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Ram 3500Model year report

2021 Ram 3500 Problems

Compared with other Ram 3500 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

15/100 0.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
62filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
9campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Ram 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

What owners report

Complaints on the 2021 Ram 3500 cluster around two themes: an open electrical-system recall (23V060000, heater grid relay) for which owners repeatedly report parts are unavailable, and drivetrain problems — transmission leaks, hard shifting or lock-up, and hydraulic lifter and camshaft failures on Cummins diesel trucks. Electrical and lighting glitches, rear wheel stud failures and premature tire problems also appear, while several fire-related complaints reference the engine bay or transmission area.

  1. Electrical system

    Heater grid relay recall — no parts available

    • 12 complaints (19%)
    • median 25,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2022–2024

    Owners describe receiving notice of the heater grid relay recall and then being unable to get the repair done, with dealers saying parts arrive only a few per week or month. Several say they were told not to park the truck in a garage or near other vehicles while waiting. A few complaints describe engine-bay fires, and owners connect them to the recall condition. Reported across a wide mileage range from new to well past 60,000 miles, mostly in 2023 and later filings.

    Recall 23V060000Recall 21V798000Recall 21V163000

    What to check: Ask the dealer to confirm by VIN whether the heater grid relay recall has actually been completed, and get it in writing. Check the engine bay for signs of heat damage or melted wiring.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I took the vehicle to the dealer for recall Manufacturer Recall Number13A NHTSA Recall Number23V-060 The dealer told me that they can only order one per week. I will have to wait over a year for the part to come in. This is a fire hazard and I have been advised to not park the vehicle in the garage or near other vehicles. Waiting over a year for a fire hazard repair is not acceptable.”

    NHTSA complaint #11533101, filed 2023-07

    “Our vehicle was involved in a total loss fire from the engine compartment while driving. We were driving the unit and noticed smoke, when we were merging to pull of the road flames started coming up and we immediately exited the vehicle and had to run, because it started popping. We were lucky to escape unharmed physically, but the situation could have been much worse. There were no indications or lights warning of engine failure or fire. This occurred on September 2, 2021. At this point in time there were no recalls on the vehicle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11462482, filed 2022-04
  2. Wheels

    Rear wheel stud and tire failures

    • 10 complaints (16%)
    • median 58,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2021–2026

    Owners report wheel studs shearing and, in a few cases, a rear wheel separating while driving; some describe this happening even after the lug nut recall was said to be performed. Others describe factory Nexen tires cracking, separating or blowing out, sometimes without a low-pressure warning from the TPMS, and TPMS errors on tires that are visibly low. Stud failures reported from roughly 24,000 to 92,000 miles; tire complaints mostly under about 25,000 miles, often while towing.

    Recall 21V398000

    What to check: Confirm the lug nut torque recall was completed and inspect lug nuts and studs for corrosion or stretching. Check tire date codes and sidewalls for cracking, and verify the TPMS reads all positions correctly.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The truck comes with a factory installed TPMS. The system to constantly reporting an error where one or more tires is not reading correctly. I spoke to a tire shop who said the RAM is notorious for this but there is no know fix. Yesterday while towing an rv down the highway, as usual the TPMS system was reporting errors in tire reading. This morning, I wake up to find a tire that is completely flat and not helping to support the load.”

    NHTSA complaint #11476483, filed 2022-07

    “We had the left driver side rear tire crack in two different places on the outside while driving from AL to OK with a load of cattle. No air tire pressure warning from truck when tire deflated. Tire happened to quickly deflate right as we stopped for gas due to the cracks in sidewall. This tire would have blown out while we were driving and we could have lost truck, trailer, and cattle. It was luck we stopped for gas when we did. The right front tire has bubbles and is not holding pressure. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11482935, filed 2022-09
  3. Electrical system

    Warning lights, lighting and camera glitches

    • 6 complaints (10%)
    • median 18,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2022–2026

    Complaints describe clusters of warning lights — check engine, ABS, stability control, 4WD and trailer brake — appearing together while driving, sometimes clearing after a restart and sometimes not. Owners also report rear turn signal and brake lights that stop working, an auto headlamp sensor that switches lights at random, a reversing camera with no image, and a USB power surge message that disables the hub. Reported from very low mileage (around 6,000 miles) up through 30,000 miles and beyond.

    Recall 22V140000Recall 25V7650003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Cycle the ignition and confirm no warning lamps stay lit, test every exterior lamp and the reverse camera, and ask whether ABS or body control module software updates have been applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The Auto lights sensor turns lights on/off at random during dark/night driving. The high beam auto sensor keeps the high beams on, so you do not notice losing driving lights. I found this out by accident, when I started losing my trailer lights at night. Quick fix, turn the light switch to on, instead of auto. NOTE - Cost me over 1000.00 to find that out. Re-wire the trailer, replace the 7-way plug.”

