2017 Ram 5500 Safety Report

The 2017 RAM 5500 has an 'N/A' safety rating from NHTSA across all categories (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover), meaning it has not been crash-tested by the agency. Despite this, the vehicle has accumulated 18 total complaints, including 2 fire incidents, but no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths. A significant concern is the high number of recalls, with 7 issued for this model year. These recalls address critical safety components such as the hydraulic control unit (HCU) for brakes, potential wheel separation due to incorrect manual information, unintended vehicle acceleration due to cruise control issues, and the ability to shift the transmission without pressing the brake pedal. Furthermore, a recall addresses a leaking water pump that can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire, directly correlating with the 2 reported fire incidents. Complaint patterns reveal a strong focus on the POWER TRAIN, accounting for 5 complaints, often involving catastrophic failures like exploding transfer cases at highway speeds, as detailed in multiple complaints. Other notable issues include TIRES (2 complaints), with reports of unusual wear and blowouts, and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (1 complaint), which aligns with a major recall regarding HCU failure. The ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ENGINE also have a combined complaint, and there's a specific complaint about the PARKING BRAKE and POWER TRAIN failing, leading to vehicle roll-away. The recall history is extensive and directly addresses several of the reported complaint areas. For instance, the recall for 'SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC' directly relates to the ABS pump failures reported. Similarly, 'POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION' recalls address issues with unintended shifting, which could contribute to roll-away incidents. The 'ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL' recall for a leaking water pump is particularly concerning given the two fire incidents reported. The lack of crash test data means that the vehicle's structural integrity and occupant protection in a collision are unknown, placing a greater emphasis on the prevention of incidents through reliable components and effective recall remedies.

Our recommendation: Given the lack of crash test data, numerous critical recalls, and reports of severe powertrain failures and fires, potential buyers should proceed with extreme caution and ensure all 7 recalls have been completed and verified by a reputable mechanic.