PlainCars

RAM · vehicle model

RAM 5500

194 NHTSA complaints and 35 safety recalls across model years 2013–2022.

Complaints
194
Recalls
35
Model years
10

The RAM5500 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 194 consumer safety complaints and 35 recall campaigns across 10 model years (2013–2022). That averages roughly 19 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 7 investigation files tied to this model, with 4 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
202232
20215
202011
201911
201841
201724
201623
201520
201421
20136

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 67 in 2017-2021 to 111 in 2022-2026, a rise of 65.7%. That is the 77th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

3
’14
7
’15
6
’16
11
’17
6
’18
22
’19
12
’20
16
’21
17
’22
45
’23
26
’24
21
’25
2
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare RAM5500 to Similar Vehicles

RAM5500 vs MERCEDES-BENZML430 → RAM5500 vs CHEVROLETPRIZM → RAM5500 vs PONTIACTRANS AM → RAM5500 vs VOLVOVNL64T →

NHTSA Investigations 4 Open

PE26002Preliminary EvaluationOpen2026-03-02

Loss of Power Steering Assist

RQ25003Recall QueryOpen2025-07-03

Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure

PE24009Preliminary EvaluationOpen2024-03-27

2022 RAM Transmission Snap Ring Failure

EA23001Engineering AnalysisOpen2023-03-17

High pressure fuel pump failure

PE21021Preliminary EvaluationClosed2021-10-14

High pressure fuel pump failure

EA19004Engineering AnalysisClosed2019-12-01

Steering loss due to linkage separation

PE18016Preliminary EvaluationClosed2018-12-17

Steering loss due to linkage separation

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the RAM 5500?▼
The RAM 5500 has received 194 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2013 to 2022, with 35 recalls. That averages about 19 complaints per model year.
What years of RAM 5500 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the RAM 5500 from 2013 to 2022 (10 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the RAM 5500 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many RAM 5500 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common RAM 5500 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the RAM 5500 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my RAM 5500 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. RAM 5500 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.