Carlexica

2015 Ram 5500: problems, recalls and reliability

8 recalls and 13 owner complaints on record; most reports concern engine; the 2013 model year looks more trouble-free.

Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2021

8
recalls
13
owner complaints
1
fire reports
-
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

1 fire report

Common problems

Computed from 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Limited data: only 13 complaints on record for this model year - too few for percentage statistics. Bars show raw report counts; read them as individual owner reports, not reliability rates. For a fuller picture, check nearby model years.
Engine (engine mechanics)4 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)3 complaints
Wheels (wheels, lug nuts, bearings)2 complaints
Tires1 complaint
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)1 complaint
Steering (steering wheel, rack, power assist)1 complaint
While traveling on a highway at speeds in excess of 50mph the 2015 Ram 5500 lost the rear set of dual tires on the passenger side. The wheels came off after all 10-wheel studs failed and broke off. This is the second incident on this same truck despite going through the warranty process and procedures through Stellantis/Ram. No incident or injuries resulted from the failure.Owner report · Wheels · Apr 2024
Vehicle is 2015 and has 44.4k miles on it. Had it in for a routine oil change and the mechanic showed me that the oil pan is in extremely poor condition with multiple rot spots all over and could fail at anytime. Mopar extended warranty covers oil pans, but they dont cover rust. An oil pan is a static part, the only way it could fail is from rust or a catastrophic engine failure where a connecting rod may protrude through it. Seems to be a common problem with these oil pans failing at a high rate. I have a 1977 chevy 289k miles with no problems on that oil pan. Perhaps the metal used in production was of poor quality which caused premature and expedited corrosion.Owner report · Engine · Jan 2023
Have had shifting issue's in the past, repair under warranty was trans solenoids. Now, out of warranty, it's the trans wiring harness.Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2021
Show 6 more owner reports
The dpf filter is saying that its clogged and it won't regin. Codes: p0234, p24a2,p0420,p0087,p2228,p1193,p243f,p0102,p203f,p2280Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2020
Truck was on highway going 70 mph. Driver said it started shaking very hard and then heard a very loud bang. Was able to keep it under control and bring it to a stop. There were parts of the transfer case all over the road. Drive shaft was bent at a 45 degree angle. Wiring was wrapped around yoke, underneath of cab is damaged, brake system damaged, def system damaged, along with other problems that cant be seen.Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2019
Vehicle was taken to the dealership due to an issue where white smoke would appear when the engine is under load. Dealer was unable to repair the issue due to scheduling conflicts. Owner attempted to drive the vehicle to another location for diagnostics. Vehicle caught on fire on the way to another dealer location.Owner report · Engine · Sep 2019
Steering drag link broken off on passenger (long arm) side of adjustment sleeve. No impact damage. Part appears to have been improperly manufactured. Only approx 1/3 to 1/2 of the rod was fused together (see picture). Vehicle was backing up and turning in a parking lot, slightly downhill with service brakes lightly applied. Vehicle is heavily loaded (electrical bucket truck)Owner report · Steering · Aug 2018
Battery saver mode msg appeared on dash. Truck had 87,000 miles and 2400 hours. Used as a roadside service wrecker. Tested batteries. 1 tested bad. Replaced both batteries. Message comes back at startup on cold mornings. Msg stays on until truck is warmed later in the day.Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2017
Front tires. Tires wear uneven. Mostly passenger side. Cupping of of both. Noticeable vibration. Same thing happened with my 2011 model of the same vehicle.Owner report · Tires · Jan 2015

Recalls - 8 campaigns

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL17V562000 · Sep 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2017 RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines that have Concentric-brand water pumps without a vent hole. These water pumps may leak coolant.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pumps, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T51.

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS21V398000 · May 2021

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.

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 SYSTEM:WIRING18V332000 · May 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

TIRES15V290000 · May 2015

Chryser (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks manufactured August 20, 2013, to January 27, 2015 and equipped with 6.4L Hemi engines. The affected vehicles have a maximum governed speed of 106 mph but are fitted with tires that are only rated for a maximum speed of 87 mph.

Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will correct the electronic control unit software to limit the vehicle's speed to 87 mph, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R17.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM15V468000 · Jul 2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ram 4500, and 5500 pickup trucks manufactured January 30, 2015, to February 6, 2015. The affected vehicles may have inadequate penetration of the front upper control arm loop to spacer weld, reducing the front suspension stability.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected upper control arms, free of charge. The recall began on September 17, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R34.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.15V461000 · Jul 2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger, 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Dodge Durango, and 2013-2015 Dodge Viper vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may download the update to their own USB drive from http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ or take their vehicle to a Chrysler dealer for immediate installation. In an effort to mitigate the effects of this security vulnerability, Chrysler has had the wireless service provider close the open cellular connection to the vehicle that provided unauthorized access to the vehicle network. This measure may not have been implemented on all vehicles and does not address access by other means that will be remedied by the software update. The recall began on August 25, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R40.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT17V821000 · Dec 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.

EQUIPMENT17V824000 · Dec 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.

Trouble codes owners mention

OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.

How other years compare

Check your exact 5500 by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

Open VIN decoder

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Ram 5500 reliable?

NHTSA has 13 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 2015 Ram 5500. The most complained-about area is engine.

Does the 2015 Ram 5500 have open recalls?

8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.