2021 RAM 2500 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2021 RAM 2500 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 154
- 154 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 35 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 8
- see below
- Reported harm
- 7 reported crashes · 3 injuries · 15 fires
What owners report fails — 2021 RAM 2500
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 35
- ENGINE 25
- POWER TRAIN 23
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8
- STRUCTURE:BODY 8
8 recalls on record for the 2021 RAM 2500
- 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 23V060000 · 2023 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOID An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the ri
- NHTSA 21V925000 · 2022 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN An air bag that deploys improperly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- NHTSA 22V904000 · 2022 · STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACH An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard an
- NHTSA 22V835000 · 2022 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 RAM 2500
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 2500 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 2500 reliable?
NHTSA has 154 consumer complaints on record for the 2021 RAM 2500 and 8 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (35 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2021 RAM 2500 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 RAM 2500?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (35), engine (25), power train (23), fuel/propulsion system (8). 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 2500?
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.