2017 Ram 1500 transmission and drivetrain problems
98 of the 880 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ram 1500 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 3 recalls, 2 NHTSA investigations. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 of the 98 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 10 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 12
Half of the 57 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 5,000 and 55,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
880 complaints in all about the 2017 Ram 1500, 12 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 1500 transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Every time I drive on a long trip and try to pass some one the rear end feels like it is going to fall off and I loos power and the trans makes a lound noise and feels like it is going to break off I paid a lot of money for this truck no codes come up but there is a iuuse please help me
I motioned to put my vehicle in park with electronic rotary shifter, in a parking lot. Vehicle was not moving at first. Exited vehicle. Started walking toward destination. Noticed vehicle was rolling backwards. Ran after vehicle. Vehicle struck another car. Vehicle came to rest noticed electronic rotary shifter indicating reverse.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. While the vehicle was started on a flat surface while in the park position, it rolled forward several times. In addition, while reversing, there was an abnormal spinning condition and the tires caught up to the motion as the failure occurred intermittently. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
While driving my 2017 Ram 1500 laramie crew cab down a dirt road (approx. 25% grade) on a dry summer day, the truck seems to accelerate and then abruptly decelerate. The truck was in 4 wheel drive low and the transmission was manually placed in 1st gear.
File complaint with you regarding defective goodyear tires they were replaced and truck began to have violent shaking had wheels rebalance at dealer and violent shaking continued. Return to dealer on 8/10/17 and test drive car to duplicate concern, concern was duplicated.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 18V100000 HighFeb 8, 2018 · 180,462 vehicles
- 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.
- 17V821000 HighDec 20, 2017 · 1,482,874 vehicles
- 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.
- 17V198000 HighMar 23, 2017 · 30 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 1500 trucks. The differential pin retaining screw may come loose while driving, potentially causing the differential to break or lock up.
NHTSA investigations
- RQ25003 Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failureopened Jul 3, 2025 · open
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks. The subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shif…
- PE16014 Vehicle Rollawayopened Dec 16, 2016 · closed Jan 25, 2024
- Basis – On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-014 to investigate 43 vehicle rollaway incidents with operators alleging they had shifted to Park and then exited the vehicle prior to the rollway incidents. These complaints involved multiple Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) model and model year vehicles that share a common electronic rotary…
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Ram 1500 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Ram 1500
Source: the same files- engine problems 188 complaints
- fuel system problems 129 complaints
- electrical problems 109 complaints
- airbag problems 53 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2017 Ram 1500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 98 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (11% of everything owners filed about it), and 3 recalls, 2 NHTSA investigations are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2017 Ram 1500?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 18V100000, 17V821000, 17V198000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2017 Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 21,000 miles; half of them between 5,000 and 55,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.