2021 Ram 1500 Problems
Shopping for a used 2021 Ram 1500? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Based on 500 real NHTSA owner complaints, with Engine Problems the most reported area.
Before you buy
This 2021 Ram 1500 has 500 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
A model-year pattern isn't the car in front of you. Check this exact VIN for accidents, open recalls, odometer rollback, and salvage titles.
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2021 Ram 1500 Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 8 2021 Ram 1500 trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 8 trims analysed.
2021 Ram 1500 Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program4 variants tested — showing 2021 Ram 1500 Crew PU/CC 4WDOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
19.8% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
19.8% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2021 Ram 1500 has 500 owner complaints, 19 crash-related complaints, and 14 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Engine Problems. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Ram
- Model
- 1500
- Model year
- 2021
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 500
- Crash-related complaints
- 19
- Safety recall campaigns
- 14
- Top reported component
- Engine Problems
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 21
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 19 / 24
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Common problems
Most common 2021 Ram 1500 problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Transmission / Drivetrain
Complaint patterns center on Engine Problems, Electrical Faults, Transmission / Drivetrain. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Buyer verdict
Should you buy a used 2021 Ram 1500?
The 2021 Ram 1500 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
Pre-purchase
What to check before buying a used 2021 Ram 1500
Inspection Focus
- Inspect engine and electrical systems thoroughly before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for engine, electrical, and transmission repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on reported components.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect engine and electrical systems thoroughly before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for engine, electrical, and transmission repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on reported components.
Check the exact car
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2021 Ram 1500, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
AI verdict
What the complaint data suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based on 500 NHTSA complaints for the 2021 RAM 1500, the data suggests that engine problems and electrical faults are the most frequently reported issues, together accounting for a majority of complaints. Transmission/drivetrain and brake system concerns also appear notable. However, with low confidence, these patterns should be interpreted cautiously.
- Engine problems are the most common complaint component, with 192 reports.
- Electrical faults follow with 133 complaints, indicating a potential area of concern.
- Transmission/drivetrain issues are reported 73 times, and brake system issues 60 times.
- Engine Problems
- Electrical Faults
- Transmission / Drivetrain
Full breakdown
All 2021 Ram 1500 complaints by category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Ram 1500. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 192 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 133 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 73 | 1 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 67 | 2 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 60 | 3 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 49 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 41 | 5 | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 38 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 27 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 25 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 24 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 21 | 2 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 16 | 8 | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 16 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Diesel | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
In their words
Real owner complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Ram 1500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and was unable to be jump-started. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that fuel was not reaching the fuel housing. The contact was informed t…
I was only allowed 3 components to choose from, but I want to make certain that Im including the these additional components that has been failing:Forward Collision Warning, Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System,Engine,Lane assistance/ Departure, and Lighting. There could be more to incl…
The vehicle experienced an overheating condition immediately after being picked up from dealership service on April 11, 2026. Within a short distance of driving, a warning appeared and the vehicle became unsafe to operate, requiring it to be pulled over and towed. The dealership…
I own a 2021 Ram 1500, which I purchased on March 29, 2024, as a certified pre-owned truck, and the primary issue involves a serious failure of the front wheel assembly. On three separate occasions, the front wheels have detached from the truck while it was in motion—on June 14, …
the reverse camera quit working, trailer reverse function inop, service electric throttle light is on. I have had the recall completed. the programing did not completely correct the issue. the vehicle s at the dealership now - has been there for a week now- no word on what the pr…
July 2021 bought ram 1500 limited. $75k September 2021 3k miles took to dealer with REVERSE TRAILER STEERING UNAVAILABLE MESSAGES AND BACK UP CAMERA issues. Not fixed. Issues still happening. DEC 2021 ram 1500 recall y80 issued. RTSCM NEEDS updated. April 2022 dealer visit 11k m…
While driving, a deer entered the roadway. I applied the brakes to avoid hitting the deer and lost traction due to icy road conditions. The vehicle spun out and struck a utility pole. I later became aware of an open recall involving the ABS and/or electronic stability control (E…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had a history of wiring failures and that the air bag wiring harness had been replaced three times; ho…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an unusual popping sound. The low battery and check engine warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the battery lost power. The vehicle was driven to the shou…
Losing power steering intermittently.
The EGR cooler bypass control broke on my pickup. The dealership stated that this is an ongoing issue with these pickups and that the 2019-2020 pickups had a recall on this. This pickup has 77,000 miles on it. This should not be failing.
Electrical system shutdown including loss of all safety features (blind spot, emergency braking, abs, traction control, towing), climate control options (AC, Heat, window operations) and user interfaces (U-Connect screen, center gauge cluster). Initial warnings (2) on center cl…
Our alternator is bad in a 2021 Ram. There are 10,000 on back order and up to a 9 -12 month wait list. There is obviously something wrong with this brand and should be recalled.
Engine malfunction cause low oil pressure and cause a catastrophic failure and lock brakes up multiple people i know have had same issue as me and it due to a manufacturer error on oil gallery bolts backing out and causes rockers not to get proper oil and chews cams up
Rear drivers side window shattered without any incident or accident. Possibly due to extreme cold but it was not witnessed and truck was parked in driveway.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was parked, and while inspecting the exterior of the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver's side rear glass had …
There is water coming into the vehicles cab via the rear window and is getting electrical components under the rear window wet. Took vehicle to a dealer to be diagnosed. Concluded water coming into cab of vehicle from top of rear glass. Frame of window is likely culprit. General…
RAM's 2023 recall addressed the engine shutdown problem in 131,700 of its half-ton 1500 RAM trucks equipped with the 5.7-liter Hemi eTorque mild hybrid engine. RAM said 1,500 5.7-liter eTorque models built between June 3, 2020, and September 12, 2021, had faulty software and need…
Wa driving with cruise on at 60 mph. Truck stalled with no notice, no warning lights or check engine light. All temperatures and pressures seemed okay at time of incident. Could not move electronic shifter into neutral, was stuck in drive. Alarm came up to shift to park, I did no…
The rear running lights go out due to a short in the wire harness from the computer module to the tail lights. The short causes the lights to either flicker or go totally out.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2021 Ram 1500.
Safety recalls
2021 Ram 1500 recalls
14 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2021 Ram 1500. 14 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Questions
2021 Ram 1500 buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2021 Ram 1500 reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 500 owner complaints, 19 crash-related complaints, and 14 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2021 Ram 1500 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ram 1500?▾
#1: Engine Problems (192 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (133 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (73 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Ram 1500?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2021 Ram 1500?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2021 Ram 1500, NHTSA complaints include 19 crash-related reports and 3 fire reports out of 500 total complaints. 15 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2021 Ram 1500 have any recalls?▾
Yes. 14 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2021 Ram 1500. A major recall area is BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION. 14 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2021 Ram 1500?▾
The 2021 Ram 1500 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Engine Problems during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ram 1500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
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Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Before you buy
Check the exact vehicle history before you buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.