Complaint volume
644 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Ram 1500 Complaints
644 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Ram 1500, grouped by component category.
644 Total complaints
26 Crash reports
4 Fire reports
17 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, unknown or other, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 26 crash reports, 4 fire reports, 17 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 104 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 36,644 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, unknown or other, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Ram 1500?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Ram 1500
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Ram 1500 complaints?
26 Crash
4 Fire
17 Injury
0 Fatality
36 Towed
14 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Ram 1500 complaint categories?
ENGINE 80
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 47
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 44
POWER TRAIN 41
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 36
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 29
STEERING 24
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE 22
AIR BAGS 17
STRUCTURE 15
644 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact's son owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V265000 (Power Train). The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to lose motive power. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road where the vehicle was unable to restart on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the powertrain control module calibration software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and stated that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Using the self parking feature, the vehicle had controlled itself, with my intervention when prompted. It had backed up perpendicular into the parking space, miscalculated the parking job and smashed the side mirror into a nearby trucks mirror. It had then began to speed up to what felt like about 15 or 20 mph, with no time to react or brake, and smashed into the concrete pole behind us. The automatic braking failed to react, the vehicle failed to recognize the objects behind us, and miscalculated the parking distance from other vehicles. After the rear of the truck has been severely damaged, it did not throw any errors or codes. It simply acts as if nothing happened. It never prompted me to stop, or switch gears. It had sped up on its own to a dangerous speed. It had a mind of its own. Dangerous and unsafe. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | POWER TRAIN | There is clunk coming from the rear of the vehicle when I put into Drive or Reverse. The noise is also present when I deaccelerate and it is very present when I am towing my boat which is i the legal towing capacity of this vehicle. It also has developed a vibration since this has started and has steadily gotten worse over time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I started smelling coolant inside the cabin of my 2021 RAM 1500 at approximately 49000 miles. I'm the original owner. After waiting for over a month before the dealership could look at my truck, I was told my heater core needed replaced at a cost of $2369.52 and charged a diagnostic fee of $201.49. Because the basic warranty had expired, and the truck is less than 3 years old, I called Chrysler Customer Care for assistance. They opened case number 87011413, and was assigned a case manager. I was told I would be contacted in 1 to 2 business days. It has been 3 weeks, and I still haven't heard from the case manager. I tried calling Customer Care several times but I only get voice mail. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | 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 informed that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) 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 contact had experienced the failure several times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 28,000 |
| Sep 2023 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while making a left turn, the vehicle shifted into the park without any warning. The contact shut off the vehicle and waited for the vehicle to cool down. The contact restarted the vehicle and the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to dealer who confirmed that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The contact received the notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 30,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 30,000 |
| Aug 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle started to vibrate abnormally. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a loud pop coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact referenced a possible failure with the drive shaft. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 16,266. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,266 |
| Aug 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | After 4 days of ownership with less than 15,000 miles on it the truck died in intersection. No warning lights came on. Truck would not restart and is currently at the dealership. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Manufacturer Recall NumberZ96 / NHTSA Recall Number22V-767 A solution has not been yet provided by the manufacture. This has a safety risk and I am concerned as to why owners are not updated regularly on having a solution by now. The focus of a solution should be monitored by the NHTSA so we all benefit. This is an unacceptable timeline for a vehicle we paid a lot of money for as the safety risk is high. I would like to receive regular updates on this recall and work being done to a proposed solution. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING,POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Has happened a few different times but didn't know what was happening. I'm driving, yesterday was on the highway at 65mph and my truck suddenly "stalls out" for a few seconds! I almost lose control of the vehicle! No power steering no brakes no control and then all of a sudden comes back on. Cars going behind me are driving around me. Scariest thing ever happened while driving. I first noticed it a year ago but was not a interstate wasn't as scary. Then has happened through out the year 4 or 5 more times. The VIN says no recalls but it sounds exactly like the powertrain control module problem. My truck is a hemi 5.7-liter engine that is randomly stalling multiple times now almost causing me to wreck! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Motor decelerates and won't shift. when at a stop light I press the accelerator to gain speed an motor winds out but won't correct its self until I pull over turn the motor off and start the truck again. It happens every 1000 miles or so | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and the contact was provided a case number. