Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 58.5% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 46 complaints, typically at 2.2 years.
RAM 5500 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 25 | 18 | too new | |
| 2021 | 4 | 3 | too new | |
| 2020 | 7 | 5 | yes | |
| 2019 | 11 | 11 | yes | |
| 2018 | 37 | 29 | yes | |
| 2017 | 20 | 18 | yes | |
| 2016 | 17 | 15 | yes | |
| 2015 | 13 | 12 | yes | |
| 2014 | 9 | 7 | yes | |
| 2013 | 4 | 4 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2018 5500 asks a median $39,000, against $45,000 for a 2019, the next model year: about 13% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 4 RAM 5500 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2018, 2016, 2017; the three worth hunting are 2015, 2017, 2016.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 6.8% | covered | |
| 1 year | 26.5% | covered | |
| 2 years | 41.5% | covered | |
| 3 years | 58.5% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 63.3% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 74.1% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 85% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 92.5% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 94.6% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 98.6% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 99.3% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 41.5% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 58.5% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 40% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the RAM 5500, the early trouble is Power Train and Steering — reported at around 2.2 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Service Brakes at 5 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2.2 yrs | — | 2 | |
| Service Brakes | 5 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Wheels | 4.2 yrs | 4 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 5.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 4.1 yrs | — | 3 | |
| Engine | 4.9 yrs | — | 3 | |
| Steering | 3.2 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Suspension | 3.2 yrs | 3 | 1 |
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the RAM 5500 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.2 against 3.73 for the average car.
Which 5500 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2018, 2016, 2017. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2015, 2017, 2016. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do 5500 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 2.2 years, followed by Service Brakes.
Will the warranty cover 5500 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 41.5% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 40% of the complaints here.
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