2021 Ram 2500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2021 Ram 2500 has a Complaint Index of 23 and ranks 11th worst out of 14 model years, but its verdict is capped at Caution because of 8 recall campaigns, including a park-outside fire risk recall. Electrical System problems lead complaints at 33%.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 23/100
- #11 of 14 2500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 108
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 8
- 2 Park Outside
- Crashes
- 6
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- —
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2021 Ram 2500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System36 (33%)
- Engine29 (27%)
- Transmission & Powertrain25 (23%)
- Structure & Body14 (13%)
- Brakes11 (10%)
- Fuel System11 (10%)
- Other9 (8%)
- Steering5 (5%)
- Airbags4 (4%)
- Seat Belts4 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Electrical shorts near the engine bay and wiring harness lead to smoke and underhood fires, sometimes while the truck is parked or being started remotely.
- Airbags and seatbelt pretensioners reportedly failed to deploy or lock up during head-on and animal-strike collisions.
- Owners describe wiring shorts in heated seats and rear window defroster circuits causing localized fires inside the cabin.
- Some drivers report the brake pedal failing to slow the truck in stop-and-go traffic, resulting in a collision.
- One owner described the transmission slipping out of park, causing the truck to roll away unattended while running.
2021 Ram 2500 recalls
8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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 23V060000Feb 9, 2023Electrical System302,067 vehiclesPark Outside
Electrical system:wiring:relays/solenoids
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off.
Risk: An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers on or about 3/23/2023 and begin notifying owners on or about 4/5/2023. Phase 2 will include 2022 model year vehicles and Phase 3 will include 2021 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers and owners on or about 4/27/2023 for Phase 2 and 5/11/2023 for Phase 3. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 28, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 13A. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798.
- NHTSA 22V904000Dec 8, 2022Structure & Body1,224,078 vehicles
Structure:body:tailgate:hinge and attachments
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.
Risk: An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB8.
2021 compared with other 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Ram 2500 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2021 Ram 2500 has a Complaint Index of 23, ranking 11th worst among 14 model years of the 2500. Its verdict is Caution, capped by 8 recall campaigns including one park-outside fire recall.
- What are the biggest problems with the 2021 Ram 2500?
- Electrical System complaints make up 33% of all reports, followed by Engine at 27% and Transmission & Powertrain at 23%. The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints was 48,000 miles.
- Does the 2021 Ram 2500 have a fire recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 23V060000 tells owners to park outside due to a possible electrical short in the heater grid relay on Cummins 6.7L diesel engines, and recall 21V798000 covers a similar underhood electrical short risk.
- How does the 2021 Ram 2500 compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 23 is lower than years like 2018 (100), 2017 (92), and 2022 (85), all rated Avoid. Only 2025 (31, rated Good) and a few lower years like 2023 (8) score better.
- Did the 2021 Ram 2500 airbags fail to deploy?
- NHTSA lists multiple owner complaints describing airbags that did not deploy during crashes, including a recall (21V925000) for side curtain airbags manufactured with incorrect propellant amounts.