2021 Ram 2500 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2021 Ram 2500 has 108 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 21 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most 2500 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 25. NHTSA has 8 recalls on file, including Frontal, Relays and solenoids, and Hinge.

2013 Ram 2500 — Photo by RL GNZLZ from Chile, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0

Complaints

108

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (35 of 108), then Engine (26) and Powertrain (25). The most filings arrived in 2023 (44 of 108). Those filings include 6 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 2500 has 162 complaints, 31 per year, and the 2022 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Ram 2500. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (8)

Recall air bags, frontal 2025-11-06 · NHTSA campaign 25V765000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500, Ram 4500, and Ram 5500 vehicles. The steering column control module may cause the driver's side air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy Dealers will replace the steering column control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 14C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 13, 2025.

Recall electrical system, wiring, relays and solenoids 2023-02-09 · NHTSA campaign 23V060000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off.

Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers on or about 3/23/2023 and begin notifying owners on or about 4/5/2023. Phase 2 will include 2022 model year vehicles and Phase 3 will include 2021 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers and owners on or about 4/27/2023 for Phase 2 and 5/11/2023 for Phase 3. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 28, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 13A. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798.

Recall structure, body, tailgate, hinge 2022-12-08 · NHTSA campaign 22V904000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.

Remedy Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB8.

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2022-11-10 · NHTSA campaign 22V835000

Summary FCA US, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 2500 and 2020-2022 Ram 3500 vehicles. A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.

Remedy Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is ZA3.

Recall Brake control module 2022-03-10 · NHTSA campaign 22V140000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 2500 and 2021-2022 Dodge Durango vehicles, and 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs. The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

Remedy Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z20.

Recall air bags, side and window, curtain 2021-11-24 · NHTSA campaign 21V925000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 2500, Ram 3500, and 2021 Ram 1500 Classic pickup trucks. The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) assemblies may have been manufactured with the incorrect amount of compressed gas, which can result in an improper air bag deployment.

Remedy Dealers will replace the SABIC assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y99.

Recall electrical system, wiring, relays and solenoids 2021-10-14 · NHTSA campaign 21V798000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 3500, 2500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. An electrical short in the relay may cause a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.

Remedy Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside of buildings or structures, and not near other vehicles, until the vehicle has been remedied. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. This recall has been superseded by 23V060.

Recall Electrical system 2021-03-11 · NHTSA campaign 21V163000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay, which could result in a vehicle fire.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Customers are advised to not park these vehicles inside of buildings or structures, or near other vehicles until the vehicle has the final repair completed. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y08. This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-798.

Complaints by component (108 total)

Electrical system

Engine

Powertrain

Structure

Fuel and propulsion system

Service brakes

Steering

Air bags

Seat belts

Visibility and wipers

Back-over prevention

Diesel fuel system

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Engine and engine cooling

Hydraulic brakes

Wheels

Air brakes

Equipment

Exterior lighting

Forward collision avoidance

Fuel system, gasoline

Lane departure

Latches, locks, and linkages

Seats

Speed control

Suspension

Tires

Show 19 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"ABS/Forward Collision/Traction Control/4WD/Cruise Control warning lights on. Braking is inconsistent. Sometimes hard to brake, sometimes brake pedal is real spongy and will go almost to floor."
Service brakes · filed 2026-09-24
"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].…"
Powertrain, Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2026-09-10
"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…"
Powertrain · filed 2026-09-07
"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…"
Engine and engine cooling, Back-over prevention · filed 2026-07-31
"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:…"
Back-over prevention · filed 2026-07-27

Specs and fitment

HD (fifth gen), 2019–present

Body styles Pickup

Oil FCA MS-6395 5W-40 (Cummins diesel) or 0W-20 (gas per manual) , 12 qt capacity

Tire size 275/70R18, 285/60R20, 285/70R17 (trim dependent)

Towing capacity 20,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 23V654000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Ram 1500, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs., and 2022-2024 Ram 2500 vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.". A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 24, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 97A.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Ram 2500 Next year 2022 Ram 2500 See every Ram 2500 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ram 2500 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2021 Ram 2500?

Is the 2021 Ram 2500 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 2500 has 162 complaints, 31 per year, and the 2022 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Ram 2500 been recalled?

The 2021 Ram 2500 has 8 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Ram 2500?

Owners have filed 108 complaints about the 2021 Ram 2500 with NHTSA.

What engine oil does a Ram 2500 use?

US Ram 2500 manuals specify diesel or gasoline oil grades in the maintenance section for your engine.

What does NHTSA recall 19V-347 cover on the Ram 2500?

NHTSA safety recall 19V347000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with an 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate.

What generation is the 2014 Ram 2500?

HD (fourth gen) (2013-2018).