2021 Ram 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2021 Ram 2500 most often write about unresolved safety recalls — the heater-grid relay and transmission dipstick campaigns in particular — and about waiting months for parts. Beyond recalls, the recurring themes are sudden engine shutdown or power loss while driving, diesel fuel-system and emissions faults, and transmission complaints including whining, harsh shifting and delayed reverse engagement. Many reports come in the 30,000-70,000 mile range, though some diesel issues appear within the first few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Recall repairs pending: parts unavailable for months

   • 41 complaints (38%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe receiving notices for several campaigns at once — the heater grid relay short, the transmission dipstick/fluid leak, the tailgate striker, the ABS/ESC software and side air bag inflators — and then being told the parts are not in stock. Some say the vehicle sat on a dealer waiting list for many months with no follow-up, and that calls to the manufacturer did not move things along. A few owners who had the heater relay recall performed still reported electrical burning or fire afterward. Reported across a wide mileage range, often within the first couple of years of ownership and frequently in cold-weather months.

   Recall 23V060000Recall 21V798000Recall 21V163000Recall 22V835000Recall 22V904000Recall 22V140000Recall 21V925000

   What to check: Ask for a VIN-specific recall status report and written confirmation that each open campaign has actually been completed, not merely scheduled. Keep copies of the repair orders.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Multiple critical recalls - 22V-904, 23V-060, 22V-140, and 22V-835. Two of these represent fire hazards! For the last several months they either didn't have the parts or availability to service. I tried multiple dealerships in my area. Getting these serviced has become extremely difficult due to lack of responsiveness or availability by the dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11528915, filed 2023-06

   “My local Ram Dealership in Del Rio, Texas (Ram Country), has refused to repair my open recalls on my 2021 Ram 2500 Diesel. This includes the heater relay recall and the transmission dipstick recall. I have visited the dealership on at least 5 occassions and each time I am put on a new waiting list . Ram Country has informed me that they get parts weekly and will call me to schedule needed repairs, however they never do. What can I do to get my recalls fixed, and finally closed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11524720, filed 2023-05
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine shutdown and loss of power while driving

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 28,255 mi at 1.9 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2025

   Complaints describe the truck cutting off at highway speed or when slowing for a stop, with loss of power steering and power brakes, and sometimes a message asking the driver to shift to park before it restarts normally. Dealers have found no stored fault codes, have reset the ECM or updated software, and in some cases the stall returned afterward. Owners also link the loss of power to emissions messages such as an exhaust filter clogged warning. Reported from a few thousand miles up to around 60,000 miles, at both highway and low speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any stalling or no-start history is stored in the vehicle, and whether software updates for the engine control module have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11406962, filed 2021-04, 19,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11442452, filed 2021-12
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Diesel emissions and fuel-system faults

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 8,000 mi at 1.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners of the 6.7L diesel report the truck dropping into limp mode with a service DEF or exhaust filter message, along with rough running, shaking and sputtering. Injectors have been replaced repeatedly in some cases without a lasting fix. Others describe the DEF gauge sticking after refueling, an issue a dealer characterized as known and one that can recur. Exhaust leaks ahead of the filter have also been reported, with exhaust smell and soot entering the cab. Sometimes within the first thousand miles on new trucks, otherwise spread across the low-to-mid mileage range; several reports mention cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a diesel, review service records for injector, DEF and emissions-related repairs, and confirm the DEF gauge reads correctly after a fill.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The flexible section of the exhaust coming from the engine that connects to the rigid sections of exhaust that contains the DPF components developed a hole in it. I reported that exhaust was smelled inside my cab and that sooty smoke could be seen coming up by my passenger side front window for almost a month. The Ram dealership told me the first two times I took it there that it was normal for regens to create smokey conditions. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11552373, filed 2023-10

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ram 2500. The contact stated that upon driving several miles and refueling the vehicle, he noticed that the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) additive gauge remained stuck in the same position. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known failure and that the failure would persist even after the repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11502369, filed 2023-01, 8,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Cam and lifter noise on the 6.7L Cummins

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 4.1 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe a loud ticking or tapping from the engine, sometimes after a misfire code, leading to camshaft and lifter replacement. In one case the lifters were replaced under warranty and the noise returned within several thousand miles. Owners also mention the grid heater bolt as a related concern on these engines, saying a loose bolt can be drawn into the intake. Mostly reported in the 20,000-70,000 mile range, often after the engine is fully warmed up.

   Recall 23V060000Recall 21V1630001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for a steady tick at idle when warm, and ask for records of any cam or lifter work plus confirmation the heater grid relay campaign was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “3 months ago at around 23,000 miles, my truck had a P0302 Cylinder 2 misfire code, dealership “reset” the vehicle and code didn’t return. 3 weeks ago, cylinder 2 started having a loud tapping noise after the vehicle was fully warmed up. Vehicle has been at the dealership for 1 week with zero communication from the dealership or from the RAM caseworker. No rental car has been offered.”

   NHTSA complaint #11572681, filed 2024-02

   “The lifters failed at 64,000 miles they where replaced under warranty. but now the lifters are making noise again with 71,000 miles since replaced. it’s a bad design that could be fixed permanently with the right parts! No warning lights just failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #11708630, filed 2026-01
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission whine, harsh shifts and delayed reverse

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe a whining noise while accelerating through the gears, which in one case persisted after a dealer-approved internal repair. Others report the transmission failing to engage reverse once warm, so the engine revs but the truck does not move, and one owner reported a complete transmission failure around 80,000 miles. Complaints also note trouble getting a definitive diagnosis from the dealer. Spread widely; reported from low mileage up past 80,000 miles, with the reverse-engagement problem appearing once the transmission reaches operating temperature.

   Recall 22V8350002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive long enough to reach full operating temperature and try reverse engagement then; listen for whine under acceleration and check for fluid seepage at the dipstick tube.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Transmision went out at 80k miles leaving me stranded. They did correct the issue. However, thought that I would report this because I was in traffic causing and almost wrecked”

   NHTSA complaint #11675291, filed 2025-07

   “The 68RFE automatic transmission in this 2021 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins fails to engage reverse when the transmission reaches operating temperature. When the gear selector is placed in reverse and the accelerator is applied, the engine revs but the truck does not move. The defect is intermittent and temperature-dependent, which means it cannot be predicted or avoided by the driver. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11734218, filed 2026-04

Buying note. Check every open recall on the specific VIN and confirm the work was actually performed, since owners report long waits for parts. A long test drive that includes full warm-up, reverse engagement and a listen for engine tick will surface the transmission and lifter complaints owners describe most.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.