2022 Ram 5500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2022 Ram 5500 has a complaint index of 86, ranking 3rd worst out of 15 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Transmission and powertrain issues dominate at 81% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 1,973 miles, plus four recall campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 86/100
- #3 of 15 5500 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 26
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 2 Park Outside
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
Top 2022 Ram 5500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain21 (81%)
- Steering3 (12%)
- Fuel System2 (8%)
- Electrical System1 (4%)
- Engine1 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Transmission loses forward gears or fails to shift correctly, sometimes at highway speeds around 65 mph.
- Some drivers report the transmission disengaging entirely on steep grades, leaving only reverse gear available.
- Loss of motive power and inability to shift occurs with the check engine light on, requiring a tow and transmission replacement.
- Steering can fail suddenly, including a drag link snapping while parking at low speed after 40,000 miles.
- One owner reported losing steering entirely at 35 mph, resulting in a crash.
- Wheel studs have broken off while driving on the interstate, causing dually tires to come loose.
2022 Ram 5500 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V765000Nov 6, 2025Steering532 vehicles
Steering:steering control module
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500, Ram 4500, and Ram 5500 vehicles. The steering column control module may cause the driver's side air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
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.
- NHTSA 23V060000Feb 9, 2023Electrical System302,067 vehiclesPark Outside
Electrical system:wiring:relays/solenoids
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off.
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 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers and owners on or about 4/27/2023 for Phase 2 and 5/11/2023 for Phase 3. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 28, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 13A. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798.
- NHTSA 22V642000Aug 26, 2022Engine4,907 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ECM)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Ram 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 2500, and 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L turbo diesel engines. The engine control module (ECM) may have been built with a misaligned capacitor that can short-circuit, resulting in an internal loss of communication.
Risk: An internal loss of communication can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ECM, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 20, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z87.
2022 compared with other 5500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2022 Ram 5500 a bad year?
- NHTSA data gives the 2022 Ram 5500 a complaint index of 86, ranking 3rd worst among 15 model years, with a verdict of Avoid relative to other 5,500 years.
- What is the main problem with the 2022 Ram 5500?
- Transmission and powertrain issues make up 81% of complaints (21 of 26), with owners reporting failure at a median mileage of 1,973 miles.
- Does the 2022 Ram 5500 have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2022 Ram 5500, covering steering column control module, electrical grid heater relay, and engine control module issues, none marked do-not-drive.
- Are steering problems common on the 2022 Ram 5500?
- Steering accounts for 3 of 26 complaints (12% share) and is linked to 1 crash, including a reported drag link failure and a steering loss incident.