Problems · by component

2017 Ram 1500 engine problems

156 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2017 Ram 1500 cite engine, 18% of all 884 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
156
18% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The crank tone wheel failed and created a no start scenario. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealer and they are advising quoting me a repair when there is a related open recall for this exact situation.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2026EngineODI 11759586
“Vehicle is having the same issues it had before with soot and sludge build up in the engine that caused the EGR to fail and melt into the engine... I have all the parts that were replaced from the 1st time this happened and was not repaired properly and is now causing a catastrophic failure....”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 28, 2026Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11734418
“The Coolant liquid is absorved with no external leaking. There is an active Recall (19V-757, FCA Recall VB1) that the dealer said fits perfectly my vehicle but for some reason my VIN# is not included under the recall and they can not do anything unless I pay them.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2026EngineODI 11722671
“I am reporting a persistent safety defect involving loss of intended drivability in my 2017 Ram 1500 with an 8-speed automatic transmission. For the past 3 years, on almost every use of the vehicle, the transmission enters an abnormal operating state where it becomes stuck in a single gear (most often 3rd or 4th) and will not upshift or downshift. When this occurs, the vehicle experiences reduced ability to accelerate and loss of normal drivability. The condition does not resolve while driving and requires me to pull over, shut the vehicle off, and restart it to restore operation. This defect has occurred multiple times at freeway speeds, requiring me to pull over onto the highway shoulder due to loss of vehicle function. A vehicle that cannot reliably shift or accelerate at highway speed presents a clear safety hazard to the driver and surrounding traffic. Requiring a stop-and-restart is not a safe or reasonable mitigation strategy in real-world traffic conditions. The issue occurs more frequently when the vehicle is cold, indicating a predictable and repeatable failure mode, not driver error or misuse. I have had to alter normal driving behavior, including…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11718674
“1-ABS module, yes ABS breaks do not engage properly Yes, Gettel CDJR Punta Gorda FL Only the Dealer that sold me the truck ABS warning light came on a couple days after purchase, after restarting the truck the warning light went off for a few days then came back on and now is on all the time 2-Exhaust manifold, slight exhaust smell from time to time in cab Yes, Gettel CDJR Punta Gorda FL By dealer No warning light only a loud ticking noise from the exhaust manifold area, confirmed by Gettel service department”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2026Service brakes, EngineODI 11711597
“EGR Cooler cracked @ 58,000 miles resulting in a disabled truck that has to be towed to the nearest dealership 20 miles away and 1 1/2 hours from our home two days before Christmas 2025. Thankfully my family was ok and the engine did not catch fire. The original EGR cooler was replaced by the manufacture under a recall at the end of 2020 @ 28,000 miles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2026EngineODI 11709169

Showing 6 of 156 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.