Dodge Ram 5500 Recalls

The Dodge Ram 5500 has 8 recalls covering 2008–2012 model years, with the most serious being a Takata-style airbag inflator defect on 2008–2009 models where the driver's frontal airbag inflator can rupture in a crash and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.

The 2008–2009 model years also have a related passenger-side frontal airbag inflator with the same rupture risk, where metal fragments can strike occupants during deployment. On 2011–2012 models, the 220-amp alternator can fail without warning, either stalling the vehicle or short-circuiting and starting a fire. There is also a column shifter issue on 2011–2012 vehicles where the transmission can be moved out of park without the brake pedal depressed or a key in the ignition, allowing the vehicle to roll away unexpectedly.

The 2012 model year carries several additional concerns. The steering wheel wiring harness on vehicles equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Information Center option can chafe against the driver airbag retainer spring, causing an electrical short that deploys the airbag without warning. A welding defect in the front axle carrier can cause the front driveshaft to fracture, resulting in sudden loss of drive power and potential damage to surrounding components. Incorrect torque specifications in the owner's and service manuals can lead to over-tightened lug nuts, broken wheel studs, and wheel separation while driving. Rounding out the 2012 recalls, certain vehicles equipped with Kidde plastic-handle or push-button fire extinguishers may find those extinguishers fail to discharge properly when needed.