2021 RAM 2500 problems & reliability
107 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 RAM 2500, alongside 8 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 21, 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 components.
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 → | 26 | 24% |
| Power Train → | 25 | 23% |
| Structure → | 12 | 11% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 7% |
| Unknown / Other | 8 | 7% |
| Service Brakes | 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%.
All 28 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“I am writing to formally follow up regarding complaint/case number 97989810 through Dodge and to request that this matter be elevated for a complete technical review concerning my 2021 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins, VIN [XXX]. Time - Line PRIOR FACTORY-WARRANTY REPAIR The XXX factory-warranty repair is an important part of…”
Unknown / Other · filed Sep 10, 2026
“There is a known issue with the Ram Power Wagon locking differential system where the electronic locking differential wiring harness will fault one of three ways. The first being that the wiring harness is two short so when the rear axle articulates there isn't enough slack therefore causing the plug in the diff…”
Power Train · filed Sep 7, 2026
“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…”
Back Over Prevention · filed Jul 31, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
556 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2021 RAM 2500. The 10 most recent:
Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
9100901 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 8, 2026
Radiator - engine cooling
114254 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 26, 2026
Radiator - engine cooling
114255 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 26, 2026
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
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.