NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2021 Ram 5500 Safety Record
The 2021 Ram 5500 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 5 recalls and 3 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2021 Ram 5500 does not carry a federal safety rating, as NHTSA has not crash-tested this model year. This absence of crash-test data precludes a Safety Index score and any star ratings. However, the federal record does show a Heavy burden band for recalls and complaints. Owners have reported three complaints covering electrical, fire-related, suspension, wheel, and brake concerns. The model year has been subject to five recall campaigns, notably including two separate "park outside" directives. This profile warrants careful attention from prospective owners.
The 2021 Ram 5500 was not crash-tested by NHTSA, carries a Heavy recall and complaint burden band, and is subject to five recall campaigns including two park-outside directives, according to NHTSA federal safety data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
- shoppers who want the full federal safety picture in one place
| NHTSA crash test | Not crash-tested |
|---|---|
| Recall and complaint burden | Heavy |
| Recalls on file | 5 (includes park-outside) |
| Owner complaints | 3 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 Ram 5500?
The 2021 Ram 5500's safety record is defined by its recall history; NHTSA has published no crash-test data for this model year. Five recalls were issued for the 2021 Ram 5500, a significant volume. Two of these campaigns advised owners to park outside due to electrical wiring and relay faults. This guidance from federal safety regulators indicates a fire risk serious enough to warrant a higher-urgency advisory than a standard repair recall. A separate recall addressed potential issues with wheel studs and lugs, a structural concern specific to cab chassis configurations. Furthermore, a frontal air bag recall impacted a wide range of 2021 and 2022 Ram heavy-duty trucks, introducing a restraint-system concern. The three owner complaints recorded are a modest count, yet they include allegations of fire and a crash. These complaints, alongside electrical issues mirroring recall themes, reinforce the patterns suggested by the recall record. This cumulative evidence results in a "Heavy burden" rating for the 2021 Ram 5500.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 Ram 5500 have any recalls?
The 2021 Ram 5500 is covered by five recall campaigns. Two carry park-outside warnings, both tied to the electrical system wiring and relays, meaning owners were advised not to park these vehicles in enclosed spaces due to fire risk. A third electrical system recall involves the Cummins 6.7L engine. A fourth covers frontal air bags and the steering column. The fifth addresses wheel lug nuts, bolts, or studs on cab chassis variants. Two of these five campaigns carry the most urgent consumer-action level NHTSA assigns short of a do-not-drive order.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL25V765000
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering column control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 14C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 13, 2025.
Reported 2025-11-06
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS23V060000
Risk: An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers on or about 3/23/2023 and begin notifying owners on or about 4/5/2023. Phase 2 will include 2022 model year vehicles and Phase 3 will include 2021 mo
Reported 2023-02-09
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS21V798000
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside of buildings or structures, and not near other vehicles, until the vehicle has been remedied. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Owner notification letters w
Reported 2021-10-14
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS21V398000
Risk: Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
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 Decemb
Reported 2021-05-27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21V163000
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Customers are advised to not park these vehicles inside of buildings or structures, or near other vehicles until the vehicle has the final repair completed. Owner notificat
Reported 2021-03-11
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2021 Ram 5500?
Three owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA against the 2021 Ram 5500. The reported components span the electrical system, a fire-related incident, suspension, wheels, and service brakes. One complaint alleges a crash and one alleges a fire. All are unverified consumer allegations submitted to NHTSA and have not been independently confirmed by this desk.
3 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 Ram 5500?
Any shopper or current owner of a 2021 Ram 5500 should run the vehicle's VIN through the free recall lookup at nhtsa.gov to determine whether any of the five recall campaigns remain open and unrepaired on that specific unit. An open recall means the remedy has not yet been performed, and dealers are required to complete open recall repairs at no charge.
- Two of the five recalls on the 2021 Ram 5500 carry park-outside advisories tied to electrical wiring and relay faults, reflecting a federal determination that fire risk was sufficient to warn owners against parking in enclosed structures.
- A frontal air bag recall covering the steering column affects 2021 Ram 5500 units alongside a broad range of 2021 and 2022 Ram heavy-duty trucks, making restraint-system status a specific item to verify by VIN.
- A wheel lug, nut, bolt, and stud recall applies to cab chassis configurations of the 2021 Ram 5500, a structural concern that owners of this body style should confirm has been remedied on their specific vehicle.
- No NHTSA crash-test data exists for the 2021 Ram 5500 and no tested sibling years are on record, meaning shoppers have no star ratings of any kind to reference and should rely on the VIN-level recall check at nhtsa.gov as their primary federal safety resource.
RANKINGSWhere the 2021 Ram 5500 places
The 2021 Ram 5500 qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2021 Ram 5500 safety questions
Was the 2021 Ram 5500 crash-tested by NHTSA?
No. NHTSA has not run a New Car Assessment Program crash test on this configuration, so it carries no Safety Index. Its safety record here is built from 5 recalls and 3 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ram 5500 have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 5 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 Ram 5500, including a park-outside or do-not-drive campaign, which is the most serious class of recall. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Ram 5500?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 3 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Ram 5500. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Ram 5500 2021.
- SCORE This configuration was not crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. We report its recall and complaint record only.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.