Buying a used 2021 RAM 5500? Check these 5 recalls first
Fire is the through-line here: three critical recalls, two involving a heater grid relay that can catch fire and one for engine fire risk, with two of the three telling owners to park outside until repaired. Also covered are wheel studs that can break and a driver airbag that may not deploy. Only four owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — unverified reports — but two involve fires and one a crash, clustering in electrical system, fire-related, suspension, and wheels.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Confirm both heater-relay recalls and the engine fire recall were dealer-completed
- Look under the hood for scorching, melted wiring, or repairs near the relays
- Verify the wheel stud and driver airbag recalls and check the airbag warning light
- Open recalls are repaired free at any RAM dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2021 RAM 5500
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Ram diesel trucks: heater grid relay can catch fire | Electrical System | critical |
| Ram Diesel Trucks Heater Relay Can Cause Fire · park outside | Electrical System | critical |
| Ram Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks Engine Fire Risk · park outside | Electrical System | critical |
| Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 wheel studs may break | Wheels | high |
| Ram 1500 through 5500 driver airbag may not deploy | AIR Bags | high |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
4 complaints filed for this model year, including 1 mentioning a crash, 2 a fire and 0 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | Yes |
| Suspension | 1 | None found |
| Wheels | 1 | Yes |
| Brakes | 1 | None found |