The Ram 1500 full-sized pickup truck was received well in its time of release due to its supposed ruggedness and build quality. There have been doubts, however, about its dependability at times. So, let’s take a look at if the 2017 Ram 1500 is a reliable pickup truck, or not.
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2017 Ram 1500 Problems
There have been several safety recalls issued from NHTSA.
2017 Ram 1500 Engines Problems
A problem with the Ram 1500s with 3.0L diesel engines, there was a problem with the crankshaft position sensor tone wheel’s illumination, which could’ve ruined the timing and the fuel injector pulses, causing engine stalling.
Exhaust system & Tailgate
Another issue with the Diesel Ram 1500 models, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler was susceptible to cracking and letting pre-heated vaporised coolant to enter. This could’ve caused a fire to break out in the intake manifold.
The tailgate actuator limiter tab was said to be vulnerable to fracturing and causing the tailgate to open. This could’ve resulted in cargo falling out of the truck bed.
2017 Ram 1500 Electrical Issues
Plenty of Chrysler vehicles from this era were said to have a cruise control defect due to short-circuiting in the wiring. This could’ve prevented the cruise control from shutting down on command.
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Transmission Problems
These Ram trucks were equipped with a column shifter, and on excessively pressing the brake pedal, the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin could’ve been stuck in the open position.
So, this could’ve led to the truck’s gear shifting without having to hit the brakes or without putting the key in the ignition.
Fuel tank assembly
The fuel tanks in some Ram 1500 trucks were said to have a broken fuel tank control valve that could allow fuel to leak on the truck’s inversion, increasing the risk of fire if the car rolled over.
Differential unit
There was a recall due to a differential pin retaining screw being at the risk of coming loose while driving, leading to the differential breaking or locking up. These irregularities on the differential could have resulted in a loss of power or vehicle control.
2017 Ram 1500 Reliability Ratings
The NHTSA has given the 2017 Ram 1500 4 out of 5 stars for overall and front collision tests, tested at 35mph.
J.D Power has given the 2017 Ram 1500 a reliability rating of 81/100, calling it “Great”. This is the same as the overall rating that they’ve given to the truck.
According to RepairPals, the 2017 Ram 1500’s annual maintenance expenditure is between $511 and $625. However, there have been no problems reported to them.
U.S News has given the 2017 Ram a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0, calling it “above average”.
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Ask a Mechanic Live NowIs 2017 Ram 1500 A Reliable Pickup Truck?
Based on the mixed reliability ratings; and the number of recalls, the 2017 Ram pickup truck doesn’t look reliable. However, there have been very few complaints about the truck, and the average maintenance cost is a decent value.
The conclusion is that most of these problems have been fixed in the recalls, and the mixed reliability ratings are due to the trucks tested initially, which had more problems. So, if you’d like to get a 2017 Ram 1500, then go for it as it is reliable.
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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