Home · 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Trx · Complaints

What 858 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Trx

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (858)Crash / fire / injury (98)Steering (220)Engine (154)Electrical system (105)Transmission & drivetrain (97)Fuel system (95)Brakes (94)Airbags (53)Suspension (48)Speed control (41)Body & structure (35)

220 of 858 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 9 of 9

Aug 19, 2020Steering

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TWO OCURRANCES 3 MONTHS APART. LOW SPEED RIGHT TURN AT 20MPH, DASH ERROR LIGHT (LOSS OF COMM WITH POWER STEERRING) AND NO POWER STEERING. STOP, SHUT ENGINE DOWN AND RESTART RESTORES POWER STEERING. SECOND OCCURANCE (14 AUG 2020), SAME ERROR WHILE PERFORMING LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 25 MPH. SHUT ENGINE, AND RESTART RESTORES POWER STEERING. IN BOTH INSTANCES, MANUAL NON ASSISTED STEERING STILL FUNCTIONAL. ALL DRIVING WHILE IN CITY, STARTING FROM INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11350240

Jul 19, 2020Steering

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. OVER A PERIOD OF 2-3 WEEKS POWER STEERING HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE INOPERABLE AND REQUIRES VERY MUCH EFFORT TO STEER. DEALER SUGGESTION IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE RACK & PINION MODULE AT HIGH COST - EST $2200. REPAIR MUST BE DONE TO MAKE THIS VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS IDENTICAL TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECENT (16 DEC 2019) VB8 CHRYSLER RECALL FOR 2019 RAM 1500 TRUCKS.

NHTSA ODI 11340225

Jul 10, 2020Steering

FAILURE OF ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. UNABLE TO PROPERLY CONTROL VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11338590

Jul 8, 2020SteeringElectrical systemBody & structureCrash

WHEN BACKING INTO GARAGE ON 5/24/20 RAM 1500 QUAD CAB STEERING LOCKED IN ONE POSITION AND VEHICLE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE ACCELERATED QUICKLY BACKWARDS INTO MY GARAGE WALL AND DAMAGED THE GARAGE WALL, GARAGE DOOR, AND VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO IT HITTING THE BACK OF THE GARAGE AND GOING INTO MY HOUSE. THE VEHICLE STEERING WAS STILL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11338210

May 7, 2020Steering

THE WOBBLE OF DEATH WHEN VEHICLE IN MOTION AFTER TURNING FROM SMOKE RD ONTO WIRE RD IN DORCHESTER ,SC 29437. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323621

Dec 21, 2019SteeringSuspensionBrakes

SUDDEN LOSE OF FRONT AIR SUSPENSION WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING, NEGATIVELY EFFECTED THE VEHICLES STABILITY, STEERING, AND ABILITY TO STOP. TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER. ONLY EXPLANATION GIVEN IS IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE ITS COLD OUTSIDE (WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN IN WINTER).

NHTSA ODI 11290595

Oct 16, 2019Steering

POWER STEERING WORKS AND DON'T WORK DONT WORK WHEN TEMP IS 40;OR BELOW THEN DRIVE FOR 10_12 MILES SHUT ENGINE OFF RESTART AND POWER STEERING WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11268976

Sep 30, 2019SteeringEngine

NOTICED AT 40K MILES THERE IS ISSUE WITH TIE ROD ENDS JOINTS BECOME LOOSE MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT REPORTED THIS TO A DEALERSHIP THEY TRYING TO BRUSH ME OFF BS THAT THERE IS ISSUE WITH ROCKERS AND LIFTERS IN THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS ARE SNAPPING CAUSING EXHAUST TO LEAK AND BECOME LOUDER THAT'S A EMISSION ISSUE ALSO

NHTSA ODI 11259006

Sep 22, 2019Steering

I WAS TAKING A CORNER AT ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING GAVE OUT CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH THE VEHICLE, A COUPLE MUNUTES LATER IT CAME BACK ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN THE NEXT TIME I STARTED UP THE TRUCK IT HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. NOW WAITING TO GET IT INTO DODGE FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11257190

Sep 21, 2019SteeringElectrical systemCrash

YEAH I STARTED WITH THE SCREENS IN MY DASH GOING DARK THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE WAS SO NOW IT'S GOTTEN TO WHERE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD AND THE WHOLE EVERYTHING DIES OR SHUTS DOWN. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPS DOWN AS IF YOU'RE SLAMMED ON YOUR BREAKS YOU CAN FEEL THE PULL THE TRANSMISSION AS IF THAT'S WHAT'S SLOWING ME DOWN. THEN IT HITS RIGHT BACK WITHIN SECONDS IN THE WHOLE VEHICLE ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON EVERYTHING EVERYTHING I'M SO BRIGHT IT ALMOST BLIND YOU AND THEN ALL SUDDEN EVERYTHING CALM DOWN YOU'RE BACK TO NORMAL IN THE PICTURE I SENT IS WHAT THE SCREENS LOOK LIKE AFTERWARDS IT LOOKS LIKE WELL YOU'LL SEE.DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED WHAT AREA ROAD CONDITIONS IT JUST HAPPENS RANDOM INTERVALS. WHAT IS THE SCARE ME THE MOST ARE AT 70 MILES AN HOUR YOU HAVE NO POWER NO NOTHING TO START LOCKING UP AND STARTS BACK UP IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SENSORS THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS BUT I CAN'T GET IT FIXED. IT'S ABOUT THE SCARIEST THING HAVING YOUR VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT 60 TO 70 MILES AN HOUR QUITE OFTEN. I'VE TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CONDITION. IT'S OVER THE THREE YEARS HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND THEY DO KNOW THAT IT IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN UPDATE FOR SOME OF THE ISSUES SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DIE OUT THERE.