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at low speeds over a speed bump, the vehicle stalled. While driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a stop, the brakes engaged independently. The brake was engaged. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The brake assist disabled message was displayed. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,000 |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the wheel became stiff and was unable to turn. The contact attempted to pull over but crashed into the side of the road. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was unaware of how fast they were driving at the time of the crash. The contact sustained a shoulder and neck injury from the seatbelt. Physical therapy and MRI medical treatment were needed for the injury. No police report was filed. The vehicle displayed warning messages for power steering wheel unavailable suspension system unavailable and electronic stability control unavailable. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer was not able to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired as of yet. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and sent a Team to inspect the vehicle but the failure was not detected. The failure mileage was 36,000. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 36,000 |
| Aug 2023 | ENGINE | While driving at highway speeds, the engine has stopped running 3 times in the past 60 days. There is no indication on the instrument panel for any cause or signs of trouble. All other electrical items appear to be fine. After coming to a complete stop, the engine will restart immediately. This could possibly be a fuel pump issue or computer issue. I do not suspect the fuel itself as the gas tank was not near empty and the vehicle had been refueled more than once between the first and second occurrence of this problem. The second and third occurrence happened on the same day, during the same trip. Every time, I made a conscious act to look at the dashboard for any indication of the cause or any check engine light. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for service. Approximate mileage 33,000 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving at any rate of speed the brakes have suddenly just locked resulting in the inability to move. When it locks up it takes a harsh fast jerk on everyone in the vehicle. Not only does this put my entire family at risk of potentially getting hit by other vehicles that could possibly lead to a fatality. The brakes also lock up while backing up for no reason which again jerks everyone in the vehicle. The engine shuts off randomly while moving also while slowing down or coming to a stop which puts everyone at risk. The Manufactures have many defects that are highly detrimental to families, Ram needs to recall these trucks as its putting everyday life in danger. A truck can be replaced however a loved one you can't. I barley drive mine not only due to the safety risk and defects but also because I had many issues with the Dealership I purchased from, and I will not put myself or child back in such environment which results in having to find someone else that deals with Ram. I have made ongoing complaints regarding the issues including Battery was completely dead and I had to replace, the dashboard lights blink, message power steering unavailable, services shifters. I have made it very clear that I personally do not feel safe driving my family in this truck. Ram has done a poor job with getting the help owners need to stay safe. I never get a response from anyone when I report problems. So, I have a New Truck in my driveway, with financial obligations yet the New Vehicle is unreliable transportation, along with putting lives at risk. Ram needs to recall these trucks due to the ongoing defects and poor quality along with acknowledgement that the truck is not worth the price paid. I avoid going out because the truck is not a reliable vehicle for a family, it's only a risk taker and I'm not willing to risk my life or my families. This has caused ongoing hardship; I fear driving my own vehicle which has caused me to not go out in the community. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | ENGINE | Exhaust manifolds are both cracked and leaking exhaust. I have to keep my air on recirculating to keep exhaust fumes out of the cab. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | SUSPENSION,WHEELS | Another issues with this truck and ram needs to do a recall! Besides shutting off now I have major suspension issues! I have gotten an alignment pretty much every other month. Been through three sets of tires due to this suspension issue. Truck is maintained and has always been to dealer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was attempting to reverse into a parking space, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power before stalling. After calling for Roadside Assistance, all attempts to jumpstart the vehicle failed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the high-pressure fuel pump in relation to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The VIN was included however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that parts were not yet available. A case was opened. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was 10,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 10,000 |
| Jul 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | NHTSA Recall Number 22V-767 Remedy still not available for recall from Oct 2022 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after stopping at a stop light, the fuel saving feature activated and engine turned off; however, after releasing the brake pedal, the engine failed to restart as designed. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that after the failure occurred and the vehicle was restarted, the RPM would be elevated; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 29 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions but no cause for the failure was determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 300. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Jul 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was restarted and operated normally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with the crank shaft positioning sensor, motor generator unit (MGU), and Hybrid battery control module failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Jul 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY | 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 U-Connect system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts being on backorder. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 42,000 |