2021 Ram 5500

Routine

Owners filed 4 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System2
020
Service Brakes1
100
Firerelated1
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Steering › Steering Control Module25V765000
Filed Nov 6, 2025532 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us, Llc)

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."

Risk. A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

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.

Electrical System › Wiring › Relays/Solenoids23V060000Park outside
Filed Feb 9, 2023302,067 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us, Llc)

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.

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.

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.

Electrical System › Wiring › Relays/Solenoids21V798000Park outside
Filed Oct 14, 2021131,177 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us, Llc)

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.

Risk. A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

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.

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs21V398000
Filed May 27, 2021447,985 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us, Llc)

Defect. 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.

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 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 System21V163000
Filed Mar 11, 202119,214 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us, Llc)

Defect. 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.

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 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 19, 202696,000 milesNY

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 vehicle safely. The color of the smoke was white and blue. The fire originated at the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towing a trailer with other vehicles onboard. Several of the vehicles were damaged by the fire. The fire was extinguished by the local Fire Department. A fire report was not filed; however, a Police report was filed. The vehicle was consumed by the fire. No injury was sustained. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V060000 (Electrical System). However, a month after the fire had consumed the vehicle, the recall was initiated. The manufacturer stated the recall repair could not cover the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jan 13, 2026189,040 milesCA

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.

Firerelated
Filed Oct 5, 2023NY

See attached document from complainant

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Mar 25, 2023OK

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.

4 of 4 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2018
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260400Routine
20252400Routine
20240200Routine
20230300Routine
202226400Routine
2021 — this page4520Routine
202081010Routine
2019121010Routine
201837800Routine
201721720Routine
201617710Routine
201513810Routine
2014111030Routine
20134900Routine
20090200Do not drive
20080100Routine

Compare every 5500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 6, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.