RAM 4500 · model year

2015 RAM 4500

11 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 8 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2015RAM4500 carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 6 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2015 4500 is service brakes with 2 filings, followed by wheels (2) and unknown or other (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 8 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 7 investigation files overlapping the 2015 4500, and 4 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

11
Complaints
1
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

11 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES2
WHEELS2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
STEERING1
SUSPENSION1
POWER TRAIN1
ENGINE1

Recalls (8)

15V46800027/07/2015

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM

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.

21V39800027/05/2021

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

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 whe

15V46100023/07/2015

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

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 equip

17V82400021/12/2017

EQUIPMENT

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 ma

17V82100020/12/2017

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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.

15V29000018/05/2015

TIRES

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

18V33200017/05/2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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

17V56200012/09/2017

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

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.

Recent Complaints

20230828CrashWHEELS

Right rear wheel studs sheered off and the wheels fell off at highway speeds. It appears recall Y26 has listed this issue. One of the wheels rolled off the highway into a Tesla dealership and hit two new cars.

20201208ENGINE

ENGINE OIL COOLER POURING ENGINE OIL OUT!!

Mileage: 120,000

20181229UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGH WAY ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I PULLED OVER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE MY MECHANIC SHOP HE CHECKED OBD CODE TOLD ME YOUR ECU INTERNAL PERFORMANCE ISSUE MEMORY LOSS NEED TO REFLASH. IT CAN SHUT DOWN ANT TIME ON HIGH WAY AND CAUSE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 113,233

20180724FireSERVICE BRAKES

THE AMBULANCE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THEY FELT A VIBRATION THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THEY LOST STEERING, BRAKES AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ENGINE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, FOUND THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS IN PIECES. FOUND ENGINE HARNESS DAMAGE, BOTH DRIVESHAFTS, BRAKE AND FUEL LINES DAMAGED. AMBULANCE BOX AND TRUCK FLOOR BOARD DAMAGED.

Mileage: 140,000

20180724FirePOWER TRAIN

THE AMBULANCE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THEY FELT A VIBRATION THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THEY LOST STEERING, BRAKES AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ENGINE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, FOUND THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS IN PIECES. FOUND ENGINE HARNESS DAMAGE, BOTH DRIVESHAFTS, BRAKE AND FUEL LINES DAMAGED. AMBULANCE BOX AND TRUCK FLOOR BOARD DAMAGED.

Mileage: 140,000

20180724FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE AMBULANCE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THEY FELT A VIBRATION THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THEY LOST STEERING, BRAKES AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ENGINE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, FOUND THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS IN PIECES. FOUND ENGINE HARNESS DAMAGE, BOTH DRIVESHAFTS, BRAKE AND FUEL LINES DAMAGED. AMBULANCE BOX AND TRUCK FLOOR BOARD DAMAGED.

Mileage: 140,000

20161229FireSTEERING

I PURCHASED MY 2015 RAM 4500 NEW, WITHIN THE FIRST 3000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES WERE SHOWING UNEVEN WEAR, BY 50,000 MILES THE UNEVEN WEAR WAS SEVER. I REPLACED FRONT TIRES AND HAD A FRONT-END ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. WITHIN APPROX. 3000 MILES AGAIN, THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. AT APPROX. 117,000 THE ABS SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO COME N NEXT WEEK AND THEY WOULD CHANGE A WHEEL SENSOR BUT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEN. THE DAY AFTER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON HOWEVER, THE HUB BEARINGS WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. I HAD THE HUB BEARING, BRAKE CALIBER, BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THE BEARINGS FAILURE. THESE HAVE NOT CHANGED THE UNEVEN WEARING AND HAS INCREASED THE OCCASIONALLY SEVER WOBBLE/SHAKE THAT OCCURS AT MID SPEEDS WHEN A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD OR A SEMI SHARP CURVE IS IN THE ROADWAY.

