2021 Ram 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#9 most-complained of 13 1500 years
The 2021 Ram 1500 ranks 9th of 13 model years with a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict, meaning it has fewer reported problems than most other Ram 1500 years. NHTSA lists 678 complaints, 15 recalls, and 27 crashes, with Engine (44%) and Electrical System (30%) as the top complaint areas.
- Complaints
- 678
- Recalls
- 15
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 27 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 23 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 23 hwy
Top 2021 Ram 1500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine296 (44%)
- Electrical System205 (30%)
- Other104 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain98 (14%)
- Fuel System96 (14%)
- Brakes76 (11%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras64 (9%)
- Steering50 (7%)
- Structure & Body33 (5%)
- Airbags27 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report unintended acceleration even while pressing the brake pedal, including one case where the truck sped up in a drive-thru at low speed.
- Some describe sudden acceleration while merging from a highway ramp, jumping from 39 mph to 55 mph unexpectedly.
- Drivers report the steering wheel becoming disconnected from the steering mechanism at 30-35 mph, causing loss of control and collisions with parked cars.
- Owners describe front airbags failing to deploy during frontal or side-impact crashes, including one accident that led to a totaled truck with injuries.
- Electrical system failures are reported, including a vehicle catching fire after smoke came from under the hood, and another that shut down mid-drive with keyless entry and auto-braking malfunctions.
- Some owners report the rearview camera and parking sensors failing to activate, missing obstacles during low-speed parking maneuvers.
2021 Ram 1500 recalls
15 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V495000Jul 30, 2026Seat Belts1,271,294 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other:anchorage
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 vehicles. The second-row center and left-side seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Risk: An improperly installed seat belt buckle anchor may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and attach the seat belt buckle anchor to the body structure as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 18, 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 67D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 6, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V765000Nov 6, 2025Steering532 vehicles
Steering:steering control module
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500, Ram 4500, and Ram 5500 vehicles. The steering column control module may cause the driver's side air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering column control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 14C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 13, 2025.
- NHTSA 25V298000May 8, 2025Airbags71 vehicles
Air bags
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers secured the connectors for the air bag, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 08C.
2021 Ram 1500 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,900
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Midgrade
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2021 compared with other 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Ram 1500 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Ram 1500 has a complaint index of 33, ranking 9th out of 13 model years and earning a Good verdict relative to other Ram 1500 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ram 1500?
- NHTSA data shows Engine complaints make up 44% of reports, followed by Electrical System issues at 30%, and Transmission & Powertrain and Fuel System issues each at 14%.
- Does the 2021 Ram 1500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 15 recalls for the 2021 Ram 1500, including one do-not-drive recall, covering areas such as steering, airbags, brakes, and collision avoidance systems.
- At what mileage do 2021 Ram 1500 problems typically show up?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 35,000 miles overall, with Engine failures reported at a median of 25,810 miles and Electrical System failures at 42,000 miles.
- How does the 2021 Ram 1500 compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 33, the 2021 Ram 1500 has far fewer reported problems than the 2019 model (index 100, Avoid) but slightly more than the 2020 (25) and 2022 (42) model years.