2021 RAM 2500 problems & reliability
105 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 RAM 2500, alongside 8 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
2 complaints report injuries (2 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2021 RAM 2500 vehicles were involved in 62 fatal crashes with 7 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 35 | 33% |
| Engine | 25 | 24% |
| Power Train | 23 | 22% |
| Structure | 12 | 11% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 8% |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 7% |
| Unknown OR Other | 7 | 7% |
| Steering | 5 | 5% |
| Air Bags | 4 | 4% |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V720000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount…”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Jul 31, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Ram Promaster 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention) and associated the failure with the recall. The local dealer was…”
Back Over Prevention · filed Jul 27, 2026
“This problem first occurred on a state highway in [XXX] in 2023 and again in 2026 (this incident.) While driving south on XXX, there was an undulation/slight bump in the interstate while in a mild right hand curve. My vehicles brakes engaged without my input and slowed me down from 70mph to 35mph with traffic behind…”
Service Brakes · filed Jul 21, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
553 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2021 RAM 2500. The 10 most recent:
Sensor - turbocharger speed
113744 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 29, 2026
Sensor - turbocharger speed
113742 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 29, 2026
CORE – HEATER
113276 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 6, 2026
CORE – HEATER
113277 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 6, 2026
SWITCH – HEADLAMP
113069 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 29, 2026
SWITCH – HEADLAMP
113070 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 29, 2026
Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
S2208000045 REV.D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 26, 2026
If customer concern diagnosis leads to suspect u-joint issue with the prop shaft, u-joint service kit should be utilized to fix concern. Prop shaft replacement would not be required.
9100841 Rev 1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 25, 2026
Outlet - air conditioning & heater
113066 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 25, 2026
Outlet - air conditioning & heater
113065 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 25, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2021 RAM 2500 has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2021 RAM 2500?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.