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2017 Ram 2500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
12%
85 of 697 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2017 Ram 2500. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 12% of relevant complaints.

Better than 96% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2017 Ram 2500 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 85 of 697 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ram 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (12%). For comparison, the 2016 scores 46% and the 2018 scores 4%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
85
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
697
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
12
12 crashes · 10 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES519 · 74%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM121 · 17%
HYDRAULIC96 · 14%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL72 · 10%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE63 · 9%
STEERING49 · 7%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
20%
58 of 298
2012
35%
94 of 283
2013
42%
70 of 178
2014
40%
127 of 341
2015
41%
82 of 214
2016
46%
110 of 258
2017
12%
85 of 697
2018
4%
116 of 2,597
2019
45%
82 of 193
2020
44%
69 of 162
2021
53%
53 of 108
2022
51%
85 of 181
2023
53%
18 of 49

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN08/22/2017CRASH1 INJURED
STOPPED AND PLACED MY RAM 2500 IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. GOT OUT AND PUSHED A VEHICLE OFF A CAR DOLLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK! THE TRUCK JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND STARTED GOING BACKWARDS. I RAN TO STOP IT AS THE TRUCK AND CAR DOLLY JACK KNIFED HITTING ME AND KNOCKING BACKWARDS. THE DOLLY WEDGED UNDER THE SIDE OF THE …
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING09/25/2026
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, there was a squeaking sound coming from the coolant pump. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact…
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE08/25/2026
Motor completely over heated causing the hose to rupture underneath the intake manifold. Engine is unrepairable. Had to order new engine and a new intake manifold because it melted the current one. Also approximately 2 years ago, I also had to replace the transmission. This truck only has 155,000 miles in it and has ha…

Three of 85 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2017 Ram 2500 (12)

STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Ram 3500 and 2014-2018 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab and Ram 2500 vehicles. The outboard steering linkage jam nut may loosen,…
STEERING:LINKAGES
Streetcar ORV LLC (Streetcar) is recalling certain American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) 3" Dualsport aftermarket suspension kits, part numbers N0436000 and N0436001, sold f…
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with an 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. Chrysler is also rec…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2017 Ram 2500

Questions people ask about the 2017 Ram 2500

Does the 2017 Ram 2500 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 85 of 697 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ram 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (12%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Ram 2500?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns on the 2017 Ram 2500. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Ram 2500 years are better?

Among the Ram 2500 years we track, the 2018 (4%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (12%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Ram 2500?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Ram 2500 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.