The 2021 RAM 5500 exhibits multiple recalls, particularly concerning the electrical system and potential fire risks. With peak failures occurring at very low mileage, prospective buyers should approach with caution and prioritize thorough inspections.
Key Factor:Electrical fire hazards
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Safety Alert
Safety Alert: This model has a higher recall frequency (5) than the average RAM vehicle (0.4). Owners should prioritize checking these components.
5 recalls for this vehicle0.4 avg. recalls per vehicle (brand)
πWhy This Matters
The presence of five recalls in a single model year is a significant indicator of potential reliability issues, particularly when related to critical components such as the electrical system and wheels. The risk of electrical shorts leading to fires is especially alarming, highlighting the need for vigilance among buyers. Furthermore, incorrect service manual information regarding wheel lug nut torque presents a real danger of wheel separation, which can have dire consequences on road safety.
For a heavy-duty vehicle like the RAM 5500, these defects are not merely inconveniences; they represent fundamental flaws that could compromise both performance and safety. Given the vehicle's intended use in demanding environments, such vulnerabilities must be thoroughly assessed by any buyer or existing owner to avoid costly repairs and unsafe driving conditions.
Focus Area:Safety Profile
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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 (0.4)
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Summary: Year-over-year, RAM has made strides in its manufacturing quality; however, the recalls from this model year indicate a regression in certain aspects of reliability. While RAM trucks generally maintain a solid reputation for durability, this year's issues suggest an emerging risk profile that deviates from expectations for heavy-duty vehicles.
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 β
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.
π‘Medium
1(50%)
π’Low
1(50%)
β Good News: No critical or high-severity complaints reported for this vehicle.
π οΈ DIY Diagnosis Center
Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).
Primary Risk Areas
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMWHEELSAIR BAGS
π―Risk Areas & Recommended Actions
Based on recall data, these components require verification:
1
Electrical System
Issue: Risk of electrical shorts potentially causing fires.
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Inspect wiring and relays for integrity and signs of damage immediately.
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Request detailed service records highlighting any repairs or inspections related to electrical systems.
Campaigns:21V22621V215
2
Wheels
Issue: Incorrect lug nut information may lead to wheel separation due to over-tightening.
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Verify lug nut torque settings against manufacturer specifications without relying solely on manual guidance.
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Ask for confirmation that wheel lug nuts have been checked or replaced according to revised service instructions.
Campaign:21V215
π‘Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your RAM dealer to verify recall completion status.
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-2021-1000π’ Closed
NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding 5500 performance issues.
Opened: Affected Units: 46,712
Consumer Complaints
2 total complaints
Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 5500.
Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis
Fire50%
Otherπ΅ Low
FIRERELATED
See attached document from complainant
BrakesπΆ 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
What should I know about buying a used 2021 RAM 5500 with recall history?
When considering the purchase of a used 2021 RAM 5500, it's crucial to ensure all recall work has been completed. Prospective buyers should check if previous owners addressed concerns related to electrical shorts that could lead to fires, as well as verify that proper maintenance was performed regarding wheel lug nut integrity based on updated manuals.
How can I ensure my RAM 5500 remains safe after purchase?
'To keep your RAM 5500 safe post-purchase, make it a priority to routinely inspect key systems mentioned in recalls. Address any warning lights promptly and consider consulting with certified mechanics familiar with these specific models and their nuances. Staying proactive about your truck's health not only enhances safety but also extends its lifespan.'
πYear-over-Year Context
πImproving Trend
Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows improving reliability trends, largely due to manufacturing refinements addressing 2020 issues. Recall frequency decreased 50%.
π§What 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.
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If You Own This Vehicle
Immediate Action: If any recalls are listed as 'incomplete', contact a certified RAM service centerβrepairs are performed at no cost to you.
Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
Proactive tip: Enroll in RAM's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
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If You're Buying Used
Critical: Demand official documentation showing every RAM recall has been satisfied.
Investigate whether later 5500 iterations (2022+) rectified these persistent issues.
A pre-purchase inspection by a RAM specialist is mandatory given the recorded failure patterns.