10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,587 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Ram 1500 steering problems

steering problem

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2017 Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #124

Sep 092024

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power steering control not working. It's getting power but not engaging the motor.

- Sun City, AZ, USA

problem #123

Aug 232024

1500

  • miles
Was driving down highway and steering wheel locked up and service power steering alarm came on, almost hit an oncoming car in opposite flow of traffic. Shut truck off and re started it and was able to limp the truck home on back roads with the steering still intermittently giving out. Got it home and called service to get it scheduled and had to have it towed as steering went fully out and the shop said the whole electronic power steering rack and pinion went out and needs replaced, now I have to cough up over $4300 to fix it on a new truck, let alone im scared to death to drive it as the shop said this is an ongoing problem with a lot of Ram pickups due to water getting into the EPS board and shorting it out. Ram needs to recall this!! I had my girlfriend and baby in the truck with me and we could have all gotten hurt when the steering went out down the highway.

- York, NE, USA

problem #122

Aug 052024

1500

  • miles
The electric power steering failed while driving with no warning. The first time while making a right hand turn, the steering very suddenly lost all power assist and it was near impossible to keep control through the turn. After a few seconds it began to work again. Several miles later while traveling approx 60 mph it happened again and I was barely able to keep it on the road until I could show down and pull off to the side. After shutting the car off for about 20 mins. I started the truck and it worked all the way home about 5 miles. For a couple days if I disconnected the negative battery cable for a while it would work again until I shut off the truck. And then it started happening intermittently while driving so I parked the truck until it could be fixed. After some research I learned there is a recall on the 2013's to 2016's for the same problem with many exact complaints about 2017's. For two weeks I've been searching for a new steering rack (part number 68628857AA) and there are none available with backorders of 45+ plus days with dealerships telling me they have customers who have been waiting 6 months for one. It's a $2000 - $3000 part depending on the dealership. They want you to pay for it and wait 6 months to get it which is absolutely absurd. Please help!

- Ruskin, FL, USA

problem #121

May 222024

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am writing this letter about a vehicle I purchased in November 2023. The vehicle purchased was a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Diesel from Rick Chevrolet in Virginia Beach VA. The truck has many defects. The first month I took it back for a leaking tire, broken windshield, oil leak and because it drove funny and I did not know what was wrong with it, but I knew something was wrong. They kept the truck for approximately a week or two. In April I hit a pothole in Norfolk off [XXX] and I didn-??t know what had happened to the truck. I left it in Norfolk until the next morning because I could not get a tow truck to come out that night. I had my truck towed to Dodge, Ram and FIAT in Norfolk VA. They told me the Tie Rod, Axle, had broken. The Dealer then, told me that the truck would not align so they sent it to the Collision Center. The collision center told me that the truck had a bent frame and it did not happen due to the pothole. That the truck was a death trap and I need not to drive it that the dealer should not have sold me that truck. I went and talked to the Manager at Rick Chevrolet named Kerry and he said we could swap the truck, but I had to make a down payment of an excessive amount due to my credit. I did not know that this truck was a nightmare and I feel why should I have to pay for someone selling me a truck that can kill me and whoever is riding with me. I bought the truck because they are supposed to be safe. This is ridiculous and the dealership is not trying to help me out of this by putting me in a safe vehicle. I am paying for something that is going to cause me bodily harm or my life, and they want me to pay more to get into a safe vehicle. This truck should not have been sold and because it was, they need to take responsibility and swap me out of this death trap. Can you please look into this matter. The collision center gave me copies of what they did, and what they found wrong with the truck and a picture of frame being bent. The firewall INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #120

Aug 122024

1500

  • miles
The electronic power steering (EPS) system failed while driving down the road. Lost the ability to steer the vechical and came close to having a accident head on.we had to cost down the road way until we reached the shoulder. The truck has 80,000 miles. Yes the warning lamp lit up once the system stopped operating properly not before we lost the ability to steer, the warning was a steering wheel and ! Point. There was no pre warning. Had to have the truck trailered back home.

- Guyton, GA, USA

problem #119

Aug 102024

1500

  • miles
the truck drove just fine the day before, got into the truck and turned it on got a "service steering" light and message. tried to turn the steering wheel and it will not turn. IT read multiple codes as i have a code reader, checked power and fuses and everything was good but one code keeps coming up c2217 which seems to be associated with a recall for the 2015-16 and 2019 rams. my truck is stuck in my driveway and can not turn the steering wheel to drive safely. luckily i was not driving like some others have been.

