Complaint volume
655 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
655 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Ram 1500, grouped by component category.
655 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 42
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 36
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 30
STEERING 24
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE 22
AIR BAGS 17
STRUCTURE 15
655 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS | 2021 Ram 1500 Longhorn Anniversary addition vin: [XXX] Navigation/console Display flashes “115V Cargo outlet on”, the front windows don’t work, main display off/dark, heater turns on, A/C doesn’t work, seatbelt alarm doesn’t work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ENGINE | The MPU system was going out caused engine noises, the engine didn't sound like it wanted to change gears i drove very rough to the repair shop, it looks to be like a well known issue on Dodges with Etourqe they are 3 to 6 months behind in parts manufacturing | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | 2021 Ram 5.7 etorque MGU bad and vehicle sitting as part appears to be on nationwide back order. vehicle sitting while still making payments and paying insurance. seems to be major issue and no recall yet. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | I am submitting this complaint regarding a critical issue with my 2021 Ram 1500 equipped with the eTorque mild hybrid system. The vehicle has become inoperable due to the failure of the etorque alternator in this system. Unfortunately, Mopar—the official parts supplier—has not made this part available, and it has been on indefinite backorder for months. This is a known issue and has broken just outside of warranty. I'm in desperate need of this part and the backorder and supply time is unknown with no ETA. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | STRUCTURE | I took my truck into the dealership for the second time because my tpms module was not functioning correctly. I would get an error about a mile into my travels saying it was unavailable. My second appointment the technician found the rear windshield is leaking water down through the back driver side and dripping water onto the module. Ram issued a previous recall for cars manufactured on or before Sept 30 2020. My truck was manufactured Nov 4 2020. The problem is the same but my truck some how was manufactured after the supposed fix date. It’s clear if you read on ram forums that tons of people are having the same issue. Rams fix is just sealing it but I have to pay out of pocket due to their failure of admitting the recall should go past Sept 30 2020 manufacture date. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Our check engine light came on and we took it to get the code read. We had the code read by 3 independent sources and nothing came back on the code. There is currently a recall for this EXACT same issue with Dodge Ram 1500s from the exact same year but for some reason our truck VIN is not coming up as being on the recall. Now, we cannot pass smog in our state because the check engine light is on and the dealership does not have us on the recall for this exact issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Driving on highway lost all power sudden shut down of motor pulled off highway immediately ,autoshifted into park skidding in gravel unable to restart had towed to dealer,,they put in new under hood battery at my expense (was charging system failure) part needed was backordered. Got truck back home running lower than normal voltage local dealer claiming nothing wrong with it ,,diag from other dealership says otherwise,,,this isnt just a mechanical issue, its a safety issue as i drive alot. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | After having the Fuel Pump replaced, it was revealed that there are wires above the fuel tank that have melted and are causing a fuel leak into different elements of the under carriage of the truck. The manufacturer is not willing to honor the recall and replace these parts (even though they are connected to the fuel system) so by their own logic this must be considered a separate issue. It is concerning that there is electrical melting occurring and causing a fuel leak right next to the effected area | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The NoLimitz module cause my vehicle to shut off while in motion 1 time, and lose critical controls to safely operate the vehicle while in motion twice (power steering, gauge cluster, power brakes). Even though the engine still ran, once shut off it would not start again or go into neutral. I conclude the issue was the device as the power light on it was off (it should remain on when the ignition is in run or ACC as stated on the instructions from the manufactory). Once I un-plugged and re-plugged the module back in, everything returned to normal other than DTCs. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | When the turn signal bar is in the neutral position, the right turn signal stays on. When the turn signal bar is in the left position, the right turn signal turns off, but the left turn signal stays off. This makes it impossible to signal left, and often causes the right turn signal to come on, which can be misleading to other drivers. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Went to start the vehicle with the key fob and the vehicle would not start. Had it towed to ram dealership and was told that the RF hub module needed to be replaced due to being damaged from water at leaked in from the rear window. Upon researching online forums, this seems to be an ongoing problem for this making model because of where the module is located. If there is not already in the works, there should be because this will continue to happen, especially where it rains a lot. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | When making a turn from a stop, the truck will kill the engine then engage the parking brake. I thought this may have been tied to Ram Safety Recall 37A, which I had fixed at the dealership, but the truck continues to have this issue even after the recall was fixed. This is not my video, but it shows what happens [XXX] Also, complaints about this issue can be found in this thread from a Ram forum [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Mgu is out. Apparently there are 4000 on back order bc this part keeps failing on these etorque vehicles | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | AIR BAGS | Vehicle Info: 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn VIN: [XXX] Date of Incident: [XXX] Location: Exit ramp of [XXX] and [XXX] Problem Description: On [XXX], I was involved in a front-end collision with a tree while driving approximately 50 mph in my 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn. The impact caused significant damage to the front of the vehicle, and around the vehicle, yet none of the airbags deployed. I experienced back and neck pain as a result of the crash. I believe this may indicate a failure or defect in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), crash sensors, or airbag control module. Injuries: Back pain and neck pain Thank you for your attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Mine was flickering the 115v cargo outlet and the radio was Turning on and off… blind monitoring system, Cap applying the brakes, automatically thinking something was in front or behind me | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | THE VEHICLE STARTS BUT WILL NOT ACCELERATE, and the necessary replacement part is still unavailable. I was informed that the manufacturer does not have the part in stock and that it needs to be manufactured, with an estimated arrival date of July 29th. