RoadVitals

2021 RAM 5500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

NHTSA has issued a “park outside” advisory affecting this model year.

Campaign 23V060000. Confirm whether your specific vehicle is covered using its VIN before acting on this.

Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov
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.
3
Latest Jan 13, 2026
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.
5
Latest Nov 6, 2025
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.
0
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

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 RAM 5500, most frequently naming the other / unspecified, brakes and electrical categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 368 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

  • Other / unspecified240.0%
  • Brakes120.0%
  • Electrical120.0%
  • Suspension120.0%

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

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

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
25V765000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE

Nov 6, 2025
532 units potentially affected
The defect: 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."
The risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy: 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.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)Manufacturer number 14CView on NHTSA.gov
23V060000NHTSA advisory: park outside

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS

Feb 9, 2023
302,067 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The remedy: 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.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)Manufacturer number 13AView on NHTSA.gov
21V798000NHTSA advisory: park outside

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS

Oct 14, 2021
131,177 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
The remedy: 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.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)Manufacturer number Y76View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Jan 13, 2026
Fire reported

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 towing a vehicle on a flatbed. The contact stated that the driver noticed multiple lights were illuminated, and the RPM was at zero. The driver stated that an abnormal knocking sound could be heard coming from under the front of the tow truck. The driver pulled to the side of the road and immediately exited the vehicle. The tow truck driver used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. None of the air bags deployed. The driver did not sustain any injuries. The contact stated that the damage by the fire was isolated to one side of the engine, by the heater of the relay intake on the driver side. The wires that were connected to the relay were damaged. The fire department was called. The police were called and arrived after the fire was extinguished. It was unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the business location. The contact owns a vehicle electrical shop and determined that the fire was electrical. There was no damage to the vehicle that was towed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The insurance company was not notified.  The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 189,040.

NHTSA ID
11710690
Incident
Jan 9, 2026
Mileage
189,040 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 5, 2023

See attached document from complainant

NHTSA ID
11548378
Incident
Jan 27, 2023
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Mar 25, 2023
Crash reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11513738
Incident
Feb 13, 2023

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

113069

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:BODY

SWITCH – HEADLAMP

113070

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
2021Viewing350—
20208102—
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.