2017 Ram 1500 Transmission Problems

98 owners have reported transmission & drivetrain problems with the 2017 Ram 1500 to NHTSA — 11% of all 883 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 21,000 miles. That ranks #7 of 15 1500 model years for transmission complaints (a typical year has 86). 3 related recalls have been issued.

98complaints
21ktypical miles
3related recalls
9crashes
0fires
2injuries

Which parts fail

  • Automatic transmission
    2
  • Automatic transmission › Torque converter
    1
  • Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
    1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    3355%
  • 25k–50k
    1118%
  • 50k–75k
    47%
  • 75k–100k
    12%
  • 100k–150k
    813%
  • 150k+
    35%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2017 RAM 1500. The contact stated that while reversing and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle went into overdrive and crashed into a building. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. A police report was not reported. The contact did not call the local dealer and made them aware of this failure. On June 21, 2021, the contact stated that when approaching an intersection and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle went into overdrive again. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he depressed the brake pedal to the floor to stop the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the brake and accelerator assembly to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …

26,000 miles · Jun 2021 · crash

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after her son reversed into the driveway and exited the vehicle, the vehicle started to roll away. Her son then jumped in the vehicle and accidentally depressed the accelerator pedal in his efforts to depress the brake pedal causing him to crash into a tree. The front of the vehicle was severely damaged and the air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries sustained by her son. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced a manufacturer's Recall under U05 associated with the failure. The failure mileage was 71,094.

71,000 miles · May 2022 · crash

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated the gear shift/rotary dial had seized in place. The vehicle failed to shift into park, and the key failed to release from the ignition switch. While driving, the vehicle jumped from park to reverse and then drive. The drive, reverse, park, and neutral warning lights were illuminated. While at a stop, the vehicle locked. While depressing the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal revving sound detected. The vehicle was hesitating and was slow to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed as an electrical failure. The dealer informed the contact that the control module was not communicating with the TCM. The dealer scheduled an appointment. The vehicle was not repaired. …

Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL) · 141,000 miles · Oct 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the passenger's side exhaust manifold bolts had fractured, and the passenger's side exhaust manifold, the gasket, and the bolts were replaced by the dealer; however, the failure recurred on the driver's side exhaust manifold. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 35-65 MPH, the vehicle shuddered while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been a recurring failure while driving. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and transmission repair shops, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter had failed and was separating inside the casing. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that he would be charged a fee for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. …

Automatic transmission › Torque converter · 110,000 miles · Aug 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, several unknown transmission codes were displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that a transmission flush was needed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering rack had short-circuited and needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,455.

140,000 miles · Feb 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly failed to shift into gear properly, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, after depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle unexpectedly reversed. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and shut off, the vehicle unexpectedly started rolling away while parked on a hill at the residence, and the parking brake was engaged. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and DTC: P0814-000; for transmission failure was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 214,000.

214,000 miles · Mar 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled in the middle of the road. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact attempted to pull over to the side of the road, but the gear shifter failed to shift to neutral. The tow truck operator disassembled the dashboard to shift the vehicle into neutral. The contact then towed the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with tone crankshaft failure. Additionally, there were 2 sensors that were damaged due to pressure sensor and battery failure. The vehicle was waiting to be repaired and the parts were ordered. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

130,000 miles · Jan 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after making an abrupt stop, several abnormal popping sounds began to emit from the vehicle without warning. The vehicle then failed to accelerate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. Due to the failure, the vehicle was initially towed to the residence and then towed to a dealer. The dealer informed the contact that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The contact disagreed with the diagnostic and had the vehicle towed back home. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V198000 (Power Train) which the contact linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

100,000 miles · Feb 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the contact was informed that the drive pinion seal of the rear differential was leaking, and an unknown bolt was bent. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the TPMS warning light illuminated. The contact was unsure what repairs needed to be performed. The dealer advised the contact to stop driving the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to that NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V198000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

159,000 miles · Aug 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Service Electronic Stability Control" was displayed. While investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken back to the residence, and the contact used an OBD reader to diagnose the vehicle. The contact determined that the tone wheel had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was confirmed that the tone wheel and the front passenger's side axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,520.

105,000 miles · Apr 2026

Related recalls

Power train › Automatic transmission

NHTSA recall 18V-100 · Feb 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…

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.

Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift

NHTSA recall 17V-821 · Dec 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.

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.

Power train › Driveline › Differential unit

NHTSA recall 17V-198 · Mar 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.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the differential retaining pin, free of charge. The recall began April 24, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

NHTSA investigations

Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure

NHTSA investigation RQ25003 · opened 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 shift lever.The failures…

Vehicle Rollaway

NHTSA investigation PE16014 · opened 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 shifter design.

Transmission complaints in other 1500 years

’09’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’269861922262029860207639910328154910
Transmission complaints per model year, Ram 1500.

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2017 Ram 1500?

NHTSA has 98 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2017 Ram 1500, 11% of the model year's 883 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (2 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2017 Ram 1500 transmission problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-100 (automatic transmission, Feb 8, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-821 (column shift, Dec 20, 2017); NHTSA recall 17V-198 (differential unit, Mar 23, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2017 Ram 1500 transmission problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 21,000 miles, and 55% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.