The loss of ABS/ESC/Traction control may cause this vehicle to crash . Warning lights are present, I have a horse trailer and can not use this truck to pull it due to this danger. I have waited over a year for the remedy to be offered but there is no remedy from the manufacturer for these failures of the ABS/ESC/Traction Control.. This happens EVERY TIME I attempt to drive this truck. It has LOW Mileage due to not being able to drive it.
2017 Ram 3500 steering problems
18 complaints (6% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 46,362.
- owner complaints
- 18
- of this car's complaints
- 6%
- typical mileage
- 46,362
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Ram 3500 steering problems in other years
Related recalls
Steering: linkages: drag: link: connection
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Ram 3500 and 2014-2018 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab and Ram 2500 vehicles. The outboard steering linkage jam nut may loosen, allowing one end of the drag link to separate.
- Risk
- A drag link separation can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 19V021000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Steering loss due to linkage separation
On December 17, 2018, the federal safety agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE18016 to investigate alleged drag link failures in the steering system on model year (MY) 2015 and 2016 Ram 2500 trucks manufactured by FCA US, LLC (FCA).  The drag link failures were found to be due to a safety defect with the steering linkage where the drag link adjustable connector (used to adjust the steering system), held in position by two opposing jam nuts, can loosen.  The loosening of this part can lead to wear and deterioration of the threads and eventual separation of the drag link, causing loss of steering. During the course of PE18016, it was found that two styles of drag link were used by FCA on the subject vehicles.  The subject vehicles consist of two drivetrain types including four-wheel drive (4WD) and two-wheel drive (2WD). The 4WD and 2WD trucks used drag links of differing design but both incorporated the same threaded connector. In January 2019 FCA issued recall 19V‑021 to address a potential loss of steering control in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 4WD RAM 2500 and 3500 trucks. The trucks using the 2WD style drag link were not included in the scope of recall 19V‑021. ODI upgraded PE18016 to an Engineering Analysis EA19004 on December 12, 2019.  The purpose of EA19004 was to investigate if the root cause of the safety defect addressed by recall 19V‑201 also affected the 2WD trucks and evaluate FCAâs rationale for not including them. ODI also monitored incoming consumer complaints regarding the remedy associated with 19V‑021 and evaluated the suitability and long-term effectiveness of the prescribed repair. In the Defect Information Report submitted for recall 19V‑021, FCA stated that the outboard jam nut could loosen and result in damage to the threading of the steering drag link connector.  This could cause a separation in the drag link resulting in a loss of steering control.  FCA determined that only the 4WD style drag link was affected and did not recall trucks with the 2WD style drag link due to design differences that made it unsusceptible to this failure mode.  The repair remedy called for the steering coupler to be tightened to the proper torque prior to the jam nut being spot welded to the coupler body. If the coupler has already become detached or correct torque cannot be obtained, the drag link is to be replaced with an updated unit that went into production on the MY2019 RAM trucks.This updated unit uses a clamp to secure the coupler in place of the jam nuts used on original style components. In order to determine if the 2WD drag link was susceptible to the same defect found on the 4WD vehicles, ODI requested that our Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct testing on both RAM 2500 4WD and 2WD trucks. This testing was to determine operating conditions that might lead to loosened jam nuts of the recalled 4WD design and recreate these conditions on the 2WD vehicles to discover whether the 2WD design would also experience the loosening defect. Results from VRTCâs dynamic testing indicated that when the jam nuts are significantly under-torqued, they may loosen further from regular vehicle operation on the 4WD vehicles. Further, VRTC testing does not refute FCAâs assertion that the failure mechanism does not exist in the 2WD steering system. At the time of this closing resume, ODI has only received two allegations of drag link separation on 2WDvehicles.Neither could be validated as resulting from loose jam nuts. Since the release of recall 19V‑021 ODI has received consumer complaints regarding the appearance of the spot weld applied to the defective drag link and the inability to have the steering properly aligned after welding of the jam nut.  In September 2023, FCA provided owners with a supplemental Vehicle Alignment Clarification notification that provided information on an updated alignment procedure. Regarding the spot weld remedy used on the 4WD vehicles, ODI is concerned about the remedy in that during an alignment by a non-dealer repair facility, the spot weld might not be replaced after the alignment.  To date there is no complaint trend of post alignment drag link separations, weld failures or other safety related incidents on remedied vehicles. This investigation is being closed with no further action. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
