2021 Ram 3500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2021 Ram 3500 has a Complaint Index of 27 with 62 complaints and ranks 12th out of 16 model years. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns, including two park-outside diesel fire risks, capping the verdict at Caution despite the relatively low complaint index.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 27/100
- #12 of 16 3500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 62
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- 2 Park Outside
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Electrical System
Top 2021 Ram 3500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System18 (29%)
- Engine14 (23%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (18%)
- Other9 (15%)
- Brakes6 (10%)
- Structure & Body6 (10%)
- Fuel System5 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (6%)
- Seat Belts1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report engine bay fires starting while driving, in some cases with flames reaching the hood or engine compartment before extinguishing.
- Some owners describe transmission overheating warnings followed by fire, including one case where the driver was burned trying to put it out.
- Electrical system complaints include multiple dashboard warning lights (check engine, ABS, stability control, 4WD) illuminating together at 30,000 miles, requiring dealer resets.
- Owners report the tailgate opening on its own while towing, triggering the stability control warning light.
- Suspension and wheel complaints describe recurring TPMS errors that falsely flag tire pressure problems, including one case followed by an actual flat while towing.
- Some owners report power steering intermittently cutting out and long waits for replacement parts.
2021 Ram 3500 recalls
9 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 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Ram 3500 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows a Complaint Index of 27 for the 2021 Ram 3500, ranking 12th of 16 model years, which is a mid-to-lower position but not the worst. The Caution verdict comes mainly from 9 recall campaigns rather than a high complaint count.
- What problems does the 2021 Ram 3500 have?
- The top problem area is the Electrical System, with 18 complaints (29% share) and a median failure mileage of 25,000 miles. Engine complaints (14, 23% share) and Suspension/Wheels/Tires issues (11, 18% share) also appear frequently.
- Does the 2021 Ram 3500 have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2021 Ram 3500, including two park-outside recalls for electrical shorts near Cummins 6.7L diesel engines, plus recalls covering steering, airbags, transmission dipsticks, brakes, tailgate latches, and wheel lug nut torque.
- How does the 2021 Ram 3500 compare to other Ram 3500 years?
- With a Complaint Index of 27, the 2021 model ranks better than 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022, which are rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 87, 100, 80, and 93 respectively. It ranks worse than the 2007 and 2025 model years, both rated Good.
- Are there fires reported in the 2021 Ram 3500?
- NHTSA lists 4 fire incidents among the 62 complaints for the 2021 Ram 3500, with several sample complaints describing engine bay or transmission-related fires while driving.