2021 RAM 1500 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2021 RAM 1500 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,093
- 1,080 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 268 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 14
- see below
- Reported harm
- 40 reported crashes · 41 injuries · 7 fires
What owners report fails — 2021 RAM 1500
- ENGINE 268
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 183
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 96
- POWER TRAIN 90
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 66
14 recalls on record for the 2021 RAM 1500
- NHTSA 25V765000 · 2025 · STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
- NHTSA 25V298000 · 2025 · AIR BAGS A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
- NHTSA 24V754000 · 2024 · VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 24V653000 · 2024 · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTR Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 22V767000 · 2023 · ENGINE An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 RAM 1500
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2021 RAM 1500 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 RAM 1500 reliable?
NHTSA has 1,093 consumer complaints on record for the 2021 RAM 1500 and 14 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (268 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2021 RAM 1500 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 RAM 1500?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (268), electrical system (183), unknown or other (96), power train (90). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2021 RAM 1500?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.