RoadVitals

2020 RAM 5500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Nov 11, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
10
Latest Oct 11, 2022
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
1 currently open
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 RAM 5500, most frequently naming the brakes, seat belts and airbags categories. 10 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 390 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes330.0%
  • Seat belts220.0%
  • Airbags110.0%
  • Powertrain (other)110.0%
  • Tires & wheels110.0%
  • Other / unspecified110.0%
  • Driver assistance110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

10 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Oct 11, 2022
26,961 units potentially affected
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The rear brake hose inside diameter may be too small, which could cause the hose to rupture. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 106, "Brake Hoses."
The risk: A brake hose rupture can cause a loss of braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the rear brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZA5.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)Manufacturer number ZA5View on NHTSA.gov

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Jan 27, 2022
171,789 units potentially affected
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 vehicles, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, 5500 Cab Chassis and 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs. The windshield wiper arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to function improperly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.
The risk: Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2022. This recall is an expansion of recall number 20V-208. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z08.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)Manufacturer number Z08View on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Nov 12, 2021
222,410 units potentially affected
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. The High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) may fail, resulting in a sudden engine stall without warning.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, and inspect and replace additional fuel system components as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters to inform owners of the safety recall were mailed on January 4, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 17, 2022. Phase 2 owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on March 2, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y78.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)Manufacturer number Y78View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA23001OpenEngineering Analysis

High pressure fuel pump failure

Opened Mar 17, 2023

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both FCA and BMW, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by FCA and BMW.During the investigation FCA filed recalls 22V406, 22E048, 22V767, and 22E087 which include vehicles not identified in the initial subject population by ODI. ODI also received recall 21V586, involving loss of motive power due to failed CP4 fuel pumps on certain BMW manufactured vehicles. An information request letter response received from BMW indicated that failed pumps on their vehicles were caused by an interaction between pump internal components and US market diesel fuel, leading to increased slip and eventual particle-generating wear surface. Additional work will be done to identify whether a similar root cause is associated with the FCA recalled population and if similar wear dynamics occur on pumps supplied to vehicle manufacturers other than those included in the recalled population.ODI has upgraded this investigation to an EA in order to 1) determine engineering specifications of internal pump components that are correlated with pump failure leading to loss of motive power or other safety related hazards, 2) identify vehicle populations equipped with alleged defective pump variants, 3) assess if vehicles equipped with alleged defective pump variants result in an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety and 4) gather and review any other relevant information related to high pressure fuel pump failure associated with the subject populations of recalls 21V586, 21V880, 21E094, 22V406, 22E048, 22V767, and 22E087.Review of the above information will allow NHTSA to confirm root cause and recall remedy viability, and identify and evaluate vehicle populations equipped with pump components that may pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following complaint identification numbers: 11257550, 11351441, 11361603, 11361616, 11365300, 11365426, 11365858, 11366401, 11372337, 11373793, 11374797, 11376793, 11377871, 11378173, 11384377, 11386063, 11387018, 11399710, 11402550, 11415339, 11418868, 11418870, 11427075, 11434276, 11436807, 11437226, 11437249, 11437273, 11437292, 11437294, 11437394, 11437399, 11437403, 11437405, 11437423, 11437528, 11437565, 11437579, 11437580, 11437590, 11437679, 11437744, 11437781, 11437842, 11437993, 11438006, 11438008, 11438121, 11438138, 11438155, 11438392, 11438629, 11439359, 11439879, 11440397, 11443030, 11446542, 11448163, 11453556, 11458918, 11460558, 11469337

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPLed to recall 24V957
PE21021ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

