2021 RAM 1500 engine problems
272 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2021 RAM 1500 — 41% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Recently this vehicle has triggered a check engine light. Upon further examination the code was related to an ignition #3. (CODES: P020C, PO1DO).”
filed Jul 28, 2026
“MGU unit failed / car seized in the middle of the road - sent in to be repaired Unsafe to be stuck in the middle of the road, could not even put the car in neutral to push out of the road Known problem that RAM and Stellantis know about and are not placing warnings. We were told by the dealership…”
filed Jul 23, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- High pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stallCampaign 22V767000 · Oct 13, 2022
Engine problems in other 1500 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 1500 | 4 | 6% |
| 2025 1500 | 58 | 19% |
| 2024 1500 | 23 | 34% |
| 2023 1500 | 45 | 24% |
| 2022 1500 | 240 | 41% |
| 2020 1500 | 153 | 25% |
| 2019 1500 | 223 | 15% |
| 2018 1500 | 108 | 17% |
| 2017 1500 | 155 | 18% |
| 2016 1500 | 291 | 19% |
| 2015 1500 | 334 | 23% |
| 2014 1500 | 300 | 17% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 RAM 1500
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.