2021 RAM 5500 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 RAM 5500.

20202022
Complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
5

Worst 2021 RAM 5500 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11 complaints

Electrical Faults

Fires:1
#21 complaints

Firerelated

#31 complaints

Brakes

Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 RAM 5500.

Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Firerelated
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 RAM 5500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2021 RAM 5500

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~900,975 vehicles.

25V765000Steering:steering Control Module · Air Bags:frontal
~532 affected

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."

23V060000Electrical System:wiring:relays/solenoids
~302,067 affected

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.

21V798000Electrical System:wiring:relays/solenoids
~131,177 affected

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.

21V398000Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
~447,985 affected

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.

21V163000Electrical System
~19,214 affected

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.

Other RAM 5500 Years

20132014201520162017201820192020202120222025

2021 RAM 5500 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2021 RAM 5500 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2021 RAM 5500 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 1 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2021 RAM 5500?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (1 complaints); Firerelated (1 complaints); Brakes (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 2021 RAM 5500?
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 RAM 5500 include 3 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2021 RAM 5500 have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 900,975 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2021 RAM 5500?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full RAM 5500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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