The 2021 Ram 1500 is a standard pickup trucks 2wd vehicle covered by 15 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 683 owner complaints and 15 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 27 report a crash and 4 report a fire; 17 complaints report injuries totalling 23 injured people, and 0 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Engine, named in 276 complaints (40.4% of the total). The sections below reproduce the underlying records in full: crash-test ratings, every recall campaign with its NHTSA campaign number, complaint counts by component, and EPA fuel-economy figures for each configuration.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
NHTSA tested the 2021 Ram 1500 Quad PU/EC 2WD under its 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not publish a score for that test for this variant.
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash — overall | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash — driver | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash — passenger | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side pole crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover resistance | ★★★★☆ |
NHTSA also rated other 2021 Ram 1500 variants: 2021 Ram 1500 Crew PU/CC 2WD — 5★ overall; 2021 Ram 1500 Quad PU/EC 4WD — 4★ overall; 2021 Ram 1500 Crew PU/CC 4WD — 5★ overall. The table above shows the most completely rated variant.
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard equipment on the tested variant, and NHTSA records no safety recall investigation rating adjustments for it.
Recall Campaigns (15)
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaign(s) that include the 2021 Ram 1500. Each campaign below shows the official NHTSA campaign number, the affected component, and the manufacturer's own summary, consequence and remedy statements as published by NHTSA. To check whether a specific vehicle is covered, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
Campaign 21V438000 — Back Over Prevention:display Function 10/06/2021
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a trailer reverse steering module (TRSCM). The rearview camera image may not display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TRSCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA, US, LLC's number for this recall is Y30. This recall was superseded by recall number 21V-918.
Campaign 21V918000 — Back Over Prevention:display Function 23/11/2021
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. The Trailer Reverse Steering Control Module (TRSCM) 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."
Consequence: 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 TRSCM software. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on January 19, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y80. This recall was superseded by 23V-059.
Campaign 21V698000 — Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire 09/09/2021
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 1500 vehicles. The incorrect-size spare tire may have been installed, which does not match the tire size and inflation pressure information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection And Rims."
Consequence: A driver that relies on the incorrect spare tire inflation pressure on the tire placard label may inflate the spare tire incorrectly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the spare tire assembly, free of charge. The owner notification letter was mailed on September 9, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y62.
Campaign 21V925000 — Air Bags:side/window:curtain 24/11/2021
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.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys improperly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V037000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 01/02/2021
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Ram 1500 Classic SLT trucks. Certain vehicles were built without the retaining clip that secures the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal, which can cause the brake pedal to separate from the brake system.
Consequence: A separated brake pedal can result in the driver being unable to apply the service brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until they receive instructions on the inspection and repair, as necessary. FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install the push rod clip, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US number for this recall is Y04.
Campaign 22V638000 — Back Over Prevention:display Function 25/08/2022
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jeep Wrangler, RAM 1500 and 2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. A radio software error 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."
Consequence: 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 6, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA, LLC's number for this recall is Z86.
Campaign 22V767000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 13/10/2022
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP and inspect and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z96.
Campaign 22V904000 — Structure:body:tailgate:hinge and Attachments 08/12/2022
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.
Consequence: An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V059000 — Back Over Prevention:display Function 09/02/2023
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 1500 and 2023 Ram 2500 vehicles. The trailer reverse steering control module (TRSCM) may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility of the rear view, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TRSCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 14A. This recall supersedes and expands previous recall numbers 21V-438 and 21V-918. FCA US Recall ID 63A is a vehicle population expansion of FCA US Recall ID 14A (NHTSA Recall ID 23V-059).
Campaign 23V265000 — Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm) 13/04/2023
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 5.7L eTorque engines. The powertrain control module software may cause an incorrect fuel mixture condition in the engine, and result in an engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 37A.
Campaign 24V653000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module 05/09/2024
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019, 2021-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. Due to a software malfunction, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module may disable the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed October 10, 2024. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning September 26, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 85B.
Campaign 24V754000 — Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices 10/10/2024
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 1500 Classic vehicles equipped with heated trailer tow rearview mirrors. The mirror glass may detach from the driver's side heated trailer tow rearview mirror. As such these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the mirror glass, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 5, 2024. Owners may contact FCA Customer Service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 86B.
Campaign 25V298000 — Air Bags 08/05/2025
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the 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."
Consequence: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers secured the connectors for the air bag, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 08C.
Campaign 25V765000 — Air Bags:frontal 06/11/2025
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."
Consequence: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
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.
Campaign 26V495000 — Seat Belts:rear/other:anchorage 30/07/2026
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 vehicles. The second-row center and left-side seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Consequence: An improperly installed seat belt buckle anchor may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and attach the seat belt buckle anchor to the body structure as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 18, 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 67D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 6, 2026.
Owner Complaints (683)
Owners have filed 683 complaints about the 2021 Ram 1500 with NHTSA. Complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — higher-selling vehicles naturally attract more complaints — but the breakdown by component shows where owners report problems most often.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 276 | 40.4% |
| Electrical System | 198 | 29.0% |
| Unknown Or Other | 103 | 15.1% |
| Power Train | 99 | 14.5% |
| Service Brakes | 73 | 10.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 69 | 10.1% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 52 | 7.6% |
| Steering | 50 | 7.3% |
| Structure | 33 | 4.8% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 | 4.4% |
| Air Bags | 27 | 4.0% |
| Fuel System | 27 | 4.0% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Engine, 276 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2025 with 158 filings. Owners filed 683 complaints in total across 7 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 27 and those involving a fire number 4; 17 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2021 Ram 1500 as a standard pickup trucks 2wd vehicle and published ratings for 15 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 12–26 MPG; the median configuration returns 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Diesel, Midgrade Gasoline, Premium Gasoline, Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | Midgrade Gasoline | 17 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | Midgrade Gasoline | 17 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | Diesel | 26 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | Diesel | 24 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 12 |
Showing the 7 most common configuration groups of 15 EPA configurations.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and safety ratings databases and EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset, accessed October 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2021 Ram 1500 have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 683 complaints for the 2021 Ram 1500 when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Engine with 276 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2021 Ram 1500?
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaign(s) covering the 2021 Ram 1500 in the data accessed in October 2026, including campaign 21V438000 for Back Over Prevention:display Function.
What is the 2021 Ram 1500's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2021 Ram 1500 Quad PU/EC 2WD an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with 4 stars for frontal crash, 5 for side crash and 4 for rollover resistance.
What MPG does the 2021 Ram 1500 get?
The EPA rated 15 configurations of the 2021 Ram 1500. Combined fuel economy ranges from 12 to 26 MPG, with a median of 19 MPG (median city 17, median highway 23).