2017 Ram 3500: brake failure

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Brakes · WI

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that with the warning lights illuminated, the 4WD feature was inoperable. The contact researched and found several recalls and warranties associated with the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was determined that the vehicle had experienced a hydraulic brake failure; however, the VIN was not under recall, and the part was on backorder. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into 4WD, the message “4WD Unavailable” was displayed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.

Filed Aug 28, 2025 · Brakes · MT

I am filing this complaint regarding the unavailability of a critical safety component for my vehicle. Multiple dealers have informed me that the part is not available through the Mopar parts chain. However, the identical part is currently available for purchase by consumers through MoparGenuineParts.com (111 Bond Street, Westbury, NY 11590) at the following link: [XXX] ). One verified buyer even confirmed this discrepancy. As [XXX] wrote in his 5-star review dated 04/03/25: *"ABS PART – Fixed my problem just what I needed. Dealership said they could not get to because of part shortage??"* This highlights a troubling inconsistency: Mopar’s authorized dealer network is unable to supply parts that consumers can easily purchase online. It makes no sense that the official supply chain is cut off while direct-to-consumer sales remain active. The component in question is critical to the safe operation of the vehicle. If it fails at high speed, the driver could experience sudden loss of braking or steering control. Such a failure poses an imminent danger of severe accidents, rollovers, or fatalities, both to the vehicle occupants and to others on the roadway. My concern is twofold: (1) why Mopar dealers cannot access parts that clearly exist in Mopar’s system, and (2) how long-term safety is being compromised if consumers must resort to inconsistent third-party availability for essential components. This disconnect directly threatens public safety. I respectfully request the federal safety agency investigate why Mopar’s dealer network is unable to provide critical safety components, while consumers can obtain the exact same part online, and whether this practice constitutes a systemic safety hazard that warrants recall, investigation, or enforcement action. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 11, 2025 · Brakes · WI

2nd time truck has warning lights on related to ABS, electronic braking system with no parts available from manufacturer - HCU. Truck is set up to tow a gooseneck trailer. Loss of braking capacity has put me in hazardous situations as the problem is intermittent. Previous repair, where dealer stated my rotors were bad with fewer than 20k miles, was expensive and tech said it could be related to the electronic braking system failure causing rotors to malfunction. No remedy from manufacturer is unacceptable as I'm unable to use my vehicle and if I did, I could be in a situation causing a major accident with no brakes.

Filed Feb 23, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · OK

The cruise control stop working and we received a service electronic braking system warning and the trailer brakes stopped working

Filed Sep 20, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · FL

On two separate occasions I had total brake loss , the truck has under 21,000 miles on it and while driving and trying to stop I have total brake loss , today I almost rear end a car due to the failure, luckily for them I have relatively good reflexes and I don’t panic , if either of those were not true I possibly could of killed the two occupants of the car in front of me , I was traveling approximately 70 miles an hour on the interstate had had to apply my brakes. When I did I had absolutely no brakes at all, no idiot lights or anything warning me of the problem, this was the second time this occurred , the first time I was on my way home at night and went to stop at a stop sign at an intersection and again total brake loss , both these times I limped home , hoping I would make it home safely. This needs to be investigated before some dies

Filed Jun 21, 2024 · Brakes, Driver assistance · PA

Heading down a mountain grade on [XXX] came around a turn on the down grade and all the sudden warning lights starting going off. Tried braking harder but almost no brakes on the pickup. Managed to press the emergency brake, thankfully we were going at a slow enough speed. So many messages on the dash that I was having trouble getting to the trailer brakes to increase the gain so I could use them to help us get stopped. How was my safety and my Wife's at risk, brake failure on a mountain grade could have been bad. Taking it to a Ram Dealer on Tuesday, June 25,2024 in Hanover, PA. I was told by a mechanic that he scanned the system and pulled Code C0020. Was also told probably Hydraulic Control Unit or ABS Control Unit failure which is a common problem. At the time of the incident here are the warning lights and messages : Service Electronic Braking System, service abs, service trailer brakes. service rear park sensors, traction control disabled & trailer brakes disconnected ( had to unplug and replug to get back). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 15, 2024 · Electrical · 162,388 miles · NV

