2021 RAM 5500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 5500 years
- Not enough data 9th of 18 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 RAM 5500. That ranks 9th out of 18 5500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 50%), typically at around 142,520 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 2 fires. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 4owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 RAM 5500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 50% | 142,520 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 RAM 5500 recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal; steering:steering control module
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500, Ram 4500, and Ram 5500 vehicles. The steering column control module may cause the driver's side air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering column control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 14C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 13, 2025.
Electrical system:wiring:relays/solenoidsPark outside
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off.
Risk: An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers on or about 3/23/2023 and begin notifying owners on or about 4/5/2023. Phase 2 will include 2022 model year vehicles and Phase 3 will include 2021 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers and owners on or about 4/27/2023 for Phase 2 and 5/11/2023 for Phase 3. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 28, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 13A. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798.
Electrical system:wiring:relays/solenoidsPark outside
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 3500, 2500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. An electrical short in the relay may cause a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside of buildings or structures, and not near other vehicles, until the vehicle has been remedied. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. This recall has been superseded by 23V060.
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.
Risk: Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y26 owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's numbers for this recall are Y26 and Y36.
Electrical system
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay, which could result in a vehicle fire.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Customers are advised to not park these vehicles inside of buildings or structures, or near other vehicles until the vehicle has the final repair completed. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y08. This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-798.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving at an unspecified speed, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact pulled over, and the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The contact was the only occupant inside the vehicle and was able to exit the…
The contact owned a 2021 Ram 5500. The contact stated that the vehicle is a flatbed tow truck, and while one of his drivers was driving at 48 MPH, the tow truck driver noticed that white/gray smoke was emitting from under the hood. It was unknown if the smoke entered the vehicle. The tow truck was…
See attached document from complainant
The wheel studs broke going down the Interstate causing the wheels to come off into oncoming traffic. This caused damage to the wheel studs, lug nuts, brake calipers,brakes, rotors, rims and tires.
Other RAM 5500 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 5500 | 0 | 4 |
| 2025 5500 | 2 | 4 |
| 2024 5500 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 5500 | 0 | 3 |
| 2022 5500 | 26 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 |
| 2020 5500 | 8 | 9 |
| 2019 5500 | 12 | 9 |
| 2018 5500 | 38 | 8 |
| 2017 5500 | 21 | 7 |
| 2016 5500 | 17 | 7 |
| 2015 5500 | 13 | 8 |
| 2014 5500 | 11 | 10 |
| 2013 5500 | 4 | 9 |
| 2012 5500 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 5500 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 5500 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 5500 | 0 | 1 |
See all RAM 5500 problems by year, every RAM model, or the RAM VIN decoder.
Similar RAM models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 RAM 5500?
Owners most often report electrical system, firerelated, service brakes problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 RAM 5500?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 RAM 5500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 5500 model years, the 2021 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.