2015 Ram 4500 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2015 Ram 4500 holds 7 complaints after 12 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most 4500 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 8 recalls on file, including Lug nuts, Wiring, and Equipment.

2013 Ram 4500 — Photo by Florian Pépellin, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (2 of 7), then Wheels (2) and Electrical system (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 2 that report a fire.

Next to 2014 and 2016

The 2014 4500 has 8 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2016 has 1 complaint, 0 per year. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2015 Ram 4500. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (8)

Recall wheels, lug nuts 2021-05-27 · NHTSA campaign 21V398000

Summary 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.

Recall electrical system, wiring 2018-05-17 · NHTSA campaign 18V332000

Summary 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.

Recall Equipment 2017-12-21 · NHTSA campaign 17V824000

Summary 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.

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shifter 2017-12-20 · NHTSA campaign 17V821000

Summary 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.

Recall engine and cooling, engine, diesel 2017-09-12 · NHTSA campaign 17V562000

Summary 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.

Recall suspension, front, control arm, upper arm 2015-07-27 · NHTSA campaign 15V468000

Summary 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.

Recall equipment, electrical, radio 2015-07-23 · NHTSA campaign 15V461000

Summary 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.

Recall Tires 2015-05-18 · NHTSA campaign 15V290000

Summary 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.

Complaints by component (7 total)

Service brakes

Wheels

Electrical system

Engine

Powertrain

Steering

Suspension

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"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."
Wheels · filed 2023-08-28
"ENGINE OIL COOLER POURING ENGINE OIL OUT!!"
Engine · filed 2020-12-08
"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…"
Unknown or other · filed 2018-12-29
"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…"
Powertrain, Unknown or other, Service brakes · filed 2018-07-24
"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…"
Steering, Suspension, Wheels · filed 2016-12-29

Specs and fitment

Fourth-generation cab chassis, 2013–2018

Body styles Cab chassis

Oil 0W-40 (6.4L V8 gasoline, all temps) , 7 qt capacity

Tire size LT225/70R19.5, LT225/80R17.5, LT245/70R19.5 (trim/chassis dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-277 covers certain 2018 Ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks: the primary and secondary brake hoses between the brake master cylinder and the hydraulic control unit may have been manufactured incorrectly and could leak brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase crash risk. Dealers inspect the hoses and replace them if necessary. Recall 21V-398 also covers certain 2012-2021 Ram 4500 cab chassis vehicles: incorrect lug-nut torque information in service and owner's manuals may cause flanged lug nuts to be undertorqued; dealers update the published torque specification and inspect wheel studs.

Compare

Previous year 2014 Ram 4500 See every Ram 4500 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Ram 4500 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2015 Ram 4500?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (2 of 7), then Wheels (2) and Electrical system (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 2 that report a fire.

Is the 2015 Ram 4500 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 4500 has 8 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2016 has 1 complaint, 0 per year. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

Has the 2015 Ram 4500 been recalled?

The 2015 Ram 4500 has 8 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2015 Ram 4500?

Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2015 Ram 4500 with NHTSA.

What engine oil does a US Ram 4500 use?

0W-40 or 5W-40 (6.4L gas common; diesel may differ)

What NHTSA recalls affect the US Ram 4500?

Recall 21V-398 covers certain 2012-2021 Ram 4500 cab chassis vehicles: incorrect information in the service and owner's manuals may cause flanged lug nuts to be undertorqued, which can allow a wheel to loosen or detach and increase crash risk. Dealers update the torque specification in the owner's manual and published service documents, and inspect the vehicle's wheel studs.

Where should I confirm Ram 4500 maintenance specs?

Use the US owner manual and under-hood labels for oil grade, capacities, and tire pressures; this page summarizes common US fitments but does not replace the manual.