Is the 2021 Ram 2500 reliable?

The 2021 Ram 2500 has 154 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: above-average. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2021 Ram 2500?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (35 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (26 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (23 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Ram 2500?

Yes, there are 8 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Contact any Ram dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Ram 2500?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Ram 2500 is approximately $1,687/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2021 Ram 2500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Ram 2500 has 154 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 273. The most common issue is electrical problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: at a stop light after 10 min of normal driving on country and city roads my truck started smoking from front passenger wheel well. smoke intensified and quickly turned black. immediately pulled over and found flames burning through front passenger wheel liner and from around passenger side battery a. There are 8 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 4 crash reports 1 injury

154

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

35 complaints

23%

• At a stop light after 10 min of normal driving on country and city roads my truck started smoking from front passenger wheel well. Smoke intensified and quickly turned black. Immediately pulled over and found flames burning through front passenger wheel liner and from around passenger side battery a
• The contact owned a 2021 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V798000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle with a fob key from inside his residence, he did not hear the engine start. The contact looked outside when he n
• My vehicle has a 12" screen in the dash. While Operating the Vehicle, weather notifications keep popping up. I've looked for ways to disable this "feature", even gone as far as cancelling the Sirius connected feature(by calling Sirius).These Pop-ups still persist and are distracting me from paying a

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports

“At a stop light after 10 min of normal driving on country and city roads my truck started smoking from front passenger wheel well. Smoke intensified and quickly turned black. Immediately pulled over and found flames burning through front passenger wheel liner and from around passenger side battery a”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2021 Ram 2500

Based on 21 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 30K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

Later than typicalmedian 42K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (8)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS14/10/2021

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 3500, 2500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. An electrical short in the relay may cause a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.

Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside of buildings or structures, and not near other vehicles, until the vehicle has been remedied. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. This recall has been superseded by 23V060.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Ram 2500

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,687

Full coverage / month

$141

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

+1%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$1687

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ram 2500 Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

24K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

5.7L HEMI: 8,000 mile oil intervals; EcoDiesel: shorter intervals for DEF and fuel filter. Towing usage requires severe service intervals.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ram New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ram. If you're buying a used 2021 2500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ram dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 154 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: At a stop light after 10 min of normal driving on country and city roads my truck started smoking from front passenger wheel well. Smoke intensified and quickly turned black. Immediately pulled over and found flames burning through front passenger wheel liner and from around passenger side battery a
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: At a stop light after 10 min of normal driving on country and city roads my truck started smoking from front passenger wheel well. Smoke intensified and quickly turned black. Immediately pulled over and found flames burning through front passenger wheel liner and from around passenger side battery a
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: traveling at slow speeds the motor has abruptly died, loss of steering, acceleration, and brakes were a result. Message came up on dash to shift the truck to park. The parking bake automatically was applied when vehicle slowed to approximately 3 mph leaving the truck stranded in the middle of a int
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: Electronic tailgate has unlatched itself and fallen open while driving 5 times now twice now resulting in damage and things falling out of rear of truck onto highway
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 8 recalls have been completed — free at any Ram dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)