KnownCarProblems2021 Ram 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 682 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 1500, most often about the engine (41% of complaints, typically around 26,000 miles). It is 7th of 15 1500 model years by number of complaints and has 15 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2021 Ram 1500 problems
Engine
280 complaints · 41%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 22v767000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine); but the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced…
Electrical
197 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 43,500 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator, adas, ignition.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the u-connect system inadvertently kept reconnecting, preventing the HVAC system and defroster from operating as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while reversing approximately 3 MPH into a parking space, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized, and all four wheels locked up. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle…
Other or unspecified
103 complaints · 15%Transmission
99 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v754000 (visibility). The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed with…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to hesitate. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the PCM software needed to be updated; however, the contact was unsure if the update…
Fuel system
96 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH hauling a trailer, the vehicle lost motive power without warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 22v767000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine); but the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced…
Brakes
75 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wheel bearings had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that message that the brakes needed to be serviced was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where several unknown repairs were performed; however, the failure recurred. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v653000 (service brakes…
Driver assistance
58 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, warnings, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, she drove over a speed bump and the vehicle stopped. The automatic emergency braking engaged. The warning message "place vehicle in park and restartâ was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred while…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving or making a turn, the vehicle stalled. The contact had to shift into neutral(n) or park(p) and restart the vehicle. Additionally, while driving, the parking brake engaged without warning. The contact had to manually release the parking brake. The…
Steering
50 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering function failed to operate as intended. Additionally, the electronic power steering failure warning light was illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the electronic power steering…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 5 to 10 MPH, the power steering became inoperable and crashed into a pole. The vehicle was restarted, and he continued to drive. While driving the next day, the failure recurred. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2021 Ram 1500 recalls
Seat belts: anchorage
Risk: An improperly installed seat belt buckle anchor may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and attach the seat belt buckle anchor to the body structure as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed august 18, 2026. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 67d. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on august 6, 2026.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2019-2026 ram 1500 vehicles. The second-row center and left-side seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Steering: steering control module
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering column control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning december 11, 2025. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 14c. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning november 13, 2025.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021-2022 ram 1500, ram 2500, ram 3500, ram 4500, and ram 5500 vehicles. The steering column control module may cause the driver's side air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Air bags
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers secured the connectors for the air bag, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed may 27, 2025. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 08c.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2019-2024 ram 1500 vehicles. The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Visibility and wipers: rearview mirrors/devices
Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the mirror glass, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 5, 2024. Owners may contact fca customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca's number for this recall is 86b.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2020-2023 ram 1500 classic vehicles equipped with heated trailer tow rearview mirrors. The mirror glass may detach from the driver's side heated trailer tow rearview mirror. As such these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Stability control: control module
Risk: Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed october 10, 2024. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning september 26, 2024. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is 85b.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2019, 2021-2024 ram 1500 vehicles. Due to a software malfunction, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module may disable the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 126, "electronic stability control systems."
Transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed april 27, 2023. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is 37a.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021 ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 5.7l etorque engines. The powertrain control module software may cause an incorrect fuel mixture condition in the engine, and result in an engine stall.
Backup camera: display function
Risk: A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility of the rear view, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the trscm software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 1, 2023. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is 14a. This recall supersedes and expands previous recall numbers 21v-438 and 21v-918. Fca US recall id 63a is a vehicle population expansion of fca US recall id 14a (NHTSA recall id 23v-059).
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021-2023 ram 1500 and 2023 ram 2500 vehicles. The trailer reverse steering control module (trscm) may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Body and structure: hinge and attachments
Risk: An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 22, 2022. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is zb8.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2019-2022 ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.
Engine
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hpfp and inspect and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed october 17, 2023. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is z96.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2020-2022 jeep wrangler, ram 1500, and 2021-2022 jeep gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0l diesel engines. The high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) may fail, causing an engine stall.
Backup camera: display function
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed october 6, 2022. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca, llc's number for this recall is z86.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2020-2021 jeep wrangler, ram 1500 and 2021 jeep gladiator vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Air bags: curtain
Risk: An air bag that deploys improperly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the sabic assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed january 17, 2022. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is y99.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021-2022 ram 2500, ram 3500, and 2021 ram 1500 classic pickup trucks. The side air bag inflatable curtain (sabic) assemblies may have been manufactured with the incorrect amount of compressed gas, which can result in an improper air bag deployment.
Steering: steering control module
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the trscm software. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on january 19, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on february 22, 2022. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is y80. This recall was superseded by 23v-059.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021 ram 1500 pickup trucks. The trailer reverse steering control module (trscm) may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Wheels and tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk: A driver that relies on the incorrect spare tire inflation pressure on the tire placard label may inflate the spare tire incorrectly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the spare tire assembly, free of charge. The owner notification letter was mailed on september 9, 2021. Owners may contact fca US llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US llc's number for this recall is y62.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021 ram 1500 vehicles. The incorrect-size spare tire may have been installed, which does not match the tire size and inflation pressure information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Backup camera: display function
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the trscm software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed june 24, 2021. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca, US, llc's number for this recall is y30. This recall was superseded by recall number 21v-918.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021 ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a trailer reverse steering module (trscm). The rearview camera image may not display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Brakes: master cylinder
Risk: A separated brake pedal can result in the driver being unable to apply the service brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until they receive instructions on the inspection and repair, as necessary. Fca US will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install the push rod clip, free of charge. The recall began february 9, 2021. Owners may contact fca US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US number for this recall is y04.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2020-2021 ram 1500 classic slt trucks. Certain vehicles were built without the retaining clip that secures the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal, which can cause the brake pedal to separate from the brake system.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
High pressure fuel pump failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe21-021 on october 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (my) 2019-2020 ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7l cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, odi sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both fca and bmw, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by fca and bmw.during the investigation fca filed rec
Questions about the 2021 Ram 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ram 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (280 complaints, typically around 26,000 miles); electrical (197 complaints, typically around 43,500 miles); other or unspecified (103 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2021 Ram 1500 have?
- 15 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 30, 2026 (seat belts). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2021 a bad year for the Ram 1500?
- It is 7th of 15 1500 model years by number of complaints, with 682 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.