RoadVitals

2022 RAM 5500 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
26
Latest Feb 14, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2022 RAM 5500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Steering39.4%
  • Transmission39.4%
  • Fuel system26.3%
  • Other / unspecified13.1%
  • Electrical13.1%
  • Driver assistance13.1%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

21
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Dealership confirmed K1 and K2 snap ring failure on a 22 Dodge Ram under warranty with 15933 miles. Transmission was manufactured in August of the truck build. On [XXX] while driving my 22 Ram 5500 the truck lost all forward gears while coming down the mountain with a loaded truck camper and pulling a trailer with an ATV. Truck was below GVWR. This truck had 15933 miles and 24 months old. All servicing intervals were met and serviced at a certified Dodge dealership. The truck was traveling at 25 MPH down hill in steep terrain on a dirt road. The exhaust brake and tow haul mode was selected and operational. The vehicle shuddered and made a thump and had an associated check engine light with an Adaptive Cruise Control caution indication. The vehicle started to rapidly speed up downhill and I gently applied the brakes to regain control. I coasted approximately 2 miles to find a safe pull off point in the mountains with no forward gears. After the vehicle was safely stopped I was able to confirm the malfunction with no forward gears and reverse only. I was fortunate to be able to flag a ride after hiking out to the [XXX] to get my wife and I out of the National Forest and get cellular service. The nearest service provider was the Ram dealership in Lewiston Idaho. I made arrangements and the Truck was delivered the next day by a semi tow vehicle. We incurred a two night stay at the Hampton Inn to get repairs lined up and arrange travel home. After multiple conversations with the dealership and a trip down there to discuss the issue with the dealership they finally diagnosed and fixed the problem after 33 days sitting on the lot. The truck was delivered back to me on 9 October. The diagnosis of the K1 and K2 snap ring poses a serious safety issue for owners and operators of this vehicle. This malfunction caused some significant financial burden as well due to the truck being inoperative and away 140 miles from home. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(

NHTSA ID 11623278 · filed Nov 2, 2024

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was losing forward momentum. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the engine was revving but the vehicle was not gaining any forward momentum. The contact pulled the vehicle over and turned the vehicle off and on, however, when the contact had shifted the vehicle into drive (D) the vehicle was not moving. The contact determined that he only had reverse (R) gear functioning. The contact had checked online and read that he would be able to manually shift to 5th gear. The contact was able to return to his workplace and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE24009 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID 11620325 · filed Oct 17, 2024
All 21 reports naming powertrain (other)

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Our driver told us that he lost steering. At 35 mph on a open highway (which is confirmed by our gps). He also has a clean driving record and has been driving box truck for decades with no incident. Once steering was lost the box truck to slam in into the barrier twice , than roll onto its side. There where no other cars involved in the accident and the truck is now totaled. There is so much damage done to the truck it is hard to pinpoint the failure point. The center link is broken and the tie rod end is snapped off. The truck only has 38,000 miles on it. The air bags weren't deployed and the driver had to be pulled out of the truck. The police confirmed the steering failure point on the police report. There was no warning of the failure. Until the accident.

NHTSA ID 11642692 · filed Feb 14, 2025

Center (drag) link as a part of the steering linkage assembly snapped after 40,000 miles. I was driving < 5 miles an hour attempting to park my vehicle when I heard a large snap sound, which, upon further investigation, was the center link that snapped in half. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership for repairs. Had the vehicle been in a more dense area or if I were driving on the highway and not attempting to park, a sudden loss of steering capability could have been fatal. The dealer has acknowledged the center link was broken after completing their diagnostic. I’m not sure if the vehicle part was returned to the manufacturer for inspection and there was no insurance claim for an adjuster to review. I do know from open source information that Ram has had issues (recalls I believe as well) with the steering rod or otherwise steering linkage assembly in the past. There were no lights or indicators suggesting an imminent failure in the steering system.