EA19004
Steering loss due to linkage separation
On December 17, 2018, the federal safety agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 18-016 to investigate the steering system on model year (MY) 2015 and 2016 Ram 2500 manufactured by FCA US, LLC (FCA). Four complaints were received alleging separation of the drag link, a steering linkage that connects between the right front steering knuckle and the pitman arm on the steering box output shaft. The failures were found to be at a threaded coupler within the drag link used for adjusting the length of the linkage during routine maintenance (alignment) of the steering system.Once separation occurs, turning the steering wheel has no effect, and there is no way for the driver to control or maintain the direction of the vehicle. During the investigation, it was determined that the same threaded coupler was used on two different drag link designs FCA manufactured on MY 2013-2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups. FCA refers to the designs as either 4x2 or 4x4 style. In both designs, the coupler is prevented from turning on the drag link via two jam nuts that are tightened against the coupler. In its response to the federal safety agency's March 15, 2019, Information Request (IR) letter, FCA identified 48 incidents alleging separation of the steering linkage at the coupler resulting in a loss of steering control. Of those, 13 involved a crash, one of which resulted in an injury. All of the separations involved the 4x4 style drag link. Additionally, FCA's IR response refers to over 300 4x4 style equipped vehicles that experienced, or may have experienced loosening of one or more coupler jam nuts. On January 25, 2019, FCA submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) initiating the federal safety agency Recall No. 19V‑021. In its DIR, FCA stated that the outboard jam nut in certain MY 2013-2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 could loosen potentially resulting in damage to the coupler and/or drag link threading allowing one end of the drag link to separate. The DIR notes that drag link separation results in loss of steering control, which in turn can cause a crash without warning. FCA's DIR did not identify a root cause for the defect, however it posits that an improperly torqued outboard jam nut could loosen, and with long-term vehicle use, cause damage to the outer link bar and/or coupler threads due to relative motion between the two components. The scope of Recall 19V‑021 included vehicles with the 4x4 style drag link only. Also discussed in its IR response, FCA noted that the 4x2 style drag link contains a design difference (the outboard portion of the drag link is straight while the 4x4 style contains a bend) which it suggests may result in differences in the mechanical (bending) loads presented at the coupler and jam nut interface. Moreover, the DIR states that While root cause of the 4x4 style defect has not been established, FCA US believes that bending loads on the drag link is, at least, a causal contributing factor. FCA notes it did not identify any reports alleging 4x2 style separation as well as only three reports of loosening of jam nuts, two of which resulted in loosening that provided obvious warning to the vehicle operator, indicating a different failure mode.the federal safety agency is upgrading this investigation to Engineering Analysis (EA) 19-004 in order to continue to monitor the subject 4x2 style vehicles for evidence of field failures. Additionally, in conjunction with the federal safety agency's Vehicle Research and Test Center, ODI intends to more thoroughly study potential root cause(s) of the 4x4 style defect mechanism, and if identified, will seek to determine if the 4x2 drag link is susceptible to the same mechanism(s). the federal safety agency will also evaluate the long-term suitability of the recall
PE18016
What 2017 Ram 3500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
V06 Recall was attempted, but welding could not be done correctly - was told that was the "best they could do" truck continued to steer poorly (constantly have to hold the steering wheel to one side or the truck will veer out of the lane) bc steer ahead wrong, and to wear outer edge of the tires to an unsafe level in less than half the normal mileage. Now Dodge dealership/Stellantis claims the drag link assembly was permanently damaged by their prior recall work, and that truck cannot be aligned or driven safely but also won't fix it. They have been telling me they will action the case "today" or "one businesses day" since 27 Aug. I found out that the alignment and steering problem I had been spending money to fix since 2019 was a result of their poor recall repair and trying to get a response from Dodge Stellantis since AUG 06, and I have been without the use of the truck and unable to care for my horses since then. I have spent more than 14 hours directly on the phone with them without any action - my truck remains essentially impounded at the dealership. Est 20k miles at initial recall V06 failed repair attempt but their records should say. Current document is currently dealership that admitted the initial recall repair attempt damaged the draglink assembly beyond any hope of salvage/alignment.
Steering and/or front suspension developed into what is called a death wobble at 70mph. The steering wheel had so much hard wobble that it became almost uncontrollable to hold onto it, and keep the vehicle moving straight which put the vehicle onto the shoulder and into a shallow ditch. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, but when it happened previously, I had it looked at, and supposedly repaired. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, there was no damage to the vehicle, but I am taking it back to the shop where the repair was supposedly made. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, it came on suddenly.
The truck had a recall done on its steering system. The steering part affected is the drag link. The drag link connects to the steering wheel to the tie rod . The recall fix was to weld the drag link jam nuts so they wouldn't come loose and cause a steering loss. Since the recall the vehicle s drag link can't be aligned correctly with the tie rod the drag link is attached to the steering wheel so when the truck is aligned it backs one side out to far to keep the steering wheel straight. This drag link that was recalled is a (safety issue) it's a bad design and causes the vehicle to sway all over the road and if it fails the truck looses all steering and goes where ever it wants to go Wich will cause a horrible accident and harm innocent family's on the highway including my own family it can lead to the death of people in my vehicle and around my vehicle it's a serious safety issue and a horrible recall fix on rams end. I have a appointment at the ram dealership to get new tires on but I don't want the new tires put on until this issue is fixed as the truck needs alignment and this safety issue aka the welded drag link replaced with the correct fix that the new rams have the new style drag link . It's a safety hazard. And innocent people can get hurt by the horrible recall fix. It's in acceptable. And very unsafe it's hard to keep the truck in a straight line on the roads it's all over the place like a drunk driver .
Abs lights keep going off.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while having a routine alignment performed at an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the steering wheel was cracked. The mechanic was unable to perform the alignment. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V021000 (Steering). The contact called the same local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was pulling to the left side. The ABS warning light was illuminated, causing the cruise control to be inoperable. Additionally, the front driver's and passenger's side tire treads were worn out quickly since having the recall repair performed under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V021000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to have an alignment performed due to the nut being welded per the recall remedy. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an alignment needed to be performed, but declined to replace the drag link assembly. The dealer confirmed that the vehicle had previously been repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V021000 (Steering); however, the contact stated that the dealer only welded the nut to the adjuster sleeve but did not replace the drag link assembly per the remedy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
I have the ABS light and traction control light coming on intermittently and the warning "Service ABS system" and "Service Electronic Braking System. Code is C0020-01 - ABS Pump Motor Control-General Electrical Failure. ABS module and HCU are replaced under warranty once.
The adjuster on my draglink was loose and the nuts were welded to the adjuster and I was told this was a tempoary repair. Today I contacted ram about a permanent repair for my truck and was informed that weding was a permanent fix. How can you allow this. My front end is no longer adjustable and now I am forced to go to dealer for front end work independent shops do not want the libialty. Welding nuts and cutting them loose weakens the metal are you requiring welding certification for repairs. This repair is not satisfactory please advise thank you
Ram has a recall for the drag link, my dealership has preformed the recall repair which is to weld solid the drag link this is not a proper repair. I would say this is what a backyard mechanic might do to enter a demo derby not a repair on a new truck under warranty. This item came on the truck as an adjustable part of the steering system and rams fix is to weld this part making it no longer adjustable and the steering can no longer be aligned. My steering wheel is crooked and ram has told me that's to bad we are going to do nothing for you that's rams customer care not the dealer...
Questions about the 2017 Ram 3500 steering
Does the 2017 Ram 3500 have steering problems?
Owners have filed 18 complaints about the steering of the 2017 Ram 3500, 6% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2017 Ram 3500 steering problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 46,362 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Ram 3500 steering?
Yes, 1 recall: 19V021000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ram 3500 have bad steering?
The Ram 3500 model years with the most steering complaints are 2014 (41 complaints), 2013 (38 complaints) and 2018 (34 complaints).
Other 2017 Ram 3500 problems
Brakes 196Electrical 33Engine 32Acceleration 30Transmission 27Wheels 21Driver assistance 16Suspension 15Fuel system 9Tires 7Body 4Airbags 3Seat belts 2Seats 2Lights 1
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