2021 RAM 5500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2021 RAM 5500, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2021 RAM 5500
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Steering control module (steering) and air bags: frontal
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…
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…
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Relays/solenoids (electrical system) Park outside
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.
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…
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Relays/solenoids (electrical system) Park outside
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.
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…
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Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Electrical system
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.
Remedy: 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…
4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 RAM 5500 have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 142,520 miles. Complaints peaked in 2023 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 eng”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 19, 2026 · Electrical system
“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 wa”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 13, 2026 · Electrical system
Compare RAM 5500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every RAM 5500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 RAM 5500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 RAM 5500 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 RAM 5500 | 9 | 4 |
| 2014 RAM 5500 | 10 | 11 |
| 2015 RAM 5500 | 8 | 13 |
| 2016 RAM 5500 | 7 | 17 |
| 2017 RAM 5500 | 7 | 21 |
| 2018 RAM 5500 | 8 | 38 |
| 2019 RAM 5500 | 9 | 12 |
| 2020 RAM 5500 | 9 | 8 |
| 2021 RAM 5500 | 5 | 4 |
| 2022 RAM 5500 | 4 | 26 |
| 2023 RAM 5500 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 RAM 5500 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 RAM 5500 | 4 | 2 |
| 2026 RAM 5500 | 4 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2021 RAM 5500
How do I know if my 2021 RAM 5500 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2021 RAM 5500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised RAM dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V163000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other RAM models
- 150011,781 complaints
- 25005,130 complaints
- 35002,351 complaints
- ProMaster647 complaints
- ProMaster City100 complaints
- 450048 complaints
- ProMaster 250032 complaints
- ProMaster 350016 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.