A Hydraulic Control Unit malfunction resulting in multiple warning lamps flashing on and off intermittently - including the ABS, the EBS, the Traction Control, and the Cruise Control. This is apparently a known issue with this model year truck and is inclusive of a class action lawsuit, yet there has been no recall. This failure results in unpredictable breaking and/or the ability to break and…
2017 RAM 2500 electrical problems
moderate 110 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
110
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1fire
What stands out
Owners have filed 110 electrical 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.
Among the 11 model years of RAM 2500 in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 RAM 2500 trucks consistently report intermittent or persistent "Service Electronic Braking System" and "Service ABS System" warning messages, along with illuminated ABS and Traction Control indicator lights. These warnings trigger an audible chime that can sound repeatedly and continuously. When active, the warnings disable ABS function, Traction Control, Cruise Control, 4WD engagement, and in some cases remote start. Failures begin as early as 9,794 miles and occur across the mileage spectrum—typically between 12,000 and 101,000 miles.
Owners describe the warnings as intermittent initially (coming and going over seconds to minutes), becoming more frequent and persistent (hours, days, weeks), then sometimes permanent. Triggers include bumps, potholes, tight turns, wet conditions, and towing—though many report random activation regardless of road or weather conditions. Multiple owners report that replacing the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) or ABS module under warranty resulted in the same failure recurring within months to years after the repair.
Diagnostic codes point to C0020-01 (ABS pump motor control—general electrical failure), C0020-10, C006C-9A (stability system component failure), and other ABS-related codes. Dealers report replacement parts are on national backorder, under "engineering review," or simply unavailable with no known delivery date. Repair estimates range from $750 to $3,000. Several owners note that RAM issued a recall for 2019+ models but not 2017–2018 vehicles despite identical symptoms, and some reference class action lawsuits and NHTSA investigations. One owner reports a wire pinch fire in the spare tire area caused by improper routing.
Same RAM 2500 electrical reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
ABS Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) / ABS Module Electrical Failure
Intermittent or persistent activation of 'Service Electronic Braking System' and 'Service ABS System' warnings with corresponding ABS and Traction Control indicator lights. When warnings are active, ABS and Traction Control functions are disabled. Cruise Control and 4WD engagement are also disabled during warning periods. Failures recur even after warranty replacement of the HCU or module.
When: Begins as early as 9,794 miles; commonly reported between 12,000 and 101,000 miles. Initial failures often occur within the first year and 50,000 miles; recurrence documented months to years after initial replacement.
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent 'Service Electronic Braking System' message on instrument cluster; Intermittent 'Service ABS System' message on instrument cluster; ABS warning light illuminates intermittently or permanently; Traction Control warning light illuminates intermittently or permanently; Repeated audible chime/ding (sometimes continuous or rapidly cycling); Cruise Control disables when warnings are active; 4WD engagement fails when warnings are active; Remote electrical start fails when warnings are active; Soft or reduced braking feel during warning activation; Warnings triggered or exacerbated by bumps, potholes, seams, speed bumps, tight turns, wet conditions, and towing; Warnings sometimes occur at random regardless of road or weather conditions
Codes mentioned: C0020-01, C0020-10, C006C-9A, DTC C0020-01
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of ABS Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) or ABS module. Repair costs reported between $750 and $3,000. Many owners report OEM parts on national backorder, under 'engineering review' status, or unavailable with no delivery date. Wait times for parts documented as 6 weeks to 8+ months. One owner reports dealership claimed no record of prior warranty repair despite having original receipt.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: RAM issued Recall #C4B for 2019+ models; no recall issued for 2017–2018 models despite identical symptoms reported. Multiple class action lawsuits filed. NHTSA investigation initiated. Some owners report RAM customer support acknowledging the HCU is under engineering review with no completion date. One dealer stated the part is under 'engineering review' and cannot be ordered through normal procedures but may be available through special request. Another owner reports Mopar customer support promised contact within 3 days but never followed up. Some owners note RAM refused to acknowledge this as a product defect and will not reimburse repair costs.
Cruise Control Malfunction (Recall-Related)
Adaptive Cruise Control fails to disengage or engage properly. One owner reported vehicle continued to accelerate independently after cruise control override attempt, requiring engine restart to regain control.
When: Documented at approximately 140,000 miles. Related to NHTSA Campaign Number 18V332000 (Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control).
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise Control fails to engage on initial attempt; Cruise Control fails to disengage despite multiple button presses; Vehicle continues to accelerate independently even after depressing brake pedal
Codes mentioned: Related to NHTSA Campaign 18V332000
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported the recall repair was previously performed on the vehicle but the issue recurred. Dealer informed the contact that a fee would be charged for additional repair. Vehicle was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 18V332000 (Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control) exists. One owner's VIN was not included in the recall despite related failure. Manufacturer provided no assistance.
Seat Belt Alert Non-Functional After Reprogram Update
Reprogram update for Occupational Restriction Control Module caused seat belt alert to fail to function when seatbelts were unbuckled. Issue persisted after second reprogram attempt.
When: Occurred during recall repair service at 20,954 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt alert does not function when seatbelts are unbuckled; Dashboard icon or cab chime (alarm) does not provide warning sign when seatbelts unbuckled
Repairs/costs cited: Reprogram update performed twice by dealer. Issue persisted after both attempts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle never had a seat belt alert feature. However, owner reported that the failure persisted despite this confirmation and expressed concern about other safety components malfunctioning.
Turbo Actuator Failure (Incidental)
Turbo charger actuator malfunction triggering check engine light. One owner reported the complete turbocharger required replacement.
When: First occurrence at approximately 68,565 miles. Initial failure at unknown prior mileage requiring reset.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Complete turbocharger failure requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Complete turbocharger replacement required. Cost reported as $1,750.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner stated this issue was covered under extended warranty (extended warranty on 2015 model year pickups). Owner requested this warranty be applied across all trucks using the same design/parts.
Spare Tire Area Wire Fire Hazard
Wire pinched between spare tire and body caused short circuit and fire in spare tire area. Wire routing design allowed inadequate clearance and failure of fuse protection system.
When: Documented after vehicle was parked for over 7 hours.
Symptoms owners cite: Fire in spare tire area; Wire pinched and shorted by spare tire
Repairs/costs cited: Issue identified at body shop. Defective wire routing and fuse protection design.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Synthesized from 110 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Digital instrument cluster has stopped working.
Anti-lock break system malfunctioning. This module has already been replaced once in 2021 by a dealership. Now the module is malfunctioning again and needs to be replaced. This affects the trucks traction control system and cruise control. Meaning the vehicle will slide during winter/rainy weather. There are to warning lights that come on on the dash warning you that this system is malfunctioning.
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 RAM 2500?
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 electrical problem on the 2017 RAM 2500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 110 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 21,000 and 113,000 miles, with the median around 50,697. A quarter of owners report trouble before 21,000; a quarter make it past 113,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2500.
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.