Mileage: 117,000

20161229FireSUSPENSION

I PURCHASED MY 2015 RAM 4500 NEW, WITHIN THE FIRST 3000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES WERE SHOWING UNEVEN WEAR, BY 50,000 MILES THE UNEVEN WEAR WAS SEVER. I REPLACED FRONT TIRES AND HAD A FRONT-END ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. WITHIN APPROX. 3000 MILES AGAIN, THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. AT APPROX. 117,000 THE ABS SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO COME N NEXT WEEK AND THEY WOULD CHANGE A WHEEL SENSOR BUT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEN. THE DAY AFTER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON HOWEVER, THE HUB BEARINGS WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. I HAD THE HUB BEARING, BRAKE CALIBER, BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THE BEARINGS FAILURE. THESE HAVE NOT CHANGED THE UNEVEN WEARING AND HAS INCREASED THE OCCASIONALLY SEVER WOBBLE/SHAKE THAT OCCURS AT MID SPEEDS WHEN A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD OR A SEMI SHARP CURVE IS IN THE ROADWAY.

Mileage: 117,000

20161229FireWHEELS

I PURCHASED MY 2015 RAM 4500 NEW, WITHIN THE FIRST 3000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES WERE SHOWING UNEVEN WEAR, BY 50,000 MILES THE UNEVEN WEAR WAS SEVER. I REPLACED FRONT TIRES AND HAD A FRONT-END ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. WITHIN APPROX. 3000 MILES AGAIN, THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. AT APPROX. 117,000 THE ABS SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO COME N NEXT WEEK AND THEY WOULD CHANGE A WHEEL SENSOR BUT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEN. THE DAY AFTER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON HOWEVER, THE HUB BEARINGS WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. I HAD THE HUB BEARING, BRAKE CALIBER, BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THE BEARINGS FAILURE. THESE HAVE NOT CHANGED THE UNEVEN WEARING AND HAS INCREASED THE OCCASIONALLY SEVER WOBBLE/SHAKE THAT OCCURS AT MID SPEEDS WHEN A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD OR A SEMI SHARP CURVE IS IN THE ROADWAY.

Mileage: 117,000

20161122ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM WITH A STATE DOT AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION WATER INTRUSION INTO A TRANSMISSION BULKHEAD CONNECTOR ON TWO TRUCKS WITH A THIRD UNCONFIRMED. THE MODELS AFFECTED ARE FROM THE 2014 AND 2015 MODEL YEARS FOR THE RAM 4500 AND 5500. THIS BULKHEAD CONNECTOR IS LOCATED NEAR FRONT WHEEL SPLASH AND IT IS NOT PROPERLY PROTECTED. WHEN WATER ENTER THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, THE TCM CAN SHORT CIRCUIT AND AN INPUT SPEED SENSOR CAN SHORT CIRCUIT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING TO THE DRIVER WHICH RENDERS THE TRUCK TO LOSE THE TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONALITY WHILE IN MOTION. FCA WESTERN REGIONAL MANAGERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE FCA FIX IS TO APPLY DIELECTRIC GREASE TO THE CONNECTOR, WHICH IS NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. DIELECTRIC GREASE WILL WASHOUT IN TIME. A PROPER SOLUTION INVOLVES A PROPER SPLASH SHIELD OR RELOCATING THE ENTIRE HARNESS AWAY FROM WHEEL SPLASH.

Mileage: 30,000

20150506SERVICE BRAKES

IN NOVEMBER 2014 I PURCHASED A SECOND RAM 4500 AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT AS GOOD AS MY PREVIOUS 4500 THAT I STILL HAVE. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I DROVE THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GETTING LOWER AND SPONGY AND THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK LIKE THEY SHOULD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO ANOTHER DEALER ON 3/11/15 WITH SAME COMPLAINT THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I PICKED THE TRUCK UP I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING CORRECTLY. I ASKED WHAT THEY DID AND THEY SAID NOTHING. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THE BRAKES WENT BACK TO NOT STOPPING THE TRUCK LIKE IT SHOULD AND THE PEDAL WAS SPONGY AND LOW. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I THEN WENT TO THE DEALER WITH BOTH OF MY TRUCKS A 2014 4500 AND HAD THEM DRIVE BOTH TRUCKS. THEY STATED YES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND THEY WOULD CONTACT CHRYSLER. I THEN RETURNED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER TESTING

Mileage: 9,032

Compare 2015RAM4500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 4 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2015 RAM 4500 have?
The 2015 RAM 4500 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 6 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2015 RAM 4500?
Yes, the 2015 RAM 4500 has 8 recall(s). The most common affected component is SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 RAM 4500?
The most-complained component for the 2015 RAM 4500 is SERVICE BRAKES with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2015 RAM 4500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.