KnownCarProblems2021 Ram 3500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 3500, most often about the electrical (27% of complaints). It is 10th of 17 3500 model years by number of complaints and has 9 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2021 Ram 3500 problems
Electrical
17 complaints · 27%The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the check engine, cruise control, 4WD, stability control, the ABS and trailer brake warning lights were illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The dealer informed the contact to turn the vehicle on…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v060000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware…
Engine
13 complaints · 21%The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine temperature gauge became extremely elevated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and an independent mechanic briefly inspected the vehicle and informed the contact to refill the coolant reservoir. The…
The contact filed the complaint on behalf of the customer, who was the owner of a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while the owner was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle caught on fire. No warning lights were illuminated. The owner informed the contact that the fire came from the engine bay. The fire…
Transmission
11 complaints · 18%The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fluid on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and cleaned the oil pan. The contact determined that the fluid was not coming from the oil pan. The contact inspected the transmission dip…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to drive forward or to reverse. The RPM was raised high, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined…
Wheels and tires
10 complaints · 16%Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, tread/belt.
The contact owns a fleet of 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to a local dealer to be serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 21v398000 (wheels); however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passengerâs side rear wheel studs fractured. No warning lights were illuminated.…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. While the contact's husband was driving at 55 MPH, the driver's rear wheel detached. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while a pickup box trailer was hitched to the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the wheel bolts…
Other or unspecified
9 complaints · 14%Brakes
6 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: antilock.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the check engine, cruise control, 4WD, stability control, the ABS and trailer brake warning lights were illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The dealer informed the contact to turn the vehicle on…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 8%The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the entire fuel system needed to be replaced due to the high-pressure fuel pump exploding after metal shavings were found…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: body.
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 3500 recalls
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."
Electrical: relays/solenoids
Risk: An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. Fca US will notify dealers on or about 3/23/2023 and begin notifying owners on or about 4/5/2023. Phase 2 will include 2022 model year vehicles and phase 3 will include 2021 model year vehicles. Fca US will notify dealers and owners on or about 4/27/2023 for phase 2 and 5/11/2023 for phase 3. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021-2023 ram 2500, 3500, 3500 cab chassis, and 4500, 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with a cummins 6.7l turbo diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off.
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.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 29, 2022. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is za3.
Full defect summary
Fca US, llc (chrysler) is recalling certain 2020-2023 ram 2500 and 2020-2022 ram 3500 vehicles. A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
Stability control: electronic stability control (esc)
Risk: An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2022. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is z20.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2019-2022 ram 2500 and 2021-2022 dodge durango vehicles, and 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with gvwr less than 10,000 lbs. The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 126, "electronic stability control systems."
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.
Electrical: relays/solenoids
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside of buildings or structures, and not near other vehicles, until the vehicle has been remedied. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the solid state intake heater grid relay ("relay"); if fca US recall id y08 (NHTSA recall id 21v-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the relay after inspection. Owner notification letters were mailed november 10, 2021. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is y76. This recall has been superseded by 23v060.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021-2022 ram 3500, 2500 pickup trucks, and ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with cummins 6.7l turbo diesel engines. An electrical short in the relay may cause a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.
Wheels and tires: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Risk: Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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. Owner notification letters were mailed on november 30, 2021. Campaign y36 owner notification letters were mailed on november 30, 2021. Campaign y26 owner notification letters were mailed on december 1, 2021. Owners may contact fca US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US's numbers for this recall are y26 and y36.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the solid state intake heater grid relay ("relay"); if fca US recall id y08 (NHTSA recall id 21v-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the relay after inspection. Customers are advised to not park these vehicles inside of buildings or structures, or near other vehicles until the vehicle has the final repair completed. Owner notification letters were mailed november 10, 2021. Owners may contact fca US, llc customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Fca US, llc's number for this recall is y76. Owners may contact fca US llc customer servic
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US, llc) is recalling certain 2021 ram 2500, 3500, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with a cummins 6.7l turbo diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the solid state intake heater grid relay, which could result in a vehicle fire.
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 3500
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ram 3500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (17 complaints); engine (13 complaints); transmission (11 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2021 Ram 3500 have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 6, 2025 (steering). 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 3500?
- It is 10th of 17 3500 model years by number of complaints, with 62 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.