2015 Ram 4500 Problems & Complaints

Average1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the 4500 at the same age

Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2015 Ram 4500 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the 4500 at the same age. The most reported problem area is the brakes (2 complaints, typically around 140,000 miles). 8 recalls cover this model year.

7complaints
8recalls
1crashes
2fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2015 Ram 4500 problems

  • Brakes~140,000 miles
    229%
  • Wheels & tires~117,000 miles
    229%
  • Other / not specified~140,000 miles
    229%
  • Electrical system~30,000 miles
    114%
  • Steering~117,000 miles
    114%
  • Suspension~117,000 miles
    114%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~140,000 miles
    114%
  • Engine & cooling~120,000 miles
    114%

Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Ram 4500 complaints by model year

’09’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’2613871596431
Owner complaints per model year, Ram 4500. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best 4500 years: 2016, 2021, 2023. Compare all years →

2015 Ram 4500 recalls (8)

Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

NHTSA recall 21V-398 · May 27, 2021 · 447,985 vehicles

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.

Electrical system › Software

NHTSA recall 18V-332 · May 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles

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…

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.

Equipment

NHTSA recall 17V-824 · Dec 21, 2017 · 61,791 vehicles

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.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018.

Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift

NHTSA recall 17V-821 · Dec 20, 2017 · 1,482,874 vehicles

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.

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.

Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel

NHTSA recall 17V-562 · Sep 12, 2017 · 443,874 vehicles

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.

Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper arm

NHTSA recall 15V-468 · Jul 27, 2015 · 199 vehicles

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.

Show 2 more recalls

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.

NHTSA recall 15V-461 · Jul 23, 2015 · 1,416,903 vehicles

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.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge.

Tires

NHTSA recall 15V-290 · May 18, 2015 · 1,771 vehicles

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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2015 Ram 4500:

Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure

NHTSA investigation RQ25003 · opened Jul 3, 2025 · open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks.The subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shift lever.The failures…

Software security vulnerability

NHTSA investigation RQ15004 · opened Jul 24, 2015 · closed Jan 5, 2016 · led to recall 15V-508

On July 23, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) launched Safety Recall 15V-461 to remedy security vulnerabilities in approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2013 through 2015 vehicles equipped with Uconnect head units (HU) 8.4A (RA3 radio) and 8.4AN (RA4 radio) manufactured by Harman International.On July 24, 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query, RQ 15-004, to investigate HU…

Front Driveshaft Failure

NHTSA investigation PE19017 · opened Dec 12, 2019 · closed Oct 22, 2023

On December 12, 2019, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 19-017 after receiving three Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports alleging failures of the front driveshaft and/or transfer case, resulting in conditions of 1) a loss of engine power, 2) loss of steering assist, 3) loss of foundation brakes, 4) unintended air bag deployment and 5) engine/cab fires from…

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Ram 4500 a good car?

Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 4500 rates average: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the 4500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 Ram 4500?

The brakes — 2 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the wheels & tires (2) and electrical system (1).

How many recalls does the 2015 Ram 4500 have?

There are 8 recalls for the 2015 Ram 4500, the most recent from May 27, 2021 (lugs/nuts/bolts/studs). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Ram 4500?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2021 and 2023. See the full Ram 4500 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2015 Ram 4500 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 117,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.