Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P208B ? Reductant Pump 1 Control Performance, and/or P20E8 ? Reductant Pressure Too Low, Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 RAM 1500 brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2017 RAM 1500 have filed 47 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 49,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
47
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 1500 | 36 |
| 2014 1500 | 103 |
| 2015 1500 | 90 |
| 2016 1500 | 161 |
| 2017 1500 (this page) | 47 |
| 2018 1500 | 26 |
| 2019 1500 | 65 |
| 2020 1500 | 17 |
| 2021 1500 | 39 |
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 47 brakes complaints filed for the 2017 RAM 1500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 47 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P208B ? Reductant Pump 1 Control Performance, and/or P20E8 ? Reductant Pressure Too Low, Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PLATE - CLUTCH PRESSURE For 68RFE trans use selective fit pressure plates between the overdrive and reverse clutch packs and hence use all three 52119929A$, 52119930A$, 04799116A$ maintain clearance For 65RFE & 66RFE no selectives for this pressure plate: 65RFE use 04799116A$ 66RFE use 52119929A$
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PLATE - CLUTCH PRESSURE For 68RFE trans use selective fit pressure plates between the overdrive and reverse clutch packs and hence use all three 52119929A$, 52119930A$, 04799116A$ maintain clearance For 65RFE & 66RFE no selectives for this pressure plate: 65RFE use 04799116A$ 66RFE use 52119929A$
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗(Rev. B) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P20E8 ? Reductant Pressure Too Low and/or P208B ? Reductant Pump 1 Control Performance Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The bulk of these complaints center on ABS control module failure. Owners report the module's internal electronics fail, typically between 17,000 and 180,000 miles, illuminating the ABS, traction control, and service braking system warning lights while disabling cruise control and trailer brake functionality. The Mopar replacement parts (68295368AC and related numbers) have been on nationwide backorder for extended periods—some owners cite 12 months or longer with no ETA. Repair costs run $700 to $2,000 including labor. Notably, Chrysler issued a recall (NHTSA 24V653000) for identical ABS failures in 2017 Ram 2500/3500 trucks but excluded 1500 models despite identical failure behavior.
A second set of complaints describes premature brake pad and rotor deterioration, with pads crumbling at mileage as low as 29,000 miles on lightly-used trucks. Dealership service advisors confirm this is common across Ram trucks, including models less than a year old. One owner reported a brake pad retention clip failure that caused caliper misalignment and rotor damage. Parking brake failures appear in multiple complaints—vehicles rolling out of park without driver input, in some cases causing injury. A dealership inspection found no mechanical fault, suggesting an electronic control issue. One owner also reported inability to stop the truck on steep downhill grades despite full brake pedal application.
Same RAM 1500 brakes reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
ABS Control Module Internal Failure
Electronic failure of the ABS control module causing loss of anti-lock braking capability. Owners report the module fails internally and requires complete replacement. Multiple part numbers (68295368AC, 68295368AA) have been issued, with all versions on indefinite backorder nationally. Repair shops report the part has been unavailable for extended periods—some owners cite 12 months or longer wait times with no ETA from the manufacturer.
When: Between 17,200 and 180,000 miles; some failures reported as early as immediately after purchase or within first year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminated on dashboard; Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light illuminated; Traction control warning light on; Service Electronic Braking System message displayed; Brake pedal pulsation when applied; Cruise control disabled or inoperative; Trailer brake assist inoperative; 4WD disabled or inoperative; In some cases, brakes feel soft or metallic when applied on wet surfaces
Codes mentioned: C0020-01, C2200, C2200-49
Repairs/costs cited: Mopar part #68295368AC (and alternative part numbers 68295368AA, and a newer version) require complete module replacement; repair cost cited as $700–$2,000+ including labor. Parts unavailable at dealerships nationwide; some owners located replacement parts through non-dealer online sources.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 models (NHTSA Campaign 24V653000), but 2017 Ram 1500 is not included despite identical failure mode. Chrysler customer care acknowledges short brake warranty (12 months/12,000 miles) but does not acknowledge widespread ABS module defect. No recall or warranty extension offered for 1500 owners.
Brake Pad and Rotor Premature Wear and Deterioration
Brake pads crumble and disintegrate prematurely; outer edges of rotors flake apart. One owner reported this at 29,000 miles with light vehicle use. Service departments confirm seeing this frequently on Ram trucks, with some as young as one year old and low mileage. Owners characterize this as premature failure due to low-quality materials rather than normal wear, as pad thickness remains substantial when crumbling begins.
When: As early as 29,000 miles; dealership reports seeing similar failures on trucks only one year old
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pads visibly crumbling; Outer edges of front rotors flaking apart; Reduced braking ability reported in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads and rotors require replacement. Cost not specified in narratives, but owners note this represents premature failure outside normal wear interval. Dealerships acknowledge the issue is known to Chrysler.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler limits brake warranty to 12 months/12,000 miles despite 36-month bumper-to-bumper advertised warranty. Dealership confirmed Chrysler knows about the problem but refuses to address it. No recall or extended warranty offered.
Parking Brake Failure to Hold Vehicle
Emergency/parking brake fails to hold vehicle when parked. Vehicle can be driven with parking brake engaged without immediate awareness of the brake being on; alarm eventually alerts driver. Issue has persisted for years on affected vehicles. Dealership inspection found brake system components normal, suggesting a module or electronic control issue.
When: Ongoing issue persisting for years
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake does not hold vehicle on inclines or level ground; Vehicle can be driven with parking brake engaged without resistance; Alarm sounds when driving with parking brake engaged
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspection found no fault in brake system components; root cause not identified in narratives.
Brake Caliper Clip Failure
Brake pad retention clip on driver-side front caliper failed, causing the brake pad to slip and caliper to drop onto the rotor. Result was loss of braking pressure on one side of the rotor, with pressure applied only to the top surface, creating severe pitting and gouging of the rotor and eliminating lateral braking force.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of brake pressure on one side of rotor; No wear on side of rotor; severe pitting and gouging on top surface only; Reduced braking capability on that wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pad and rotor required replacement due to damage from misalignment.
Inadequate Braking on Steep Grades
Vehicle unable to hold or slow descent on steep downhill grades even with full brake pedal application. One owner reported inability to stop while idling downhill in Drive with brakes pressed to floor. Cause unclear—may be related to brake system design, ABS module failure, or HCU issue. Owner expressed concern that higher speeds would be dangerous.
When: At low speeds idling downhill
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle continues rolling downhill despite full brake pedal application; Brakes do not hold on steep inclines
Vehicle Rolling in Park Without Warning
Vehicle rolled out of Park without driver present, striking parked vehicle. One incident involved vehicle rolling 20–30 feet downhill with key out of ignition and engine off. Another incident involved vehicle rolling backward into a lake after parking brake was released, causing injuries to occupants. No warning lights illuminated in either case.
When: While parked on inclines; mileage 11,000 in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls despite being in Park; No warning indicators illuminated; Vehicle moved without driver input
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in reported cases.
Synthesized from 47 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with ABS module failure. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle recently, the vehicle failed to move after several attempts. The contact used…
ABS system went down on my truck, brakes still work but no ABS system! Received no recall papers even though the truck is a 2017 Dodge Ram and 2017 trucks are under recalls.
Had brakes trouble with your 2017 RAM 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2017 RAM 1500?
It's a meaningful issue. 47 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 30,000 and 98,000 miles, with the median around 49,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 98,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/RAM/1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.