NHTSA ODI 11257117

Sep 17, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

TRUCK STILL UNDER WARENTY HAS LESS THAN 13,000 MILES. 7 DIFFERENT TIMES CAR WON'T START. HAVE HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP 3-4 TIMES. EACH TIME IT'S REPAIRED A DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL COMPUTER CODE IS STATED AS THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN PARKING LOTS, OUR DRIVEWAY AND AT A LIGHT (CAR WOULD NOT GO)! VERY DANGEROUS . STARTED TO HAPPEN 3 MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK. HAPPENS EVERY 30-60 DAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11256247

Jul 15, 2019SteeringAirbagsBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID A COLLISION BUT THE VEHICLE SPEED AND ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED FASTER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO TREE. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORTED WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER AUTONATION DODGE (21777 KATY FREEWAY, KATY TX.) WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11231933

Jul 3, 2019Steering

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND JUST AS I ENTERED A CURVE THE STEERING WENT OUT AND A WARNING CAME UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH SAID POWER STEERING FAILURE. ONCE I WAS IN A SAFE PLACE TO DO SO I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RE-STARTED IT. EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI 11229275

Nov 16, 2018Steering

POWER STEERING EPS HAS FAILED. THE CAR LOST THE POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11151901

Oct 11, 2018Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER ABILITY AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPPER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, INC. (1738 E WASHINGTON ST, WASHINGTON, IA 52353, (319) 653-3340) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11139721

Mar 14, 2018SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBody & structure

WHEN UNDER ACCELERATION IN ANY GEAR, FROM 2000 TO 2500 RPM THERE IS A BUZZY FEELING VIBRATION IN THE FLOOR, GAS PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL. TAKEN VEHICLE TO 2 SEPARATE DEALERS WHO CLAIM "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC", HOWEVER THIS ISSUE DID NOT START OCCURING UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 1000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11079143

Dec 18, 2017SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK WHILE TURNING AND IN MOTION AT CITY SPEEDS - LESS THAN 45MPH. HIGHWAY SPEEDS ~70 MPH. TOTAL INTERMITTENT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION. ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY, LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK.

NHTSA ODI 11055273

Nov 17, 2017SteeringWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE REAR WINDOWS DOWN, THE TURBULENCE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND CAUSED EAR TRAUMA/POPPING AND THE CONTACT'S EYES TO WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (JOHN HIESTER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, 940 N MAIN ST, LILLINGTON, NC 27546 910-893-8088) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE BALANCED AND OTHER WINDOWS SHOULD BE OPENED FOR THE TURBULENCE. THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 32784742. JESSICA AT 844-378-0573 EXT 81498 STATED THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TURBULENCE WAS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,837.

NHTSA ODI 11046949

Nov 6, 2017SteeringLightsEngine

HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS BUT ENGINE DIDN'T PRODUCE ANY CODES.I TOOK TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAID NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT SENSOR PROBLEMS UNTIL CODE APPEARS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ABOUT A HALF MILE FROM HOME MY TRUCK SHUT DOWN. MY ENGINE TURNED OFF AND LOST MY STEERING,LIGHTS,AND DASH LIGHTS. THE ONLY THING THAT REMAINED ON WAS THE FULLY ILLUMINATED 8' RADIO COMMAND CENTER AND GEAR SELECT KNOB.THE SATELLITE RADIO REMAINED PLAYING BUT COULDN'T ADJUST VOLUME. I LUCKILY PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. I COULDN'T RESTART VEHICLE TO MOVE IT. I THEN TOOK MY KEY FOB AND LOCKED AND OPENED THE TRUCK.THE LIGHTS FLASHED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE TO MOVE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. DURING THE TIME OF TURNING VEHICLE BACK ON THE DASH DISPLAYED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I THEN RECEIVED A VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION REPORT EMAILED TO ME THAT ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SERVICE NEEDED. THIS INCIDENT WITH A NEW TRUCK WITH 23,000 MILES IS VERY CONCERNING IN LOSING POWER,LIGHTS AND STEERING. THE PROBLEMS STATED WERE OVER A MONTH AGO AS NOTED WITH PICTURES

NHTSA ODI 11043613

Sep 11, 2017Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND REMAINED LIT. THE STEERING WHEEL RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRUNSWICK AUTO MART (3031 CENTER ROAD BRUNSWICK, OHIO 44212 PHONE (330)-273-3300), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,071. UPDATED 11/02/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERINGS WHILE IN A TURN CAUSING VEHICLE TO CROSS ROAD CENTERLINE NARROWLY MISSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. UPDATED 7/16/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11022614

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Working with the data? Download all 858 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Trx verdict →