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | Bearing bad in mcu e tourqe system no parts and replacements avaliable dealer said been orderd for 6 months and have not received one | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | 2021 Ram 1500 Laramie. 2 Occasions of unexpected engine Revving. 1) Pulled up to a stop, waiting for cross traffic, when fully stopped, the Engine began to rev up by ~500 RPM, up then back down, about 3 times in a row. Each time the truck tried to creep forwards, forcing me to step on the brake harder to prevent movement. Each engine surge lasted 1-2 seconds. 2) At low speeds (<20mph), car had similar RPM surges, but just caused some jerking. Both occasions occurred within 2-3 minutes of a cold start (~70 Deg F Env. temp). Certainly a safety concern, needs to be addressed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | The alternator with the etorque option. Truck is available upon request. Stellantis knows of the issues with the motor and doesn’t have a fix. The part to fix is on back order with no eta till available. I have been researching and some are without a vehicle up to a year. Dealers are aware of the situation. No warnings are shown prior to a total power loss failure. While driving home from work lights all over the dash lighted up and my truck was reading 9 volts. Luckily I was close to home and coasted into the driveway. My truck is now dead in the water sitting in driveway till when a part becomes available. I ended up leasing a car due to having no other option to get to and from work. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Component: Motor Generator Unit (MGU) — part of the eTorque system on 2021 Ram 1500. What happened: I own a 2021 Ram 1500 with eTorque. In the year I’ve owned the truck, it has broken down twice due to major electrical issues. Most recently, it has been in the dealership’s shop for over 3 weeks due to a faulty MGU (Motor Generator Unit). There is no estimated time for repair because the part is backordered nationwide. Safety risk: The MGU failure caused the vehicle to become completely inoperable, leaving me without reliable transportation. I am concerned this issue could lead to a loss of power or stalling while driving if it had occurred under different conditions. Reproduction/inspection: The issue has been confirmed by the dealership (Preston Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in New Castle, PA). They are unable to proceed with the repair due to lack of part availability. The truck is currently sitting on the lot. Warning lamps/symptoms: Prior to failure, warning lights appeared and the truck experienced erratic behavior. The vehicle would not start after being turned off for a short period of time, and the RF hub had previously failed as well. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The MGU of the 2021 Ram Laramie (e-torque) is not functioning properly and hampers the safety of the vehicle. The MGU, which controls the alternator, will not charge the battery beyond 13.0/13.2 volts during driving. As a result, when sitting for several days, the battery will not have sufficient voltage to start the vehicle since it is not charged fully during driving. Additionally, the MGU is now making a strange bearing noise so we will see if a failure is imminent. Considering this MGU controls the starting of the vehicle during stop/start, and the battery is not charging sufficiently to ensure the owner is not stranded, I consider this a significant safety issue (especially when I live in a place with winter of 8 months). I have not seen any warning lamps, but the charging indicator/screen shows 13.0 as below normal. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front end of the vehicle shuddered abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the surrounding area of the CV axle and front differential was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts being on back order. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. The VIN was not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 58,000 |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | When driving home in the rain going 65+/- MPH my truck just shut off and turned back on, but was not able to accelerate. Had to pull off on the side of the road and the car started back up. This happened at least 5 more times on my 30 minute ride back home. When I finally got it home the truck would not cut off. I had to disconnect the batter which still did NOT stall the truck. Luckily I found a forum that advised to pull a specific fuse to cut the truck off. My biggest concern was that no warning lights or error codes came up on the dash it just went blank and came back on. The vehicle is currently at Roger Williams Ram Dealership in Weatherford TX. They have had the truck over a week and are still trying to figure out what the problem is. They have replaced a fuse box to my knowledge but this didnt fix the issue. I have video of the incident (driving with no power). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I frequently receive a “Camera system unavailable” when I need it to safely reverse. The system will work randomly one percent of the time. An internet search reveals this is a common problem with the Ram 1500 but the manufacturer states that my VIN wasn’t included in the recall and directed me to reach out to NHTSA. Please help us have this vehicle included. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | In April 2025 I reported a whining noise coming from the truck (under the hood), less than 50,000 miles. Dealer determined that the problem was a failing bearing in the Motor Generator Unit (MGU). They informed me that the truck was still under warranty and would be replaced... but that the part was on backorder with no date of arrival. They offered no rental and it is now 2 months later and the problem is worse. They tell me I can continue to drive it until it fails (REALLY?), that is the plan. Drive it until it dies and then what! It is now 2 1/2 months later, i try not to drive it due to the loud noises and fear of being stranded. They still have no eta on parts and have offered not help in resolving the issue. As I search online I see that this is not a new issue and that many people are having the same problem, no recall, no bulletin, no help! Just a $55,000 paperweight that I am paying for that sits in my driveway. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |