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U.S. public vehicle records

2021 Ram 2500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

106 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

34,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 106 complaints (33.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues2523.6%
Braking behavior1514.2%
Transmission and shifting98.5%
Steering behavior76.6%
Engine operation32.8%
Fuel system concerns21.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
35
Engine
25
Power Train
24
Fuel/Propulsion System
8
Structure:Body
8
Service Brakes
7
Unknown Or Other
7
Steering
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System35
Engine25
Power Train24
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Structure:Body8
Service Brakes7
Unknown Or Other7
Steering5

Electrical System: 35; Engine: 25; Power Train: 24; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Structure:Body: 8; Service Brakes: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Steering: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 91 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2021
11
2022
9
2023
44
2024
15
2025
15
2026
12
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
202111
20229
202344
202415
202515
202612

2021: 11; 2022: 9; 2023: 44; 2024: 15; 2025: 15; 2026: 12

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11429824 · 2021-08-20 (August 20, 2021)

At a stop light after 10 min of normal driving on country and city roads my truck started smoking from front passenger wheel well. Smoke intensified and quickly turned black. Immediately pulled over and found flames burning through front passenger wheel liner and from around passenger side battery and intake filter. Fire was put out with fire extinguisher and engine bay sprayed down by fire truck when they arrived on scene. Fire melted through battery case leaking battery acid, parts of the intake filter housing, all surrounding electrical wiri…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11429824 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11441016 · 2021-11-19 (November 19, 2021)

The contact owned a 2021 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V798000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle with a fob key from inside his residence, he did not hear the engine start. The contact looked outside when he noticed there were flames coming from underneath the hood. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle remained in the contact's driveway, not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. Prior to the fai…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11441016 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11438423 · 2021-10-27 (October 27, 2021)

Right rear shock failure which lead to shock oil leaking onto brake system. Local dealer states parts are not available due to current allotment met for the month. Took truck into Olathe Dodge for warranty repair on Monday 10/25/2021, two hours of waiting to be told part would not be available until end of November. No warning lamps etc displayed. Oil was found all over the rear end including wheel and tire. Creates a safety hazard with any fluid leaking onto braking system. Confirmed by dealer.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11438423 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11438830 · 2021-11-01 (November 1, 2021)

There was a severe head on collision and airbags did not deploy. The dealership says there was no deceleration however, the crash was severe enough that they should have deployed, the driver also tried to stop and the trucks airbag system did not detect the sudden brake. This is a 2021 truck that has a sudden brake sensor, that combined with the collision should have caused the airbags to deploy.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11438830 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11467743 · 2022-06-06 (June 6, 2022)

traveling at slow speeds the motor has abruptly died, loss of steering, acceleration, and brakes were a result. Message came up on dash to shift the truck to park. The parking bake automatically was applied when vehicle slowed to approximately 3 mph leaving the truck stranded in the middle of a intersection one time and once in the roadway. Shifting the truck to park and the truck started up as if nothing had happened. No codes no check engine light.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11467743 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11478386 · 2022-08-09 (August 9, 2022)

In June 2021, this vehicle literally drove away while in the park gear. It was running and accelerated across a state highway, down an embankment and 200 feet into a cornfield while pulling a trailer. I immediately called Ram and they did perform an investigation. They subsequently offered to buy the vehicle back, which I declined. This vehicle has been in for warranty work on the transmission several times with this being the result. They have offered to diagnose and repair it, which it is still under warranty anyway. I have not received…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11478386 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11442452 · 2021-12-02 (December 2, 2021)

Driving highway speed and truck shut off completely. Took to dealer, no issues found. 800 miles later driving highway speed truck shut off again. Took to dealer, no issues found so far. Complete loss of power, power steering, power brakes, etc. Display read, "Press brake and push button to start" while coasting in neutral both times.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442452 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11500473 · 2023-01-06 (January 6, 2023)

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 2500. The contact stated while approaching a stop sign or stop light, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle had to be placed in park and restarted. While driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the rim cover had detached from the wheel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to retrieve any fault codes. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was informed that the rim covers were not replaceable, and that the rim ne…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11500473 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11406962 · 2021-04-07 (April 7, 2021)

2020 RAM 2500 DIESEL 1900 MILES BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE FAST LANE AND CAUSED SERVAL VEHICLES TO ABRUPTLY CHANGE LANES AS TO NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TRUCK. I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE ROAD, CHANGING MULTIPLY LANES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER BECOMING A HAZARD TO MOVING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE TRUCK WAS SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART. THE TRUCK WOULD TURN …

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406962 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11518082 · 2023-04-20 (April 20, 2023)

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 2500. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started to decelerate inadvertently while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle then lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 10 MPH. The contact then stated that a message appeared on the instrument panel, indicating to “See Dealer - Exhaust Filter Clogged”. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pu…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11518082 at NHTSA ↗