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2017 RAM 3500 steering problems
moderate
Owners of the 2017 RAM 3500 have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 46,362 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Q1 14kmed 46kQ3 50kn=9
Complaints
18
Recalls
2
Avg fix
$700
steering complaints on the RAM 3500, by model year
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Ram 3500 and 2014-2018 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab and Ram 2500 vehicles
A drag link separation can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will check the steering linkage jam nut tightness, replacing the drag link assembly or welding the nut to the adjuster sleeve, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V06.
Streetcar ORV LLC (Streetcar) is recalling certain American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) 3" Dualsport aftermarket suspension kits, part numbers N0436000 and N0436001, sold for installation on 2013-2018 RAM 2500 and 3500HD trucks
The weakened connection may result in a fractured steering drag link, causing a loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Streetcar will notify owners and dealers will inspect and install a new steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact AEV customer service at 1-248-926-0256, extension 500.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
Service Bulletin9100268Nov 2023
Steering Drag Link If drag link had been welded due to V06 recall repair and there is an alignment concern, prior to drag link replacement ensure that the welded draglink toe setting procedure has been followed first. ~ ~ Service Library: 02 - Front Suspension / Wheel Alignment / Standard Procedure / TOE SETTING PROCEDURE FOR TRUCKS WITH DRAG LINK RECALL WELD ~
GASKET, Timing Case Cover, Rear Gear Housing For 2017-2020 model years only. If you are replacing the timing housing gasket due to an oil leak, please take detailed pictures of the leak, and submit them to the Star Center. Once submitted, continue with the repair. During the repair, check the breakaway torque of the gear housing retaining bolts. If any are found to be loose, note the location of the loose bolt(s) in the Star case.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a defective recall remedy (NHTSA 19V021000) that welds the drag link jam nuts in place to prevent looseness. The problem: welding renders the drag link non-adjustable, making front-end alignment impossible or incomplete. Owners describe inability to keep the truck straight, constant steering wheel pull to one side, rapid tire wear (outer edges worn prematurely, sometimes in half normal life), and crooked steering wheels that dealers refuse to correct. Several owners state that after the recall repair, their trucks developed or worsened steering problems—including one "death wobble" incident at highway speed that forced the truck into a ditch. One owner reports the dealer's botched welding repair permanently damaged the drag link assembly beyond salvage; Stellantis kept the truck at the dealership without resolution for months despite multiple promises. Owners universally reject the weld-and-done approach as unsafe and not approved by automotive standards. The recall notification states replacement parts exist, but dealers claim parts are unavailable; FCA refuses to provide updated parts to owners under warranty and forbids aftermarket alternatives or they void responsibility. One complaint mentions a cracked steering wheel discovered during alignment work. Additional steering-related issues include ABS/ESC/traction control warning lights (code C0020-01 reported) that activate intermittently, rendering the truck unsafe to tow. One narrative involves a TPMS that fails to alert at critical pressure loss. A steering column shifter broke with shift lock malfunction.
Same RAM 3500 steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Drag link jam nut welding (recall repair defect)
NHTSA 19V021000 recall remedy welds drag link nuts to prevent looseness. Welding creates a permanent, non-adjustable joint that prevents proper front-end alignment and causes steering geometry problems.
Symptoms owners cite: Inability to align steering wheel straight; Constant pull to one side requiring driver to hold wheel; Vehicle veering out of lane uncontrollably; Rapid and uneven tire wear (outer edges worn to unsafe level in half normal mileage); Crooked steering wheel; Death wobble at highway speed (70 mph); Steering wheel difficult to control
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report parts listed on recall are unavailable. FCA refuses to provide replacement drag link assembly or approve aftermarket parts under warranty. Welding repair renders adjustment impossible; some dealers acknowledge damage to drag link assembly beyond salvage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 19V021000 (Steering) recall—remedy is to inspect and weld drag link. FCA corporate stated welding is engineer-approved; refused to provide replacement parts or allow owner-paid installation of updated parts. Parts unavailability confirmed by multiple dealers and VIN tool.
ABS/ESC/traction control system malfunction
ABS warning light and traction control light activation with service messages, causing cruise control inoperability and safety concerns, particularly when towing.
When: Intermittent; one instance reported at low mileage
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminated intermittently; Traction control light on intermittently; Service ABS system warning message; Service Electronic Braking System warning message; Cruise control inoperable when lights activate
Codes mentioned:C0020-01 (ABS Pump Motor Control—General Electrical Failure)
Repairs/costs cited: ABS module and HCU replaced once under warranty; issue persists or recurs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Parts replaced under warranty; no further remedy mentioned. No long-term solution provided.
TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) failure to alert
TPMS fails to provide audible or visual warning when tire pressure drops to critically low levels (14–11 psi), creating risk of tire overheating and blowout.
When: On-demand (detected when tire went flat)
Symptoms owners cite: No audible alarm at 14 psi pressure; No visual alert at 14 psi pressure; No warning even as pressure dropped to 11 psi; Difficult steering due to flat tire (not TPMS function, but consequence)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership stated system is working as designed; refused to provide written criteria for alarm activation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: RAM Customer Care manager deferred to dealership's verbal statement that system is working as designed; did not clarify alarm thresholds.
Steering column shifter failure
Shifter on steering column broke; shift lock would not disengage when brake pedal was pressed.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Broken shifter; Shift lock malfunction (would not disengage with brake pedal depression)
Steering wheel crack
Steering wheel cracked, discovered during routine alignment work. Dealer under recall notification did not diagnose or repair.
When: Approximately 85,000 miles (discovered during alignment attempt)
Symptoms owners cite: Cracked steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic unable to perform alignment due to crack. Dealer contacted but did not diagnose or repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA 19V021000 recall; dealer did not address steering wheel crack.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
1 most recent
steering
· filed 12/16/2023
Abs lights keep going off.
Had steering trouble with your 2017 RAM 3500?
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 steering problem on the 2017 RAM 3500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 14,000 and 49,851 miles, with the median around 46,362. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 49,851. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/3500.
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.