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated while the vehicle was undergoing DOT inspection, the DOT inspector advised the contact to shift in neutral (N), and to activate and squeeze the brake controller manually. The contact was then advised to shift into drive (D) and to release the brake pedal while squeezing the brake controller. The contact stated that upon following the instructions, the vehicle moved forward. The DOT inspector determined that the brake controller was malfunctioning because the trailer brakes failed to prevent vehicle movement when manually activated. The contact stated that the company's mechanic replaced the 7-way pins, the 7-way pin trailer cable, the 7-way pin wiring harness box, and module, the brake controller assembly, the wiring on the front and rear axles, the brake assemblies; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that when the brake controller was set at the max 10, the brake wire connector displayed 6.5 Volts, while the voltage should be 13.2 Volts. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 162,388.

Filed Sep 14, 2023 · Brakes · 10,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of brake performance. The brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Action Number: PE22012 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

Filed Apr 27, 2023 · Brakes · MS

The ABS and hydraulic brake failure comes on multiple time while driving. I’m told this disables 4x4,anti lock brakes and cruise control. Part is on back order and could take up to 4 months to arrive and cost up to 800.00 to replace

Filed Mar 19, 2023 · Brakes · OK

Warning indicator light for service ABS / traction control light comes on intermittently. We use this vrhicle to pull a 5th wheel trailer and we are concerned about brake failure.

Filed Jan 13, 2023 · Brakes · WI · crash

On December 14th, I was driving my 2017 Ram 3500 with 95,000 miles down the road when I encountered a tree completely blocking the roadway. When I applied the brakes I heard a pop and the brake pedal went the the floor. At this point I had no brakes and was forced to hit the tree. Thankfully it was in a rural area and no one was killed because of the failure. My safety was defiantly put at risk because of this failure. Once stopped I was able to look under the hood and found the top bolt that holds the brake master cylinder to the firewall sheared completely off. This caused the brake master cylinder to fall away from the firewall and disabled all braking functions. I had the vehicle towed to a Ram Dealer and then contacted Ram (Stellantis) for a reason and solution to fix the failure. They sent an engineering analysis associate to look at the the truck finally on the January 9th. They then sent a very generic letter on the 12th stating that they don't believe it is a manufacturing issue. They will give the dealer or myself no further information on what they found, what the cause was, or how the dealer should proceed to fix the problem. The vehicle is still currently sitting at the Ram Dealer and has not been fixed if you would like to inspect it. There were no warning lights, messages, or prior problems associated with this failure. It was a sudden and catastrophic failure of the braking system.

Filed Aug 1, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · GA · crash

The vehicle had a sudden acceleration problem and the driver ended up in a big crash. The driver is in the hospital with many injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer before, at the beginning of March, because the check engine light was on and the throttle control light on and the truck didn't shift properly and dealer said that he doesn't have a transmission mechanic for about a month. They worked on the recalls and the oil and fuel filters change. Afterwards I took the truck to another shop. They changed the oil at the transmission, but the truck showed the same messages on the cluster almost immediately. I took the truck to another mechanic and they changed the solenoids in the transmission, but in a short time the same messages (Check engine light and throttle control light) came on the cluster. When these light came on the truck didn't shift properly so I spoke with another mechanic about the problem and he programmed me for an appointment on August 4th. This date is too late now, because on July 25th I lost the truck in a terrible accident due to sudden acceleration of the truck and the driver could not stop it. The brakes failed and he tried to slow it down driving it against the concrete curve but he couldn't, the truck kept on speeding then he hit a big tree in order not to crash other cars on the road or the people in the driveway close to the place of the accident.