    NHTSA complaint #11482571, filed 2022-09

    “While driving my truck I noticed my mpg gauge was showing 0 mpg. Then I realized my miles to go gauge was reading low even though I had plenty of fuel in the tank and my fuel gauge was showing 3/4 full. Even though I use my truck as a commercial vehicle, and drive coast to coast, I was luckily only a couple hours from home, so I kept driving to try to make it home. I did make it home, but during that time, my check engine light came on along with my low fuel warning light. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11700252, filed 2025-11
  4. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission leak, harsh shifting or lock-up

    • 5 complaints (8%)
    • median 62,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2022–2025

    Complaints describe transmission fluid collecting under the truck and traced to the dipstick tube or reservoir area, along with hard engagements, grinding noises and intermittent loss of drive. Some owners report the transmission locking up or failing to hold Park on a grade, and a few say the dealer recommended replacement with parts on backorder. One owner reported a transmission overheat warning followed by fire from the hood. Mostly reported between roughly 18,000 and 64,000 miles, often while towing or on grades.

    Recall 22V8350003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Look for fluid residue around the transmission dipstick tube and under the pan, and test that Park holds firmly on a slope. Ask whether any transmission software or clutch/input shaft bulletin work was performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The transmission’s light came on saying that it was heated. I parked as soon as possible and that’s when the flames were coming out of the hood. I did burned my hands trying to put out the fire with 3 fire extinguishers. I did not want my truck to burn. Now, the dealer is trying to say that they can’t get a conclusion of what started the fire. The truck smells like burned transmission fluid. I sent pictures of the truck to the dealer. There is a recall in February 2020 with the same problem that I had with my 2021 Ram. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11457648, filed 2022-03

    “Transmission will not go in to Park when stopped, Truck will roll away if parked on grade. Dealer reports no recall on this Transmission. Has not been inspected by anyone at this time. No warning lights ,before or after problem started. Problem start about 6 month ago, at about 18,000 miles”

    NHTSA complaint #11574283, filed 2024-02

Buying note. Have a dealer run the VIN for open recalls — particularly the heater grid relay campaign — and confirm each was actually completed before purchase. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on the transmission for leaks and Park engagement, and on a diesel truck, listen for top-end ticking and check tire and wheel-stud condition.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 58 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.

NHTSA recorded 62 consumer complaints for the 2021 Ram 3500. 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 45% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns and 584 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 9 Ram 3500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 15 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (3), Tires (3), Suspension (2), Forward collision avoidance (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V060000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”

NHTSA complaint #11564857, filed 2024-01, 25,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Vehicle died in a busy intersection coming off the freeway. Light flashed that indicated it was an issue with the electronic throttle control. The safety of myself and others was put at risk due to the posted speed of the road and multiple lanes from 4 directions. I had to remain in my vehicle to make sure I was not hit by another vehicle and due to the vehicle issue, I was impeding traffic. Lithia Dodge of Grants Pass, OR stated they could not make an appt for the vehicle to get looked at for 2 weeks out, scheduled 8/22/25. …”

NHTSA complaint #11679340, filed 2025-08

Engine: “The contact filed the complaint on behalf of the customer, who was the owner of a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while the owner was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle caught on fire. No warning lights were illuminated. The owner informed the contact that the fire came from the engine bay. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a local tow yard. The vehicle was later towed to the independent mechanic. No injuries were sustained. …”

NHTSA complaint #11697674, filed 2025-11, 99,000 miles

Other or unknown: “My brand new 2021 Ram 3500 limited longhorn, suddenly stopped running at around 70 miles. This happened on I-84 between caldwell, id and baker city, or on 19 jan 2021 around 9:00pm. Roadside failed twice at getting us towed to safety. The 1st towing company called to say he declined the service and was surprised that they booked him anyway. The 2nd one informed us they had to decline the service because roadside assistance would not pay a fair price. By then we, the truck, and our trailer waited on the interstate for 4 hours in pitch dark and very cold weather. …”

NHTSA complaint #11389489, filed 2021-01, 70 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

45% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 24,000 and 92,000 miles.

18%0–109%10–2518%25–5018%50–7527%75–1000%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2021202220231520242025152026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

See all 9 recalls for the 2021 Ram 3500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 584 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 584 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ram 3500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026281,0004——Too new to compareToo new
2025437505——Too new to compareToo new
2024459,5002——Too new to compareToo new
20231714,0005———Too new
202219027,50012——78 · MoreRising
20216260,0009——15 · FewerRising
202011626,35011——62 · TypicalFalling
201913735,58214——40 · TypicalFalling
201880743,00010——66 · MoreRising
201731532,00012——54 · TypicalRising
201613422,69014——47 · TypicalRising
201513728,00014——37 · TypicalFalling
201420234,00015——53 · TypicalFalling
201311538,82516——24 · FewerFalling
2007678,1281———Not enough data

All Ram 3500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ram 3500?

Complaints on the 2021 Ram 3500 cluster around two themes: an open electrical-system recall (23V060000, heater grid relay) for which owners repeatedly report parts are unavailable, and drivetrain problems — transmission leaks, hard shifting or lock-up, and hydraulic lifter and camshaft failures on Cummins diesel trucks. The issues reported most often: Heater grid relay recall — no parts available; Rear wheel stud and tire failures; Warning lights, lighting and camera glitches.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Ram 3500 have?

NHTSA recorded 62 consumer complaints for the 2021 Ram 3500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Ram 3500 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 17 complaints (27% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 11.

Has the 2021 Ram 3500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Ram 3500 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,000 miles and the middle half falls between 24,000 and 92,000 miles; 45% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.