NHTSA ID 11524902 · filed Jun 1, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was losing forward momentum. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the engine was revving but the vehicle was not gaining any forward momentum. The contact pulled the vehicle over and turned the vehicle off and on, however, when the contact had shifted the vehicle into drive (D) the vehicle was not moving. The contact determined that he only had reverse (R) gear functioning. The contact had checked online and read that he would be able to manually shift to 5th gear. The contact was able to return to his workplace and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE24009 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID 11620325 · filed Oct 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving 50–55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power due to the transmission failure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to another local dealer, Speck Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (125 E Allen Rd., Sunnyside, WA 98944), where it was diagnosed that the snap ring was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

NHTSA ID 11605587 · filed Jul 31, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift properly into the correct gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the air filter to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to Efird Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM (1711 W Lucas St, Florence, SC 29501: (843) 773-4179) where it was diagnosed with needing the flywheel and the starter to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated two weeks later he experienced the failure a second time. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to Phillips Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (3440 S Pine Ave, Ocala, FL 34471: (352) 644-7795) where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission and the flywheel to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID 11487689 · filed Oct 3, 2022

Owners manual and marketing documents for 2022 RAM 5500 contain incomplete and obsolete information about diesel fueling requirements causing increased safety risk for drivers. These documents imply that without B20 option / package, vehicle cannot be safely fueled with diesel that contains ANY percentage of bio mass. Fuel must be straight petro diesel (B0) which is impossible to obtain in most of the United States as many states mandate at least 5% bio mass (B5). In addition, for the past few years, B20 optioned vehicles have not been available from RAM leaving customers with no choice but to buy non B20 vehicles and use them with fuel that contains at least some bio mass. Call to RAM indicated that since 2019, vehicles with Cummins 6.7 diesel engine may be safety fueled and operated with up to 20% bio mass (B20). This information has been conveniently omitted from owners manuals and marketing material. Safety risk; Currently many customers are on the road and driving longer than necessary to obtain B0 fuel. This causes increased risk of accidents for every one. In addition, drivers are polluting the environment driving more than necessary searching for B0 diesel. The increased pollution causes safety risk for all humans and animals as toxic fumes are emitted from RAM trucks with needless driving. I am requesting NHTSA intervene on behalf of US customers to require FCA LLC / Stellantis N.A to do the following: 1) Identify by VIN which vehicles may be safety operated on B20 and send owners a written notice so there is clarity on B20 diesel fueling options. 2) NHTSA require FCA LLC / Stellantis N.A update the owners manual on B20 fueling options and make an electronic copy available to all owners for future reference. 3) Notify all dealers of the B20 fueling option so they can inform customers correctly of this green fueling alternative.

NHTSA ID 11456614 · filed Mar 14, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

This is a 2022 Dodge Ram 5500. The wheel studs broke off while driving on the interstate, and the dually tires came off. This is a major safety issue and the driver had a narrow escape. This same issue persisted through the 2012-2021 model years and RAM had a recall (Y26) for those years. I do not believe the issue has been fixed for the 2022 model year. When I asked RAM for reimbursement for the replacement studs and labor, they turned it down saying my model year was not on the list I am looking to escalate this matter before someone else gets impacted by this issue.

NHTSA ID 11576587 · filed Mar 11, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Received notice 8 months ago that the electrical relay that is used for grid heater when starting the vehicle may catch fire causing the entire vehicle to burn to the ground. I contacted RAM immediately and they stated there is no fix available. 8 months later I contacted RAM again and they stated that a fix was in the works but not available to me. I later contacted a dealer to buy a new truck and found they had a stop sell on RAM trucks and the fix was made available to them so the trucks can be sold. RAM should be taking care of trucks already sold and are on the road first not trucks waiting to the sold on the lot. Those are the vehicles that risk public safety. There is no risk with unsold truck sitting idle in dealer parking lots other than profits. RAM is colluding with their dealerships to sell truck at the risk of public safety. NHTSA is warned by this complaint that they will be found lax in enforcement if they do not require RAM to correct sold truck first. I have contacted by Senator and notified him of the concern with NHTSA. I currently have to park my truck on the street as required by RAM in their recall notice and my insurance premiums increased as a result.

NHTSA ID 11518432 · filed Apr 22, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Driving down freeway lost all momentum had to coast to the shoulder almost causing several accidents and getting hit by a semi in the process. The truck had no gears whatsoever and gave me on warning something was as it risk for failing. Was told the entire transmission had failed. This was the second transmission ram had put in. The problem is becoming wide spread across the internet as multiple owners are now reporting with no known fix currently. Please note that the file below is the first repair which did nothing but almost cause another accident when it happened again

NHTSA ID 11507787 · filed Feb 17, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .