Complaint volume
657 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
657 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Ram 1500, grouped by component category.
657 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 105 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 37,057 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 83
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 47
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 44
POWER TRAIN 43
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 36
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 30
STEERING 24
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE 22
AIR BAGS 18
STRUCTURE 15
657 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2021 | POWER TRAIN | I turned left from the center lane into the driveway of my bank. After crossing the driveway apron, the truck engine died leaving me rolling through the parking lot. The vehicle sounded an alarm stating that it needed to be placed into Park to start the engine. The engine restarted after I came to a stop, placed the vehicle in park and pressed the ignition button. This failure could have happened at any time leaving me stranded in traffic, potentially at high speed where it could have caused a severe accident injuring myself or others around me. The vehicle has not been inspected yet by the dealer but will be when it's brought in for the pending recall related to the backup camera. I did inspect the Power Distribution module under the hood when I returned home and found that several of the relays were not fully seated in their sockets, with some of the relays physically tilted to the side. I then proceeded to properly seat all the relays. I also found that at least 75% of the fuses in the module were not fully seated in their sockets. There are numerous reports online of others that have experienced these same failures. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The truck previously shut off twice during a left and then a right turn. That was around 120 and 200 miles on the truck, respectively. Only other issue was during a turn the radio changed channel autonomously. Today with 1700 mile I backed it up and then put it in drive. The truck shut off and kicked every fault code on the truck. When trying to start it back it would not turnover and kept turning things on and off like the electrical system was possessed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | TIRES | Properly maintained factory installed tire had a no notice sidewall blowout at 50mph. There was no load in the bed. Noticed rough ride and tire pressure system went from properly inflated to 1. Kept the tire after replacing at a Firestone dealership. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | Trailer brake controller failed while towing a new camper. I was getting a "trailer brake disconnected" and "Check Trailer Brake Wiring" message while towing. The issue was intermittent and unpredictable as to when the failure would occur. I almost wrecked, because of this issue. This is very dangerous, puts my safety and others at tremendous risk of the trailer and tow vehicle not being able to stop or cause sway. The trailer brake controller has been inspected before by Prestige Ram in Colorado. I had brought the vehicle in on 5/25/2021 to a the Ram dealership to service a different issue, the back up camera not working. They ordered a new trailer brake control module to fix that issue. The dealership service advisor said this is because the camera wiring runs through the trailer brake control module. On June 7th, I called the service advisor about the trailer brake malfunctioning and was told that it's related to the same issue as the back up camera not working. And, Replacing the brake controller when it arrives, will fix the trailer brake disconnect issue as well. As of today(6/18/2021) I am still awaiting for this part to be provided by the manufacturer and the repair to be completed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | AIR BAGS | Air bags sensor error light is on (red light) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | I started the truck and drove about a 1/4 mile in my neighborhood. I never got over 20 mph. I approached a red stop light to turn right. I stopped at the light to check for traffic. I then proceeded to turn right and 1/2 way through the turn the truck shut off without warning and it automatically applied the emergency brake. Luckily there were no cars coming in the right hand lane else we could have been hit. I am taking it to the dealership tomorrow for inspection. The info screen notified me that the emergency brake had been applied and that the transmission had been autoset to park. It said to apply the brake to start the truck (it has push button start). I did so and the truck started. I disengaged the emergency brake and the truck then drove normally the rest of the trip. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was turning right, going less than 5 MPH when the truck stopped abruptly in the middle of the lane. A message came on the dash telling me to switch the shifter to park. The emergency brake was engaged automatically. I had only applied minimal accelerator and didn't have my foot on the brake. After a few seconds, I was able to disengage the parking brake and continue on my way. This was very dangerous as there were people behind me that may not have noticed my abrupt stop after turning. This puts the safety of myself and my children at risk. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Pulled out into Traffic SEVERE lack of acceleration almost cause Me to get hit in the Driver side door. Got online and noticed a lot of People complaining about a Pedal Lag. This Is DANGEROUS and needs to be addressed. This is a 2021 Ram with 283 miles on it again this is a DANGEROUS issue | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Making a right hand turn into school parking lot at 7:11 am this morning the engine died, steering went stiff and emergence parking break set. Almost caused a very serious accident with injury's to multiple minors. Was moving 11 MPH with my foot on the brake into the right turn, when I let off the brake the engine died. The cluster screen told me to place the vehicle into park and release the emergency brake. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Backed out of garage, rolled down driveway and turned left onto my street. Drove about a tenth of a mile to the stop sign, pretty easy with light gas since truck was still warming up. Rolled slowly (2-3) mph to make a right turn lightly feathering the gas and 3/4 through the turn pressed a little more on the gas and truck died. Just before it came to a stop, the parking brake engaged and a message on screen said to place vehicle in park. Engine started back up after I came to a stop and put it in park. No codes or other messages displayed. If I was pulling on to a busy street there would have been a very high chance that I would have been hit. 2021 Ram 1500 hemi etorque with 800 miles on it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | STEERING | At 10221 mileage totally lost the steering and at that time indicator displays "Power Steering Unavailable, Service Required". Lost control of vehicle. Stopped and re-started engine and indicator was off and steering returned for right hand turns.. Very difficult to turn left. At 10246 miles lost steering again and same display indicator came on. Dealer was very helpful. Steering returned after service and lost steering again at at 10,396 miles. Presently the vehicle will turn right easily and very difficult to turn left or to go straight it take extreme pressure on the steering wheel. Very uncomfortable to drive. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ENGINE | I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN STREET WHICH GETS BUSY AROUND RUSH HOUR (5:30 PM) AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. I HAD NO POWER. I WAS SCARED. I BARELY MADE IT TO USE THE BRAKES AND TURN ON A SMALL SHOULDER. I STARTED THE TRUCK AND MADE IT HOME. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | PARKING BRAKE,ENGINE | WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK STALLED AND PROMPTED ME TO PUT IT INTO PARK TO START. IT THEN AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO PARK WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING AND APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE ON ITS OWN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,292 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 2 MPH, TAKING A RIGHT TURN - VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO RESTART PTS IGNITION WITHOUT ISSUE, THEN DRIVE AGAIN. TRUCK HAS 600+ MILES CURRENT. FOUND OTHER RAM OWNERS ON 5THGENRAMS.COM FORUMS STATING THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUE, SO I AM CONCERNED. THIS HAPPENED ONCE, BUT OTHERS ARE SAYING IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES TO THEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |
| May 2021 | AIR BAGS | WHILE NEARLY COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WITH A SPEED UNDER 3 MPH AND APPROXIMATE 20 DEGREE INCLINE I WAS STRUCK BY GMC TERRAIN JUST BEHIND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WITH POSTED SPEED OF 40 MPH ON THE STREET. THE FORCE OF IMPACT PUSHED MY TRUCK INTO A TELEPHONE POLE NEXT TO THE DRIVEWAY IMPACTING THE REAR DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE REAR DOOR GLASS SHATTERED AND LANDED 10 TO 15 FT IN THE YARD, THE TRUCK CAME TO REST FACING 180 DEGREES THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL IN THE CENTER OF A FOUR LANE STREET, THE SUV THAT STUCK ME CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY 330 FT. ACROSS 3 LANES COMING TO REST IN A YARD. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED NOR SEAT BELT TENSIONING WAS APPARENT, DRIVER WEIGHT 185LBS PASSENGER APPROXIMATELY 150 LBS. THE DRIVER RECEIVED BACK AND NECK INJURY WHILE THE PASSENGER SUFFERED SEVERAL FROM STRIKING HEAD ON PASSENGER WINDOW MORE THAN ONCE AND SIDE AGAINST CENTER CONSOLE DUE TO NO DEPLOYMENT . POLICED REPORT STATES THE SUV AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO SKID MARK ON PAVEMENT WERE APPARENT FROM THE SUV. MY VEHICLE HAD NO KNOWN ISSUES, BODY REPAIR SHOP CHECKED COMPUTER AND IT SHOWED NO FAULTS IN SYSTEM PRIOR TO ACCIDENT | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | 10,700 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | TRUCK HAS STALLED TWICE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. BOTH TIMES I HAVE BEEN TAKING A RIGHT TURN.SPEED WHEN IT HAPPENS AROUND 10 MPH. IT TELLS ME TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TOUN ON THE ENGINE, THIS IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,200 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | PULLED OUT OF NEIGHBORHOOD ONTO MAIN ROAD IN 2021 RAM 1500 LIMITED. TRUCK TURNED ITSELF OFF WHILE IN MOTION PULLING OUT AS IF THE POWER BUTTON WAS PRESSED. NO ENGINE NOISE OR ERROR CODES ON DISPLAY. DISPLAY ONLY SAID SHIFT TO PARK AS IT WAS ROLLING TO A STOP, AND ONCE I SHIFTED TO PARK, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED ITSELF. I DISENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE AND PUSHED TO START AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY CRANKED BACK UP, AND DROVE WITHOUT PROBLEM AND STILL NO ERROR CODE. I HAVE WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TODAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT THIS IS BEYOND DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BUSY HIGHWAY I WAS PULLING ONTO. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,100 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED AS I WAS SWITCHING FROM BREAK TO GAS AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. I HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. RADIO AND ALL INSTRUMENT LIGHTS REMAINED ON. NO ERROR LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 4 SEPARATE DAYS , WEEKS APART AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND UNDER DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE ENGINE JUST DIED AND THE TRUCK ENGAGE THE AUTO SHIFT PARKING CREATING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. SECOND TIME IN ABOUT 3 DAYS. THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,700 |
