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2021 Ram 1500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 690 owner complaints about the 2021 Ram 1500, most often about the engine. It is covered by 15 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-765 the manufacturer reports only 35% of affected cars repaired.

2021 Ram 1500
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the 1500 median · #7 of 13 years by complaints
Safety recalls15Lowest repair rate 35%Owner complaints69048 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage15kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2021 Ram 1500 has problems

690 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine2786
Electrical system2026
Power train1012
Fuel/propulsion system702
Service brakes545
Forward collision avoidance522
Steering507
Structure332
Vehicle speed control303
20 other systems18219

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

15 recalls

2021 Ram 1500 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

19%repaired · 2026 Q3

Rear/other: anchorage

New

Recall 26V-495 · Jul 30, 2026 · 1,271,294 vehicles · 236,759 repaired

Risk. An improperly installed seat belt buckle anchor may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

35%repaired · 2026 Q3

Air bags: frontal

Recall 25V-765 · Nov 6, 2025 · 532 vehicles · 184 repaired

Risk. A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

100%repaired · 2025 Q4

Air bags

Recall 25V-298 · May 8, 2025 · 71 vehicles · 71 repaired

Risk. A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

50%repaired · 2026 Q3

Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices

Recall 24V-754 · Oct 10, 2024 · 31,676 vehicles · 15,809 repaired

Risk. Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 11 more recalls
72%repaired · 2026 Q3

Electronic stability control (ESC): control module

Recall 24V-653 · Sep 5, 2024 · 1,025,432 vehicles · 736,938 repaired

Risk. Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

83%repaired · 2025 Q1

Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Recall 23V-265 · Apr 13, 2023 · 131,700 vehicles · 109,038 repaired

Risk. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

84%repaired · 2025 Q1

Back over prevention: display function

Recall 23V-059 · Feb 9, 2023 · 77,079 vehicles · 64,481 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

73%repaired · 2024 Q3

Tailgate: hinge and attachments

Recall 22V-904 · Dec 8, 2022 · 1,224,078 vehicles · 895,502 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

80%repaired · 2024 Q3

Back over prevention: display function

Recall 22V-638 · Aug 25, 2022 · 7,895 vehicles · 6,303 repaired

Risk. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

77%repaired · 2023 Q4

Side/window: curtain

Recall 21V-925 · Nov 24, 2021 · 376 vehicles · 291 repaired

Risk. An air bag that deploys improperly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

68%repaired · 2022 Q4

Back over prevention: display function

Recall 21V-918 · Nov 23, 2021 · 38,157 vehicles · 25,810 repaired

Risk. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

100%repaired · 2022 Q4

Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire

Recall 21V-698 · Sep 9, 2021 · 2 vehicles · 2 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

64%repaired · 2022 Q1

Back over prevention: display function

Recall 21V-438 · Jun 10, 2021 · 14,096 vehicles · 8,965 repaired

Risk. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

97%repaired · 2022 Q4

Foundation components: master cylinder

Do not drive

Recall 21V-037 · Feb 1, 2021 · 683 vehicles · 660 repaired

Risk. A separated brake pedal can result in the driver being unable to apply the service brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ram.

Mileage at failure

When do engine problems start?

15kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 33 engine complaints. 94% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 16% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
20under 30k miles31under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2021 vs. every other 1500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 1500 median. How we score

'09'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2021 Ram 1500 safety ratings

2021 Ram 1500 Crew PU/CC 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2021 Ram 1500 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2021 Ram 1500 side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2021 Ram 1500 side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 4 stars (19.8% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2021 Ram 1500, and the recalls they led to.

  1. High pressure fuel pump failureEA23001 · still open
    Led to recall 24V-957
In owners' words

What 1500 owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Complainant [XXX], a licensed contractor, master plumber, and master craftsman in [XXX], reports an unresolved, hazardous defect pattern on a 2021 RAM 1500 TRX (odometer: ~27,842). The vehicle features a 702-hp supercharged 6.2L V8 requiring specialized auxiliary cooling to prevent acute thermal…
Complaint 11776429 · Nov 7, 2026
The engine oil pan severely corroded and over 30% of the 18 gauge steel scaled away. For an 18-gauge steel oil pan (nominal thickness of 0.0478 inches or 1.2 mm), the threshold where rust becomes hazardous is remarkably thin—literally and figuratively. Because an oil pan holds hot, chemically…
Complaint 11774477 · Oct 29, 2026
I own a 2021 Ram 1500 with the 3.0L EcoDiesel Gen 3 engine. The vehicle has experienced diagnostic trouble code P00AF, indicating a turbocharger/variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) boost-control performance problem. I have already taken the vehicle to a Ram dealership for this same issue. The…
Complaint 11762650 · Sep 8, 2026

Own a 2021 1500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.