Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2022 Ram 5500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift properly into the correct gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the air filter to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to Efird Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM (1711 W Lucas St, Florence, SC 29501: [phone]) where it was diagnosed with needing the flywheel and the starter to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated two weeks later he experienced the failure a second time. The vehicle was not drivable. …
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was losing forward momentum. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the engine was revving but the vehicle was not gaining any forward momentum. The contact pulled the vehicle over and turned the vehicle off and on, however, when the contact had shifted the vehicle into drive (D) the vehicle was not moving. The contact determined that he only had reverse (R) gear functioning. The contact had checked online and read that he would be able to manually shift to 5th gear. The contact was able to return to his workplace and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the contact was unable to shift gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the highway, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was then towed to Greensboro Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (3710 W Wendover Ave, Greensboro, NC 27407) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be rebuilt. The contact was made aware that the parts were on back order. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting parts for the repair. …
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear, and started to coast while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he veered off the roadway to safety and notified a towing company. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the snap rings failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that he had previously informed the dealers of TSB: 21-002-23 but was informed that the vehicle needed to experience a complete failure to receive the repair under the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power due to the transmission failure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to another local dealer, Speck Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (125 E Allen Rd., Sunnyside, WA 98944), where it was diagnosed that the snap ring was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the transmission became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 862.
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, with the 4-WD unavailable message displayed. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 1,973.
Many owners have reported sudden loss of power and control resulting from explosive transmission failure causing a major public safety issue. RAM has not provided details on which vehicles are affected. The TSB states if the customer experiences such symptoms to contact dealer if still alive. This lack of information has resulted in many customers simply parking their vehicles and waiting until FCA issues more details on which transmission serial numbers are impacted. Owners have also joined various forums and crowd sourcing information (SEE ATTACHED EXECEL SHEET) to identify factors such as build dates, transmission serial numbers and conditions in which the failure happened. I am requesting the NHTSA to conduct an investigation and require FCA to provide more details regarding impacted vehicles rather than taking a if-it-fails-call-us approach. …
I drive a RAM 5500, 20' Jerrdan Flatbed Tow truck. We had just purchased this truck about a week and a half prior to the transmission failure. We had 2500 miles on it, and were towing two vehicles behind. We pulled off of the highway, and then felt an extremely hard clunk underneath the truck to which the rear tires locked up, and stopped us in the middle of the road. Once we were stopped, the truck began to clunk louder so hard it would shake the entire truck. Then a CEL appeared, for PO731 and P0734, the truck in drive would only rev and not move. Reverse did work however. But we could not reverse anywhere as we were in the middle of the highway. We had to get a tow truck which took 4 hours because nobody wanted to tow us due to the situation. …
Were were driving in stop and go traffic outside Durham, NC on I 147/885. After being stopped for a few seconds I depressed the accelerator to move forward. There was a bang and I thought some one had hit me from behind. Then I noticed the engine light on the dash and the truck would not move forward. I was able to get the shifter in park. All temps and pressures on the dash were normal including the transmission. There was no fluid leaking from under the truck. We were in lane three of the highway and cars, trucks, and tractor trailers were passing us on the shoulder and the left lane. I tried using the in vehicle SOS button but the guy on the other end only referred me to call a different number. That number I sat on the line for over 20min while sitting in traffic unable to move with vehicles passing me on the left and right. …
NHTSA investigations
2022 RAM Transmission Snap Ring Failure
The Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) has received 82 complaints alleging loss of motive power due to an internal transmission failure of the K1 snap ring in model year 2022 Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 vehicles. Of these complaints, 16 describe a complete loss of motive power at speeds greater than 25 miles per hour, without the ability for the vehicle to resume normal operation.
Transmission complaints in other 5500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2022 Ram 5500?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2022 Ram 5500, 81% of the model year's 26 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2022 Ram 5500 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2022 Ram 5500, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2022 Ram 5500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 2,000 miles, and 71% before 25,000 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.