Reliable Auto DB

2021 Ram 3500 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 3500 over 6 years — 10 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most 3500 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 18. NHTSA has 9 recalls on file, including Frontal, Relays and solenoids, and Hinge.

2012 Ram 3500
Photo by MercurySable99, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

62

Per year

10

Recalls

9

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (17 of 62), then Powertrain (11) and Engine (10). Those filings include 4 that report a fire.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 3500 has 116 complaints, 24 per year, and the 2022 has 189 complaints, 50 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer 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 3500. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (9)

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 wheels, lug nuts 2021-05-27 · NHTSA campaign 21V398000
Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.
Remedy Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y26 owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's numbers for this recall are Y26 and Y36.
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 (62 total)

Electrical system
17
Powertrain
11
Engine
10
Wheels
7
Service brakes
5
Structure
5
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Back-over prevention
3
Engine and engine cooling
3
Exterior lighting
3
Tires
3
Suspension
2
Air brakes
1
Diesel fuel system
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Speed control
1
Steering
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 12 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

520219202215202311202415202572026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, occasionally while activating the left turn signal to make a turn, the rear driver’s side turn signal failed to operate as…"
    Electrical system, Exterior lighting · filed 2026-07-01
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500 . The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V720000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was…"
    Engine and engine cooling, Back-over prevention · filed 2026-06-01
  • "The contact owns a 2021 RAM 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the entire fuel system…"
    diesel fuel system · filed 2026-05-06
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V720000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not…"
    Engine and engine cooling, Back-over prevention · filed 2026-03-25
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. While the contact's husband was driving at 55 MPH, the driver's rear wheel detached. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while a pickup box trailer was hitched to the…"
    Wheels · filed 2026-03-13

Specs and fitment

Fifth-generation HD, 2019–present
Body styles Pickup
Oil Diesel oil per Cummins CES / API CK-4 (see manual by climate) , 12 qt capacity
Tire size 275/70R18, 285/60R20 (SRW); 235/80R17 (DRW)

Known issues for this generation

2019–2020 Ram 3500 (and sibling 2500/4500/5500) trucks with the 6.7L Cummins are covered by NHTSA campaign 21V-880 (FCA Y78): the Bosch CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump may fail prematurely, send metal debris through the fuel system, and cause fuel starvation or loss of motive power. The remedy inspects/replaces the HPFP (dealers move affected trucks to a more durable CP3-style pump arrangement) and cleans contaminated fuel systems as needed. Later fifth-gen years leave that CP4 window; still verify 21V-880 completion on any 2019–2020 VIN and watch open emissions and software campaigns that continue on current HD trucks.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Ram 3500 Next year 2022 Ram 3500 See every Ram 3500 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ram 3500 reliable?

Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 3500 over 6 years — 10 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most 3500 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 18. NHTSA has 9 recalls on file, including Frontal, Relays and solenoids, and Hinge.

What are common problems with a 2021 Ram 3500?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (17 of 62), then Powertrain (11) and Engine (10). Those filings include 4 that report a fire.

Is the 2021 Ram 3500 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 3500 has 116 complaints, 24 per year, and the 2022 has 189 complaints, 50 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Ram 3500 been recalled?

The 2021 Ram 3500 has 9 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 3500?

Owners have filed 62 complaints about the 2021 Ram 3500 with NHTSA.

What oil does a Ram 3500 Cummins take?

Diesel oil per Cummins CES / API CK-4 (see manual by climate)

What does NHTSA recall 21V-880 cover on the Ram 3500?

2019–2020 Ram 3500 (and sibling 2500/4500/5500) trucks with the 6.7L Cummins are covered by NHTSA campaign 21V-880 (FCA Y78): the Bosch CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump may fail prematurely, send metal debris through the fuel system, and cause fuel starvation or loss of motive…

What generation is the 2013 Ram 3500?

Fourth-generation HD (2012-2018).