the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 292,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 5500. The contact stated that after shifting into park(P), the vehicle rolled away and the parking brake failed to stop the vehicle. The contact used rocks to chock the front tires to stop the vehicle from rolling. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.
ABS and traction control light comes on intermittently when driving. Cruise control does not work and chime and warning lights come on as lights come on.
Vehicle was driving on interstate at 70mph and started vibrating violently, a few seconds later there was a loud bang that turned into multiple bangs that could be felt at the drivers feet and the truck stalled. We had it towed back to our shop and found that the transfer case had exploded causing the front driveshaft to come apart which ended up tearing through the drivers floorboard, destroyed the engine and transmission wiring harnesses, cracked the transmission casing, and severed the brake and fuel lines. Luckily there were no injuries. The truck has 103,180 miles and is regularly maintained per chrysler specifications.
Right front steering tire experienced unusual wear on the outside cord only. Left side ok. Had the alignment checked by dodge up to spec. Had my mechanic on a $50,000 rack check the alignment at my expense. Right front ok left front .7Degrees out. Only adjustment is to replace the non adjustable ball joints with offset adjustable ball joints as well as the tires. Fca response was you know we only have a 12000 mile 12 month warranty on the alignment. Truck is almost two years old with 12900 miles. First the dodge...
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dealership was unable to do the alignment and the tech was upfront on not being comfortable working on this large truck. So I am left to manage this critical safety issue on my own. Fca rep admitted most dodge dealerships are unable to repair the 5500 so they have to outsource the job. The outside of the tire has literally worn off the tread pattern. I believe this presents a potential blowout hazard and am quite concerned. Accordingly I have not driven the vehicle even though it is my only welding rig I have for my side business. This is a safety concern as well as a substantial loss of revenue for me. I have spoken with the dealership that I purchased the vehicle from in columbiana ohio. The commercial manager admitted that this is not an uncommon problem and requires replacing the ball joints. I am awaiting a response from fca in regards fixing the problem. I have made arrangements on my own to have the vehicle repaired and the tires replaced. In view of the fact that my purchasing dealership acknowledges this as a problem, yet chrysler makes no effort to fix it is quite disconcerting. A blowout on a vehicle rated to tow 30,000 lbs would be disastrous. Thank you for your time.
Tl* the contact owns 2017 ram 5500 equipped with continental tires, tire line: hdr, tire size: 225/70r/19.5, Dot number was a39yla4v0217. The contact stated both front tires were rotated and replaced 6 times within 48,000 miles. The contact stated the outside edge of the tire were worn-out. The contact stated front suspension repairs were needed but had not been performed. The vehicle was taken to landers mclarty dodge chrysler jeep ram located at (6533 university dr nw, huntsville, al 35806) and were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 8,000.
Left hand front tire blew out traveling on a straight hwy no warning there was a problem with the tire. Was driving at the legal speed limit of 75 mph. I was lucky there were no other vehicles next to me or traveling in my direction at the time. It damaged the fender and inner liner, the tire was sent to goodyear and they said it was my fault the tire blew out. That I had hit something and caused damage to the belt. That is not true. I did not hit anything and there was nothing on the road to cause any damage to the tire.
On i-40 eastbound mile marker 121 vehicle starts to shake and vibrate violently. I hear an explosion under the truck which cause a loss of power and had to fight with truck to get it off the road all why at a speed of 65 mph. Transfer case exploded cutting wire harness in half and rupturing the fuel line. Truck was smoking bad as oil and fuel was leaking everywhere. Truck is inop at this point. Please help with this matter in an effort to help others from this experience. I almost wrecked trying to get the vehicle off the road after the transfer case exploded
While driving a vibration was noticed at speeds above 45 mph. During transit the transfer case exploded causing a major failure of multiple systems. This failure occurred on a state highway leaving waco tx at 445 a.M. Police were dispatched to block traffic from further accidents until a tow vehicle was dispatched to the scene. Upon further investigation it was very noticeable that the transfer system in the powertrain system had exploded. This failure has caused multiple collateral damages to systems in the vicinity of the failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 ram 5500. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle shifted out of gear and went into neutral. Without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to southfork chrysler dodge jeep ram (844-350-9615, located at 17725 s freeway, manvel, tx 77578) where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that the fuse in the fuel pump overheated without warning. The failure caused the fuel pump to seize and the vehicle to shut...
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off. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer and the contact was informed that the failure was not covered by the warranty. The contact also stated that the idler pulley belt fractured, which caused the steering to lose power and the air conditioning to lose its cooling capability. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to nhtsa. The failures were not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 ram 5500. While the contact's husband was driving 50-55 mph, smoke emerged from under the hood and the engine caught fire. The driver extinguished the fire. The service engine and oil warning indicators were illuminated. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot and then towed to mac haik chrysler dodge jeep ram flowood (4000 lakeland dr, flowood, ms 39232, (855) 223-8958) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be...
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replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 35490335. The manufacturer did not assist. The warranty and insurance companies stated that the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 ram 5500 equipped with nexen rodian tires, size: lt235/80r17 (na). Two months ago, the contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the death wobble. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, but it was not diagnosed. Later, the contact took the vehicle to tate branch artesi chrysler dodge jeep ram (919 s 1st st, artesia, nm 88210) for a minor repair. The dealer called the contact and stated that the vehicle had two split tires. The mechanic did not explain which tires were split. The contact planned to have the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vin and dot number were unknown. The tire and failure mileage was 28,000.
While driving the vehicle on the highway the transfer case exploded, chrysler determined that the repairs would not be covered under warranty. However, we provided proof of service over the time period that the vehicle was in service which was only 6 months. They explained our parts were not properly greased and maintained. We do know a business associate that had the exact same thing happen to his vehicle. I did research and in the past this has been a similar problem and recalls for the same exact issue...Please help!!
Ram 5500: every year compared
All 5500 years2017 Ram 5500 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ram 5500 | 21 | 7 | C | |
| 2017 Ram 1500 | 887 | 13 | D | Compare |
| 2017 Ram 2500 | 699 | 12 | F | Compare |
| 2017 Ram 3500 | 317 | 13 | D | Compare |
| 2017 Ram Promaster City | 76 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2017 Ram 4500 | 5 | 7 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2017 Ram 5500
Does the 2017 Ram 5500 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2017 Ram 5500: control unit / module (November 2024); lugs / nuts / bolts / studs (May 2021); wiring (May 2018); automatic transmission (February 2018) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ram 5500?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (8), brakes (7), wheels & tires (5).
How many complaints has the 2017 Ram 5500 had?
21 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on June 27, 2018 and the latest on September 10, 2026. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 2 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2017 Ram 5500 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 46 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Ram 5500 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ram 5500 years have the most complaints?
2018 (40), 2022 (27), 2017 (21). See every Ram 5500 year compared.
What should I do if my 2017 Ram 5500 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data