2017 Ram 3500
The 2017 Ram 3500 is a pickup truck; vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR are not certified for fuel economy by the EPA, so this page is built from NHTSA's recall, complaint and investigation records. NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 315 complaints, most often about the service brakes.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.govNo EPA fuel-economy record: the EPA does not certify vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR. Recall, complaint and investigation data below come from NHTSA.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Pickup |
| GVWR class | Class 3: 10,001 - 14,000 lb (4,536 - 6,350 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 6.7 L |
| Engine configuration | In-Line |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 385 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Diesel |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 6 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Laramie, Longhorn, SLT, ST). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 227.2–256.7 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 79.5–96.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 140.2–169.7 in |
| Track, front | 68.9 in |
| Track, rear | 68.5 in |
| Curb weight | 6,023–7,414 lb |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 14 configurations: Ram Crew Cab L/Box 2WD Drw, Ram Crew Cab L/Box 2WD Srw, Ram Crew Cab L/Box 4WD Drw, Ram Crew Cab L/Box 4WD Srw, Ram Crew Cab S/Box 2WD, Ram Crew Cab S/Box 4WD …. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2017 Ram 3500 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (12)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseService Brakes, Hydraulic
C4BWheels
Y26, Y36Latches/Locks/Linkages
V44Steering
V06Structure
U74Electrical System
U49,U59-U65,U68,U73Power Train
U11Equipment
T82Power Train
T79Engine And Engine Cooling
T51Wheels
These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) — Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure 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 shift lever. The failures of the BTSI described in the VOQs occurred on vehicles that had all previously been repaired under recall 17V-821 or 18V-100. Both recalls address a potential condition which can cause the BTSI locking pin to become stuck allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park with
Opened Jul 3, 2025 · action RQ25003 · the investigation’s page →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic — Loss of Brake Performance closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on November 28, 2022, after receiving 134 reports from consumers alleging an intermittent or permanent loss of braking performance in certain 2017-2018 Ram 2500-3500 pickup trucks manufactured by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The alleged failures continued to occur at a steady rate across both models, at all speeds, with limited detectability. Consumers complained that the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning light illuminated on their vehicles. The ABS module works in conjunction with the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU), an electromechanical device that controls hydraulic pressure to the individual wheel brake assemblie
Opened Nov 28, 2022 · closed Mar 3, 2025 · action PE22012 · the investigation’s page →
Steering:Linkages:Drag:Link:Connection — Steering loss due to linkage separation closed
On December 17, 2018, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE18016 to investigate alleged drag link failures in the steering system on model year (MY) 2015 and 2016 Ram 2500 trucks manufactured by FCA US, LLC (FCA). The drag link failures were found to be due to a safety defect with the steering linkage where the drag link adjustable connector (used to adjust the steering system), held in position by two opposing jam nuts, can loosen. The loosening of this part can lead to wear and deterioration of the threads and eventual separation of the drag link, causing loss of steering. During the course of PE18016, it was found that two styles of drag link w
Opened Dec 1, 2019 · closed Nov 20, 2025 · action EA19004 · the investigation’s page →
Steering:Linkages:Drag:Link:Connection — Steering loss due to linkage separation closed
On December 17, 2018, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 18-016 to investigate the steering system on model year (MY) 2015 and 2016 Ram 2500 manufactured by FCA US, LLC (FCA). Four complaints were received alleging separation of the drag link, a steering linkage that connects between the right front steering knuckle and the pitman arm on the steering box output shaft. The failures were found to be at a threaded coupler within the drag link used for adjusting the length of the linkage during routine maintenance (alignment) of the steering system. Once separation occurs, turning the steering wheel has no effect, and there is no way for the driver t
Opened Dec 17, 2018 · closed Dec 12, 2019 · action PE18016 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific 3500
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Ram publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 Ram 3500, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2017 Ram 3500
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this 3500 →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2017: 8 · 2018: 23 · 2019: 31 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 67 · 2024: 60 · 2025: 51 · 2026: 34
Most-cited components
In depth: brake problems →
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
Significant and dangerous delay with acceleration response when depressing the acceleration pedal while entering traffic. The hesitation is excessive and it can take greater than 3 seconds for any response
Online research best describes this problem as the dodge "death wobble". When an uneven spot or a pothole in the road is driven through, the front wheels wobble and shimmy violently until the vehicle is stopped. The local dealer as well as a local alignment shop have been unable to determine the problem
Very slow to respond throttle pedal, its to a point of not safe to pullout in traffic or merge onto a highway. There is 2-4 seconds of idle while pedal is to the floor, then the engine will start to increase RPM at a slow rate of speed.
