2021 Ram 1500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2021 Ram 1500 has 1093 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 13.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: i purchased my 2021 ram 1500 limited night edition on march 11, 2021. it was new. within 3 weeks and less than 1,000 miles of driving the vehicle stalled twice while in the middle of an intersection. the fuel tank was full and the engine was warm each time. the first time around march 17 i was al. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.
1093
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
13.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
271 complaints- • I PURCHASED MY 2021 RAM 1500 LIMITED NIGHT EDITION ON MARCH 11, 2021. IT WAS NEW. WITHIN 3 WEEKS AND LESS THAN 1,000 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND THE ENGINE WAS WARM EACH TIME. THE FIRST TIME AROUND MARCH 17 I WAS AL
- • PURCHASED TRUCK ON 3/4/2021.WITH 21 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON 3/11/2021 WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65MPH. IN THE CENTER OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND A DASH SIGNALED A WARNING "SERVICE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL" APPEARED ON THE DASH, I MADE IT OFF THE FREEW
- • I HAVE HAD 2 SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2021 RAM 1500 LARAMIE WITH APPROX. 4,500 MILES ON IT. 1ST , AND MOST IMPORTANT, I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE STALL WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ONTO A ROADWAY. IT HAS OCCURRED BETWEEN 5-25 MPH APPROX WHILE PULLING FROM A STOP, OR SLOW ROLL, INTO TRAFFIC. THE SECOND OCCU
“I PURCHASED MY 2021 RAM 1500 LIMITED NIGHT EDITION ON MARCH 11, 2021. IT WAS NEW. WITHIN 3 WEEKS AND LESS THAN 1,000 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND THE ENGINE WAS WARM EACH TIME. THE FIRST TIME AROUND MARCH 17 I WAS AL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
188 complaints- • I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE, THE BRAKES ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING AND AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STONERIDGE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (2700 STONERIDGE DR, PLEASANTON, CA 94588,
- • I PURCHASED MY 2021 RAM 1500 LIMITED NIGHT EDITION ON MARCH 11, 2021. IT WAS NEW. WITHIN 3 WEEKS AND LESS THAN 1,000 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND THE ENGINE WAS WARM EACH TIME. THE FIRST TIME AROUND MARCH 17 I WAS AL
“I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
100 complaints- • I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE
- • WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK STALLED AND PROMPTED ME TO PUT IT INTO PARK TO START. IT THEN AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO PARK WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING AND APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE ON ITS OWN.
- • Pulled out into Traffic SEVERE lack of acceleration almost cause Me to get hit in the Driver side door. Got online and noticed a lot of People complaining about a Pedal Lag. This Is DANGEROUS and needs to be addressed. This is a 2021 Ram with 283 miles on it again this is a DANGEROUS issue
“I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
94 complaints- • I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE
- • ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF STARTING THE TRUCK WHILE MOVING FORWARD ON A CITY STREET BOTH TIMES IT INITIATED ON A TURN THE TRUCK TURNS OFF AND TELLS YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO RESTART. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE TRUCK HAS LESS THEN 200 MILES ON IT.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHIFTED TO PARK INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING HAD ENGAGED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEH
“I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
93 complaints- • ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY ON STICKER STATES 17/21 RESPECTIVELY CITY/HIGHWAY. AFTER 2700 MILES, I CONSISTENTLY, AND ALWAYS HAVE GOTTEN 13MPG CITY AND ON HIGHWAY, ROAD TRIP, 14.5MPG.
- • PURCHASED TRUCK ON 3/4/2021.WITH 21 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON 3/11/2021 WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65MPH. IN THE CENTER OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND A DASH SIGNALED A WARNING "SERVICE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL" APPEARED ON THE DASH, I MADE IT OFF THE FREEW
- • Backed out of garage, rolled down driveway and turned left onto my street. Drove about a tenth of a mile to the stop sign, pretty easy with light gas since truck was still warming up. Rolled slowly (2-3) mph to make a right turn lightly feathering the gas and 3/4 through the turn pressed a little mo
“ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY ON STICKER STATES 17/21 RESPECTIVELY CITY/HIGHWAY. AFTER 2700 MILES, I CONSISTENTLY, AND ALWAYS HAVE GOTTEN 13MPG CITY AND ON HIGHWAY, ROAD TRIP, 14.5MPG.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 1093 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: I PURCHASED MY 2021 RAM 1500 LIMITED NIGHT EDITION ON MARCH 11, 2021. IT WAS NEW. WITHIN 3 WEEKS AND LESS THAN 1,000 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND THE ENGINE WAS WARM EACH TIME. THE FIRST TIME AROUND MARCH 17 I WAS AL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: I PARKED MY TRUCK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS WALKING MY DOG SEVERAL MINUTES LATER AND SEEMED TO NOTICE MY TRUCK MOVING BACKWARDS. I SAW THE FRESH TRACKS IN THE SNOW IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY. I GOT IN, PRESSED THE BRAKE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ram 1500 — Year Comparison
How does 2021 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 1093
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 6
- Crash reports
- 23
- Injury reports
- 19
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2021 Ram 1500