High pressure fuel pump failure

Opened Oct 14, 2021
Closed Apr 14, 2023

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021 to investigate allegations of stall/loss of motive power as a result of high pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 RAM 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines.On November 12, 2021, FCA filed vehicle recall 21V-880 and equipment recall 21E-094 on the subject population, identifying an `internally failed component? of the high pressure fuel pump equipped on the 6.7L Cummins Turbodiesel engine that introduced debris into the fuel system potentially causing fuel starvation and consequently an unexpected loss of motive power. Discussions with FCA identified the high pressure fuel pump equipped on these vehicles as the Bosch-supplied CP4. On December 16, 2021, Bosch filed recall 21E-101, stating the pump failure was a consequence of a manufacturer application-specific fuel system design.NHTSA subsequently identified recall 21V-586 involving loss of motive power due to failed CP4 fuel pumps on certain BMW vehicles.As a result of having received multiple recalls related to a common component, from two separate vehicle manufacturers, NHTSA?s focus shifted to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. In early 2022, information request letters were sent to FCA and BMW to determine the root cause and consequentially identify the proper scope of potentially defective vehicles. After ODI received their information request response, FCA filed recalls 22V-406, 22E-048, 22V-767, and 22E-087. During review of information request response materials, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by FCA or BMW. On March 17, 2023, this Preliminary Evaluation was upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA23-001), expanding the scope to include the Tier-one supplier and any manufacturer who equipped or installed similar high pressure fuel pumps subject to the failures observed in the recall population.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following complaint identification numbers: 11351441, 11361603, 11361616, 11365300, 11365426, 11365858, 11366401, 11372337, 11373793, 11374797, 11376793, 11378173, 11384377, 11386063, 11387018, 11399710, 11402550, 11415339, 11418868, 11418870, 11427075, 11434276, 11436807, 11437226, 11437249, 11437273, 11437292, 11437294, 11437394, 11437399, 11437403, 11437405, 11437423, 11437528, 11437565, 11437579, 11437580, 11437590, 11437679, 11437744, 11437781, 11437842, 11437993, 11438006, 11438008, 11438121, 11438138, 11438155, 11438392, 11438629, 11439359, 11439879, 11440397, 11443030, 11448163, 11458918, 11460558

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 11, 2025
Crash reported4 injuries reported

I was traveling down the hwy and and car went thru the stop sign. I could not stop in time and I t boned it. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11698718
Incident
Aug 10, 2025
Brakes
Filed May 19, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed during a heavy crosswind, the electronic stabilization system warning light illuminated, indicating that the system had deactivated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 1,000.

NHTSA ID
11661969
Incident
May 19, 2025
Mileage
1,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Dec 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH, the dual wheel tires detached from the vehicle and struck another vehicle. On another occasion while driving 60 MPH, the tires detached. There was no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V398000 (Wheels). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wheel studs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 223,926.

NHTSA ID
11630410
Incident
Nov 7, 2023
Mileage
223,926 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 4, 2024

While driving on the freeway at 75 mph transfer case went into neutral. No power to wheels. I managed to coast off the freeway and then towed to dealership. Dodge 5500 trucks are used for heavy hauling such as fire trucks, ambulances and in the west ranchers. If a rancher is going down a steep grade with a heavy load (cattle/horses) they would not be able to STOP due to weight. Transfer case has defective parts internally. Dealer said that there is a defect in the transfer cases and is common on Dodge Ram 4500/5500.

NHTSA ID
11623456
Incident
May 14, 2024
Seat belts
Filed Nov 7, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving and slamming on the brakes, the front driver's side seat belt failed to retract. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the seat belt was inspected, and the contact was informed that the seat belt needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired free of charge because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and made the same assessment. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID
11554033
Incident
May 7, 2022
Mileage
25,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Nov 7, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and slamming on the brakes, the front driver's side seat belt failed to retract. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the seat belt was inspected, and the contact was informed that the seat belt needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired free of charge because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and made the same assessment. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

NHTSA ID
11554032
Incident
Oct 7, 2023
Mileage
2,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 6, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 5500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V759000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and towing a trailer, while attempting to stop the vehicle, the contact noticed that the vehicle failed to stop within a reasonable amount of time. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost proper braking functionality. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11543008
Incident
Jul 15, 2023
Mileage
150,000 mi
Filed Jul 15, 2021
Fire reported

2020 DODGE RAM 5500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO Y26 STUDS SAFETY RECALL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THIS RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXHAUST FIRE. THE VEHICLE SMOKED FOR 20 MINUTES. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ID
11424947
Incident
Jul 15, 2021

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

113744

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE

SENSOR - TURBOCHARGER SPEED

113742

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE

SENSOR - TURBOCHARGER SPEED

113276

CORE – HEATER

113277

CORE – HEATER

113070

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:BODY

SWITCH – HEADLAMP

113069

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:BODY

SWITCH – HEADLAMP

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

RAM 5500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000
2026040
2025240
2024020
2023030
2022264151.6
2021350
2020Viewing8102
20191210271.8
2018378164.3
2017197265.2
2016177265.5
2015138356.0
20141110266.7
2013492
2012001
2011001
2009021
2008010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.