2021 RAM 1500 reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2021 RAM 1500 from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,093
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 268 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 14
- see below
- Reported harm
- 40 reported crashes · 41 injuries · 7 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#338
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs RAM median
+783
median 310 across 37 RAM records
Vs 2019-2023
+854
median 240 complaints in 444 records
Top component share
25%
Engine: 268 complaints
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
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
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. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. 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?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2021 RAM 1500. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.