Nexen tire failure at 3452 miles. Tires came on new truck. Driving on interstate hwy, 65 MPH, pulling a 14000 LB 5th wheel RV. Front left tire tread separated which caused sidewall to blowout completely. Difficult to maintain control but successful. Examination showed tread was not properly glued to carcass.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. While driving with a trailer connected, the "trailer brake not connected" message illuminated. The vehicle was taken to pine belt chrysler jeep dodge Ram (1400 ocean ave, route-88, lakewood, nj 08701), but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was repaired but repairs were unknown.
I was driving in heavy traffic on the freeway and attempting to merge to the right to exit the freeway. When I pressed the gas pedal to the floor to accelerate and merge into traffic, the engine hesitated and there was no power at all for 2-3 seconds. After that short period, the engine accelerated and I was able to safely merge.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 112 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 15,000 and 75,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Median mileage by component
| Component | Reports | Median miles | Vs same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 42 | 60,000 | 1.82× |
| Wheels | 15 | 17,700 | 0.93× |
Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2017-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: service brakes (1.82×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Ram warranty extension 98016Warranty Bulletin D-24-10 (XQ1) Emission Control System Components – Select 2013 - 2019 RAM 2500 Pickup (DJ) and 2013- 2019 RAM 3500 Pickup (D2)
The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Stellantis warranty extension (117) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Visibility/Wiper, Power Train.
- 9100923 Service bulletin2026-09-21 · Engine
- AIR CLEANER - NONE Instruction to Dealers while ordering the PN# 68137142AD. 1. If the Air Cleaner Assembly is functional and only the MAF Sensor has failed, the dealer should order and replace only the MAF Sensor(68002441AC). 2. If the Air Cleaner Assembly has failed and the MAF Sensor remains functional, the dealer should order the new Air Cleaner Assembly PN(68137142AD) and reuse the existing M
- S1203000003 REV. A Service bulletin2026-06-26 · Service Brakes
- Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning
- 112906 Service bulletin2026-06-17 · Engine
- BEARING - CRANKSHAFT THRUST and KIT
- 112906 Service bulletin2026-06-17 · Engine
- BEARING - CRANKSHAFT THRUST and KIT
- S1623000028 Rev. K Service bulletin2026-06-12 · Electrical System
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- S1623000028 REV. J Service bulletin2026-06-05 · Structure — Body
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- S1623000028 REV. I Service bulletin2026-05-29 · Electrical System
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- S2623000032 Service bulletin2026-04-30 · Structure — Body
- Squeak Or Squawk Noise Coming From Either Side Door Of The Vehicle, It Could Be Just One Door Or More. The Noise Can Be Present In Either The Upper Or The Lower Hinge.
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| P207F P207F on Ram → | The quality of the reductant (diesel exhaust fluid) in the tank is out of specification. | Exterior Lighting · Headlight assembly → | 5 bulletins |
| P202E P202E on Ram → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Exterior Lighting · Headlight assembly → | 3 bulletins |
| P218F P218F on Ram → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Exterior Lighting · Headlight assembly → | 3 bulletins |
| C0042 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 2 bulletins |
| C140E | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 2 bulletins |
| P0340 P0340 on Ram → | A fault in the camshaft position sensor circuit on bank 1. | Engine · Camshaft position sensor → | 2 bulletins |
| P0344 P0344 on Ram → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 2 bulletins |
| P0404 | The exhaust gas recirculation valve is not moving the way it was commanded. | Power Train · EGR valve → | 2 bulletins |
| P0405 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 2 bulletins |
| P0572 P0572 on Ram → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 2 bulletins |
| P06DD P06DD on Ram → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 2 bulletins |
| P1404 P1404 on Ram → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 2 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
3500 by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2017 3500
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2017 Ram 3500 have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 12 recall campaigns for the 2017 Ram 3500, 3 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V010000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2017 Ram 3500?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2017 Ram 3500 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (37/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What are the dimensions of the 2017 Ram 3500?
Transport Canada measured it at 227.2–256.7 in long, 79.5–96.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), on a 140.2–169.7 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 6,023–7,414 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2017 Ram 3500?
Owners have filed 315 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ram 3500, most often about service brakes, electrical system, engine. Of those, 9 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Ram 3500?
The manufacturer has filed 394 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Ram 3500, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-21. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | none | EPA certification records | The EPA does not certify vehicles rated over 8,500 lb GVWR, so heavy-duty nameplates have no entry at all. |
| Emission certificates | none | EPA emission certificates | The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page. |
| Recalls | 12 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 315 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 394 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 4 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 10 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 6 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.