- Nampa, ID, USA

problem #118

Sep 242023

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My power steering intermittently locks while driving, particularly in the process of a turn. It is just a momentary lock, but it does interfere with the turning process. One time it locked and stayed locked. I shut the vehicle down and restarted, and it would not come back, had to sit for about 15 minutes, no accident as of yet. The dealership states I will have to replace the whole front end (both racks) steering system. My vehicle is a 2017 RAM with 48,000 miles on it.

- San Angelo, TX, USA

problem #117

Jul 092024

1500

  • miles
I pulled in a parking spot came back an hour later started my truck put it in reverse I had no steering, I pulled forward put in park then reverse. My steering was not there. Turning the trick off and back on no warning lights. After sitting for 2 hrs I turned the truck on a red light started flashing. Service power steering. I just bought the truck so I took it back to the dealership big Joe's auto. My dad attempted to drive it and put it in the ditch because he could not steering. The dealership would not send a tow truck.

- Rush, CO, USA

problem #116

Jul 062024

1500

  • 179,955 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the local dealer along with Vaden Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Brunswick (912) 456-8371), and Jacksonville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Arlington (904) 414-4746) were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,955.

- Hoboken, GA, USA

problem #115

Jun 242024

1500

  • miles
The electrical power steering completely went out. Thankfully right before getting on interstate. It is locked up with no give at all. The dealership it is at says he hasn't had 1 like this hardly at all where you can't steer what so ever. This happened at an intersection. Recalls on 2014 to 2016 of these trucks were done and why if the steering completey locks up like this is there not one on this year?

- Estelline, SD, USA

problem #114

Jul 012024

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving my truck on vacation and the steering locked up and is stuck! Rack and pinion fail diagnosed by the dealer.

- Rockledge, PA, USA

problem #113

Jun 142024

1500

  • miles
Power steering suddenly stopped working. Same description as the other model years involved in the recall. Electric power steering goes out randomly, replacement part is extremely expensive, and nearly impossible to find available. This truck was this truck was produced in 2016 although model year 2017. Electric power steering is the same for the 13-??-16-?? model years. 2017 should be included in the recall.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #112

Apr 122024

1500

  • miles
Intermittent electric power steering loss. One minute it is easy to turn then the next it is like it is fighting against you and is hard to turn. It happens at slower speeds more often.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #111

May 272024

1500

  • miles
Complete loss of power steering resulting in a near head on collision with another motorist. Cause of the loss of power steering was determined to be electronic components of the circuit board located inside of the steering rack had short circuited.

- Lyndonville, VT, USA

problem #110

May 082024

1500

  • miles
Suddenly and without any warning my power steering started to get unresponsive and difficult to safely navigate corners or stay in my lane. The truck only has 59,000 miles on it and I wouldn't think that is enough to make the steering rack fail. I know that there was a recall for the 2014 -2016 1500s so I was wondering if my 2017 was affected by the same issues" I am feeling unsafe driving this vehicle but it is my only transportation to work. What is the the best next step for me to resolve this without any out of pocket expenses if this is a recall issue"

- Sweet Home , OR, USA

problem #109

Apr 052024

1500

  • miles
When turning right or left a continuous speeds, the vehicle loses power steering altogether or snaps the steering wheel back

- Palmetto, FL, USA

problem #108

Apr 242024

1500

  • miles
Electronic power steering intermittent failure w service light. Dealer informed no parts available for replacement. Previous recalls on other models ram 1500 with same issues.

- Jamison, PA, USA

problem #107

Apr 262024

1500

  • miles
The power steering went out while driving. I don-??t know why. All I know is it-??s not safe for that to happen. I guess that why the recall was about. This truck did not get the steering issue fixed.now it definitely should be taking care of since I-??m unable to drive without it. I-??ve had shops look at it and they found the recalls

- Wadsworth , OH, USA

problem #106

Mar 132024

1500

  • miles
My daughter and I was parked eating our lunch. When we pulled out onto the busy highway, the power steering completely went out making it impossible to turn. Barely avoided a crash.

- Avery, TX, USA

problem #105

Apr 252024

1500

  • miles
Power steering stop work and takes extreme force to turn it. Almost drove off a t-intersection when came time to turn with no warning.

- Dows, IA, USA

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