2017 Ram 1500: jerking or lurching

Filed Oct 12, 2026 · Seat belts · VA

Beginning around the first of October 2026, the driver's front seat belt will randomly come unbuckled while driving. When I fasten the seat belt, the connection is secure. I can pull on it, jerk it, yank it and it will not release. As I am driving down the road the seatbelt will spontaneously release. Sometimes it will happen only once during a trip; other times it will happen multiple times. After the first incident, it now happens every time I drive the truck. I have checked to see if anything wound up inside the mechanism and I cannot find any thing that would prevent the seatbelt from staying secured.

Filed Jun 24, 2025 · Steering · PA

The Service Power Steering light came on while I was driving my truck on I80 and left me with no power steering.While I was driving on the interstate there were several times where the vehicle didn't want to turn unless I really jerked on the steering wheel which in turn jerked the truck into the passing lane once the wheels turned and came close on 2 occasions of hitting the vehicle in the passing lane. I was able to get it home and to the garage and my steering rack needed to be replaced at a cost of $2319.16 + tax. I see that there was a recall for this exact problem for Ram trucks up to year 2016 but unfortunately mine is a 2017. I have been on many forums and there are so many others out there with a 2017 or newer Ram that has this exact same problem so this isn't a "my truck" problem this is a Ram problem that needs to be recalled before accidents are caused by this (which I'm sure some accidents have already happened due to the steering rack).

Filed Jan 31, 2025 · Steering · NC

I will lose steering ability at random times and it will jerk the truck while driving or turning. I have checked to see if there are any open recalls currently and there are none

Filed Apr 9, 2024 · Steering · MN

I was driving on a highway on a rainy day when I felt a small vibration in the front end of my truck. Suddenly, the service electric steering system light comes on my dash and I can't hardly turn the steering wheel. I lost all power steering in my truck, occasionally it would try to turn on while trying to drive it home, then the service steering light would come on and jerk the steering wheel in my hand, which is very hard to hold on to and I'm a big guy. If this were to happen to a smaller person, I'm not sure how they would be able to keep from going in the ditch or worse, rolling the truck. This I was told by a ram dealership is due to a faulty rack and pinion steering system, which is a $2800 fix. I'm honestly glad it wasn't my wife or kids driving the truck, this could have been way worse!

Filed Apr 4, 2024 · Steering · GA

While driving to work this morning the power steering went out with no warning. I was driving on the highway and the steering wheel started jerking and then became very stiff. Had I been in a curve when this happened I could have easily gone off the road or into oncoming traffic. I was able to slow down and limp my truck to work. I am on shift for 24 hours so I have not been able to have a mechanic look at it yet but I have done a lot of research today and multiple people have had very similar problems. There was even a recall on the 2016 ram 1500 for the exact same problem. When I began investigating my own vehicle I checked all associated fuses which were good. I also checked to make sure power was getting to the electronic power steering module plug and determined that it was. While I was under the truck checking I discovered that the rack and pinion had already been replaced. This is a very serious safety issue that is apparently happening in multiple vehicles, multiple times. This component and my truck are available for inspection as long as I have them.

Filed Jul 31, 2023 · Steering · NY

Vehicle sat for approximately 30 days. Upon starting to drive the steering was very stiff and jerky when turning. Felt like there was no power steering only manual. Extremely difficult to turn. Drove vehicle several times and tried to loosen it by rapidly turning wheel right and left at slow speeds. No improvement. Researched recalls and found multiple recalls for same issue for years other than mine. Called the dealer and Chrysler Customer Care and was told nothing they could do, VIN is not on there lists. Since there have been other year versions with the same issue I feel that the 2017 RAM 1500 should be added to a recall list.

Filed Jul 28, 2023 · Transmission · WI

I have problems when my truck is shifting from park to reverse. There is a jerk that happens when I put the truck in reverse. Sometimes when I put the truck in reverse a prompt on the dash says the vehicle must be in park and the R on the 8 speed dial blinks. When I’m on flat pavement and I shift from P to R I feel no jerk. The truck shift perfectly when driving. I also noticed when the vehicle had been sitting for a while and when I go from P to D and start driving I get a hard jerk. I took it to the dealer they reset the Transmission and the problem still exist. I was told that I have to replace the transmission.

Filed Mar 31, 2023 · Fuel system · 44,000 miles · AZ · fire

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at various speeds, the vehicle would jerk and hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they were informed that the vehicle could not be seen for a few weeks. The contact's husband drove the vehicle home and called the dealer the next day; he was instructed to bring in the vehicle for an inspection. While driving to the dealer at 35 MPH, her husband noticed black smoke emitting from the hood of the vehicle. As her husband pulled over and opened the hood, flames began to engulf the engine. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic and later to an independent body shop where it remained in their possession. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000. Vin tool confirms parts not yet available.

Filed Aug 18, 2022 · Transmission, Visibility · 5,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while reversing she felt the vehicle jerk with a loud sound coming from the vehicle causing the vehicle to come to a complete stop. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was set to diagnose the vehicle. On another occasion, the vehicle was getting detailed and it was noticed that the rear window was leaking and had white mold. The vehicle was taking to the dealer who stated that no failure was found. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 5,000.

Filed Jun 14, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · 25,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while attempting to exceed speeds above 25 mph, the vehicle jerked with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that speed increased after a moment with a hard jerk with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic located a transmission fault code. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The diagnostic report was not provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 25,000.

Filed Feb 22, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 420 miles · ID

This vehicle has terrible pedal lag. When I press the accelerator, there is a 2-6 second lag response to accelerate. While moving forward and pressing the accelerator, when the lag catches up to the accelerator it's like it kicks into high gear (jerks) and advances. Taking off from a stopped position is the worse because it's frighting - you don't know how long the lag will take to recover. When in motion at highway speed and accelerating to pass someone, the lag does the same thing. It happens all the time, unless you accelerate very slowly, and keep your speed slow. I've driven this truck for 13 months now. The dealer said the problem will go away as you drive it ..well, it hasn't.

Filed Jan 13, 2020 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · FL

Vehicle began intermittently "popping" or "jerking" while driving and would have gear issues such as appearing to remain in 1st gear or would fail to go into reverse. The popping into a lower gear would happen while the vehicle was moving and thus caused an immediate traffic slowdown and potential accident situation. Also, the vehicle would fail to reverse at time and would only remedy itself after turning the vehicle off and then back on. The check engine light would intermittently come on and off and almost a year ago, I was advised by the dealer (tallahassee dodge) that there was a gear ratio issue. However, when I received the vehicle I was told that another sensor had a leak and there was no indication of a transmission issue (at 55k miles). Now, the vehicle has been having the same intermittent issues and I have returned it to the dealer for repair, now the dealer states the vehicle is out of warranty and the issue is an internal transmission problem that needs to have a new transmission installed.