2017 Dodge Ram — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Dodge Ram passed 88.8% of its 338 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (12.6% fail rate), the 2017 Ram comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.6% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 11 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Ram fails 11.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 11.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 29 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 13 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 11 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 7 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 6 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 9 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 9 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 7 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 6 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 6 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.5% | 39 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 31 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.7% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 14 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.9% | 13 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 9 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 88 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 127 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 63 | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 65 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 64 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 67 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Ram
On a 2017 Ram, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (3.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Dodge Rams pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 338 2017 Dodge Ram MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Dodge Ram?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 2017 Ram get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 338 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.