2021 Ram 1500 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 205 Electrical System complaints for the 2021 Ram 1500, 30% of all complaints filed for the model year, with a median failure mileage of 42,000 miles. There is no related recall listed for this problem area on this model year.
- Electrical System complaints
- 205
- 30% of 678
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 4
- Median mileage
- 42,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Vehicle shuts off unexpectedly while driving, sometimes at low speed near intersections or when pulling out onto a road, with a dashboard message telling the driver to shift to park.
- After the engine cuts off, the parking brake or auto-park feature engages on its own, which some owners describe as creating a sudden stopping hazard.
- Backup camera shows a red blur or unusable image at night, traced by one owner to a dim LED light near the rear camera.
- Brakes reportedly engage without warning while driving downhill, accompanied by an unusual sound from the vehicle.
- Keyless entry and automatic braking functions intermittently stop working, with dealership rewiring attempts failing to resolve the issue.
- One owner reported smoke and fire coming from under the hood while driving, resulting in the vehicle being totaled.
When 2021 Ram 1500 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 18, 2020, latest Sep 16, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2021 Ram 1500
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Electrical System complaints by 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical problems in the 2021 Ram 1500?
- NHTSA has 205 Electrical System complaints for the 2021 Ram 1500, making up 30% of all 678 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2021 Ram 1500 electrical system?
- No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2021 Ram 1500.
- At what mileage do electrical problems usually show up on the 2021 Ram 1500?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 42,000 miles for electrical system complaints on the 2021 Ram 1500.
- Are the electrical issues dangerous?
- NHTSA complaint data for this problem area on the 2021 Ram 1500 includes 2 crashes, 3 fires, and 4 injuries.
- What kind of electrical failures do 2021 Ram 1500 owners report?
- Owners describe the truck shutting off while driving, brakes engaging unexpectedly, a dim rear camera image at night, and keyless entry or auto-braking functions failing intermittently.