| Apr 2021 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHIFTED TO PARK INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING HAD ENGAGED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,850. Consumer stated battery was replaced. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,850 |
| Apr 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF STARTING THE TRUCK WHILE MOVING FORWARD ON A CITY STREET BOTH TIMES IT INITIATED ON A TURN THE TRUCK TURNS OFF AND TELLS YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO RESTART. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE TRUCK HAS LESS THEN 200 MILES ON IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 150 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | THIS MODEL IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC SIDE STEPS. THE STEPS DEPLOY WHEN THEY WANT AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY DO NOT DEPLOY. THEY ALSO WHEN DEPLOYED AND AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND LOCKING IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT STOW BACK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO WILL REMAIN DEPLOYED WHEN YOU ENTER THE VEHICLE AND WILL STOW WHEN YOU REACH THE SAFETY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 5MPH BEFORE STOWING. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND AS OF THIS DATE (4/13/21) HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP (HILL KELLY RAM, PENSACOLA, FL) SIX TIMES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE VIDEOED THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED DOOR LATCHES, DOOR MODULES AND CONTROLLERS WITH NO FIX FOUND YET. THEY HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DISTRICT ENGINEER TO TRY AND TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HAVE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC STEPS. THE ONLY TEMPORARY FIX WE HAVE FOUND IS IF THE STEPS DO NOT DEPLOY TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND THEN IMMEDIATELY OPEN IT, THEN THE STEPS WILL DEPLOY. THIS PROBLEM IS AFFECTING BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS THE FRONT OR REAR DOOR THAT IS OPENED. IT WILL ALSO GIVE A WARNING OF THE SIDE STEPS OBSTRUCTED ON THE DRIVERS DASH DISPLAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 150 |
| Apr 2021 | ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | I HAVE HAD 2 SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2021 RAM 1500 LARAMIE WITH APPROX. 4,500 MILES ON IT. 1ST , AND MOST IMPORTANT, I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE STALL WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ONTO A ROADWAY. IT HAS OCCURRED BETWEEN 5-25 MPH APPROX WHILE PULLING FROM A STOP, OR SLOW ROLL, INTO TRAFFIC. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON 4/13/2021, UNSURE OF THE FIRST DATE. THE VEHICLES ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN, I RECEIVE A MESSAGE TO APPLY MY FOOT TO THE BREAK, SHIFT TO PARK, AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BREAK IS AUTO APPLIED ONCE AT A FULL STOP. THANKFULLY I MAINTAIN ELECTRICAL POWER SO I CAN STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY WITHOUT POWER AND BOTH TIMES I HAVE HAD TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM BEHIND ME. THE 2ND ISSUE, WHICH IS MINOR COMPARED TO A STALLING ENGINE, IS THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA PERIODICALLY STOPS WORKING. IT EITHER GOES COMPLETELY BLACK (ALTHOUGH THE MAGNIFYING GLASS REMAINS ON THE SCREEN) OR IT GETS A VERY POOR QUALITY IMAGE WITH LOTS OF COLORED LINES THROUGH THE PICTURE. THIS MAKES IT MUCH HARDER TO MANEUVER A BIG TRUCK WHEN YOU HAVE NO VIEW BEHIND YOU FROM THE CAMERA. AGAIN MINOR RELATIVE TO THE STALLING , WHICH IS MY MAJOR CONCERN, BUT AFTER I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR THE CAMERA ISSUE THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FIX AND THEY ARE AWAITING A SOFTWARE UPDATE. IT IS NOW BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND TIME IN 4,500 MILES MOST IMPORTANTLY TO ADDRESS THE STALLING AND WAS BROUGHT IN IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT OCCURRED. I HAVE ALSO SINCE HAD A CLICKING NOISE START IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS JUST AN ANNOYANCE OR ANOTHER ISSUE. ALL ITEMS ARE REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND THEIR 800 NUMBER FOR WHICH THEY HAVE CREATED CASES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,500 |
| Apr 2021 | STEERING | DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND STEERING JUST GOT REAL STIFF THEN WARNING LIGHT CAME SAYING I LOST POWER STEERING AND IT NEEDS SERVICE.I ONLY HAVE 6600 MILES ON IT AND I COULD OF GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,607 |
| Apr 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | PURCHASED TRUCK ON 3/4/2021.WITH 21 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON 3/11/2021 WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65MPH. IN THE CENTER OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND A DASH SIGNALED A WARNING "SERVICE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL" APPEARED ON THE DASH, I MADE IT OFF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE TRUCK AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO AS OF TODAY 4/06/2021 NOT FOUND THE ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, AND HAS NOT DUPLICATED THE ISSUE AFTER DRIVING IT MORE THAN 700 MILES. THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE PARTS WITHOUT PROPERLY DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM BY THE TECHNICAL ADVISOR FOR CHRYSLER STAR DIVISION WHO HAS BEEN ADVISING THE DEALERSHIP MASTER SERVICE TECHNICIAN ON WHAT TO INSPECT AND TEST WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS RECORDED ON THE TRUCK TO TRY AND IDENTIFY ANY POSSIBLE CAUSE OF FAILURE WITHOUT SUCCESS. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS KEPT RECORDS AND FAULT CODES, AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED AND THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, WITHOUT WARNING, AND POSSIBLY AT THE RISK OF ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF ALL VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION BUT THE FILES ARE UNABLE TO BE UPLOADED DUE TO THEIR FILE SIZE. COPIES CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6 |