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 ~
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 RAM 3500 suspension problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 RAM 3500 have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the suspension at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 3500 | 6 |
| 2014 3500 | 25 |
| 2015 3500 | 10 |
| 2016 3500 | 5 |
| 2017 3500 (this page) | 11 |
| 2018 3500 | 7 |
| 2019 3500 | 5 |
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of RAM 3500 in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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.
LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Rear Axle Vibration, Shudder Or Chatter This bulletin involves changing the rear axle lube to possibly address a chatter, shudder or vibration. The customer may describe the following: A chatter, shudder, or vibration from the rear axle during turns. This may happen more as the vehicle ages, especially if the vehicle is used extensively for towing or hauling heavy loads. The cause of the concern may be due to degradation of the rear axle fluid. It is very important to follow the routine maintenance schedules on these vehicles when it comes to changing the rear axlefluid if the vehicle is used primarily for towing or hauling heavy loads. If you experience a vehicle with the above condition, p
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Chatter, Shudder, or Vibration From Rear Axle During Turns
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Chatter, Shudder, or Vibration From Rear Axle During Turns
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Multiple 2017 RAM 3500 owners report severe rear-end vibration starting at 60+ mph that shakes the entire cab, particularly the passenger seat, with no steering-wheel involvement. The vibration oscillates in intensity and occurs on all road surfaces. Tire replacement, tire re-balancing, road-force balancing, and driveshaft replacement have all failed to resolve it. RAM field engineers and dealers acknowledge this as a known issue but refuse further repair, calling it normal operation.
Front-end death wobble—violent shimmy and wobble triggered by potholes—has occurred on several occasions, though mechanics cannot duplicate it during diagnostics. One owner's truck shed all 8 lug studs on a dual rear wheel at 4,500 miles and highway speed, causing wheel separation. Another reported a worn front passenger-side ball joint contacting and damaging the tire at 7,000 miles, requiring a special adjustable ball joint replacement per the independent mechanic's diagnosis.
A spring spacer also came loose on one truck, damaging the boot and re-loosening after repair, creating risk of loss of control. One owner flagged air suspension compressor failure affecting towing stability. Multiple owners cite forum discussions on Cummins and turbo diesel forums with hundreds of threads on the same vibration problem affecting both 2500 and 3500 trucks.
Same RAM 3500 suspension reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Rear-end vibration and oscillation
Pronounced shake and oscillation felt throughout the cab, particularly in passenger seat and rear of vehicle, occurring at highway speeds (60+ mph). Vibration comes and goes in intensity across all road surfaces. Owners report it feels like severely out-of-balance tires despite tire replacement and balancing. Multiple dealers acknowledge the issue as known but decline to repair.
When: 2–70,000 miles; typically highway speeds above 60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Rear-end shaking and oscillation in cab; Passenger seat vibrates back and forth; Droning noise; Vibration starts in rear of vehicle; Vibration intensity varies; No shake in steering wheel; Occurs on all road surfaces
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement and drive-shaft replacement attempted with no resolution. Tire re-balancing and road-force balancing attempted without success. Dealers and manufacturers decline further repair, stating issue is normal or acceptable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: RAM field engineer and regional manager acknowledge as known issue; STAR case opened with no resolution; dealer states truck operates as designed.
Front-end death wobble
Sudden violent front-wheel wobble and shimmy triggered by potholes or uneven road surfaces. Continues until vehicle stops. Occurs on multiple occasions. Unable to duplicate by dealer or independent mechanic during diagnostic attempts.
When: ~60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent front-wheel wobble and shimmy; Triggered by potholes or uneven road surfaces; Intermittent occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment checks performed by dealer and independent mechanic; cause not identified.
Ball joint wear damaging tire
Front passenger-side ball joint worn enough to contact and damage the front passenger tire. Independent mechanic diagnosed need for special adjustable ball joint to re-align front axle and prevent recurrence.
When: ~7,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Ball joint contact with tire causing damage
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic recommended special adjustable ball joint replacement. Vehicle not repaired by owner.
Dual rear lug stud shear
All 8 lug studs on driver-side dual rear wheels sheared off at highway speed (60 mph), causing outer wheel to separate from vehicle. Severe vibration preceded failure.
When: 4,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Severe vibration at highway speed; All 8 lug studs sheared; Outer wheel separated from truck
Spring spacer loosening and boot damage
Aftermarket spring spacer came out of place while vehicle on hoist, damaging suspension boot. Spacer re-loosened post-repair, creating risk of loss of control if vehicle hit a bump. Repaired by independent shop then autonation dealer, but failure mode recurred.
When: 10,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Spring spacer displacement; Boot damage; Spacer re-loosening after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic and AutoNation dealer repaired spacer; specifics of repair unknown.
Air suspension compressor failure
Air suspension compressor malfunction affecting vehicle stability during towing.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Compressor failure; Reduced stability while towing
Repairs/costs cited: Compressor repair required
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2017 RAM 3500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 34,083 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/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.