This 2021 model shows concerning reliability, primarily driven by 5 recallsโabove the RAM averageโcentered on the electrical system.
Key Factor:elevated electrical system issues
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Safety Alert
Safety Alert: This model has a higher recall frequency (5) than the average RAM vehicle (0.9). Owners should prioritize checking these components.
5 recalls for this vehicle0.9 avg. recalls per vehicle (brand)
๐Why This Matters
Understanding recall history helps predict future ownership costs. Each unaddressed issue represents potential repair expenses.
Insurance companies review vehicle reliability data when setting premiums. Models with elevated recall rates often see adjusted pricing.
Given this model year's elevated concern level, budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Focus Area:general reliability
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Expert Analysis
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Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
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Primary Risk Area:Fire
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Vs Brand: Worse than avg (0.9)
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Summary:
Safety & Reliability Score
55/100
Score Breakdown
Recall Impact-40
Complaint Impact-0.1
Investigation Impact-5
Technical Specifications
Key specifications for the 2021 RAM 5500
Model Year2021
MakeRAM
Model5500
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle
Safety History Timeline
Scroll for more โ
Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Nov21
RECALLRecall Issued
Mar23
ISSUEFirst Report
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Sep23
RECALLRecall Issued
Jun25
RECALLRecall Issued
Consumer Complaint Analysis
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Most Reported Issue
1 complaints (50% of total)
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Complaint Trend
Stable
No trend data
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Safety Incidents
No critical incidents
Complaint Severity Distribution
Breakdown of 2 consumer complaints by severity level.
๐กMedium
1(50%)
๐ขLow
1(50%)
โ Good News: No critical or high-severity complaints reported for this vehicle.
๐ ๏ธ DIY Diagnosis Center
Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).
Primary Risk Areas
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMWHEELSAIR BAGS
Official Safety Recalls (5)
Campaign: 21V798000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS
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Summary
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.
Consequence
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Campaign: 21V398000
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
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Summary
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.
Consequence
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Campaign: 21V163000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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Summary
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.
Consequence
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Campaign: 23V060000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS
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Summary
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.
Consequence
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Campaign: 25V765000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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Summary
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."
Consequence
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. Some owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 11, 2025. Some interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 11, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated February 2026. 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.
NHTSA Investigations
1 investigation
Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2021 5500.
INV-2021-1000๐ข Closed
NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding 5500 performance issues.
Opened: Affected Units: 22,791
Consumer Complaints
2 total complaints
Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 5500.
Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis
Fire50%
Other๐ต Low
FIRERELATED
See attached document from complainant
Brakes๐ถ Medium
SUSPENSION,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any recalls for the 2021 RAM 5500?
Yes, the 2021 RAM 5500 has 5 recorded recalls from NHTSA. These recalls cover various components including ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2021 RAM 5500 safe to drive?
The 2021 RAM 5500 has 5 recalls. If you own this vehicle, check with your dealer to ensure all recall repairs have been completed. Most recalls have free remedies available.
Where can I check if my 2021 RAM 5500 has open recalls?
You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local RAM dealer.
๐Year-over-Year Context
๐Improving Trend
Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows improving reliability trends, largely due to manufacturing refinements addressing 2020 issues. Recall frequency decreased 50%.
๐ฏRisk Areas & Recommended Actions
Based on recall data, these components require verification:
1
Electrical system
Issue: presents fire risk under certain conditions
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If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm electrical system recalls are complete. Recall repairs are always free.
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If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all electrical system recalls are completed before purchase.
Campaigns:21V79800021V16300023V060000
2
Wheels
Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk
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If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm wheels recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.
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If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all wheels recalls are completed before purchase.
Campaign:21V398000
3
Air bags
Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk
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If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm air bags recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.
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If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all air bags recalls are completed before purchase.
Campaign:25V765000
๐กVisit NHTSA.gov or contact your RAM dealer to verify recall completion status.
๐งญWhat This Means for You
Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.
If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.
๐
If You Own This Vehicle
Verify all 5 recalls have been completed using your VIN at NHTSA.gov or through your RAM dealer.
If any recalls are open, schedule service immediatelyโrecall repairs are always free.
Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
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If You're Buying Used
Request full service history and documentation of all recall completions.
Consider whether adjacent model years (2020 or 2022) show better safety metrics.
Budget for thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on known problem areas.