AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE
2021 RAM 2500
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
NHTSA has issued a “park outside” advisory affecting this model year.
Campaign 23V060000. Confirm whether your specific vehicle is covered using its VIN before acting on this.
Check your VIN on NHTSA.govOverview
Our database contains 108 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 RAM 2500, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and powertrain (other) categories. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 556 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | 1 | 1 |
| Aug 2021 | 2 | 3 |
| Oct 2021 | 3 | 6 |
| Nov 2021 | 4 | 10 |
| Dec 2021 | 1 | 11 |
| Mar 2022 | 1 | 12 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 13 |
| May 2022 | 1 | 14 |
| Jun 2022 | 2 | 16 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 17 |
| Nov 2022 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec 2022 | 2 | 20 |
| Jan 2023 | 3 | 23 |
| Feb 2023 | 4 | 27 |
| Mar 2023 | 6 | 33 |
| Apr 2023 | 4 | 37 |
| May 2023 | 3 | 40 |
| Jun 2023 | 11 | 51 |
| Jul 2023 | 1 | 52 |
| Aug 2023 | 2 | 54 |
| Sep 2023 | 4 | 58 |
| Oct 2023 | 1 | 59 |
| Nov 2023 | 2 | 61 |
| Dec 2023 | 3 | 64 |
| Feb 2024 | 2 | 66 |
| Mar 2024 | 1 | 67 |
| Apr 2024 | 1 | 68 |
| May 2024 | 2 | 70 |
| Jun 2024 | 5 | 75 |
| Jul 2024 | 1 | 76 |
| Nov 2024 | 1 | 77 |
| Dec 2024 | 2 | 79 |
| Jan 2025 | 1 | 80 |
| Feb 2025 | 3 | 83 |
| Apr 2025 | 1 | 84 |
| May 2025 | 1 | 85 |
| Jun 2025 | 4 | 89 |
| Jul 2025 | 1 | 90 |
| Sep 2025 | 2 | 92 |
| Oct 2025 | 1 | 93 |
| Dec 2025 | 1 | 94 |
| Jan 2026 | 3 | 97 |
| Mar 2026 | 2 | 99 |
| Apr 2026 | 2 | 101 |
| Jun 2026 | 1 | 102 |
| Jul 2026 | 3 | 105 |
| Sep 2026 | 3 | 108 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical3522.9%
- Engine2818.3%
- Powertrain (other)2516.3%
- Body & structure127.8%
- Fuel system117.2%
- Brakes106.5%
- Driver assistance74.6%
- Steering53.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
8 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ABS/Forward Collision/Traction Control/4WD/Cruise Control warning lights on. Braking is inconsistent. Sometimes hard to brake, sometimes brake pedal is real spongy and will go almost to floor.
- NHTSA ID
- 11766669
- Incident
- Sep 11, 2026
I am writing to formally follow up regarding complaint/case number 97989810 through Dodge and to request that this matter be elevated for a complete technical review concerning my 2021 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins, VIN [XXX]. Time - Line PRIOR FACTORY-WARRANTY REPAIR The XXX factory-warranty repair is an important part of this vehicle's mechanical history. That repair involved the timing-cover/timing-gear-case area and front crankshaft seal. As part of that repair, the harmonic balancer/vibration damper was removed and reinstalled. Approximately 26,000 miles later, the vehicle experienced a failure involving the vibration damper and its associated mounting bolts. +++ Vehicle receipt will be attached XXX took vehicle Naples Dodge after large thump and vehicle would not move Per dealership - Finding - Advise it was an after market tune that caused harmonic balancer got loose and sheered the bolts Ongoing the dealership provided video and several reports that it was an after market tune no coralation between the 2024 service and findings today Findings: Cummins Service Technician XXX technician report In XXX Cummins filed a safety recall with the NHTSA (Campaign ID 24V-192) concerning certain engines equipped with vibration dampers are the critical details of the recall:The Issue: The front vibration damper capscrews (mounting bolts) were not torqued to specification during assembly. If left unaddressed, the capscrews could fracture or loosen, potentially causing the vibration damper to separate from the engine. This creates a high risk of personal injury, mechanical failure, or property damage.(Note: If you are looking for Dodge Ram trucks, Cummins also issued a Technical Service Bulletin—TSB210097—addressing fluid degradation and capscrew fractures on viscous vibration dampers for B6.7 engines, though it was handled as a service bulletin rather than a sweeping automotive safety recall). Direct coralation of what occure INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11763494
- Incident
- Aug 13, 2026
There is a known issue with the Ram Power Wagon locking differential system where the electronic locking differential wiring harness will fault one of three ways. The first being that the wiring harness is two short so when the rear axle articulates there isn't enough slack therefore causing the plug in the diff housing to fail. The second is that sensor inside the housing faults due to gear oil build up on the sensor. Finally the third if the locker wiring inside the housing wears out causes the locker to fault. Any of these three issues causes a "Service Axle Locker System" and prevents the front and rear lockers to be used indefinitely. This can cause the truck to become stuck during off pavement driving.
- NHTSA ID
- 11762597
- Incident
- Oct 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V720000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the repair might take 2 or 3 days to be completed. The dealer was only able to pay for a rental vehicle for two days. The contact stated that 5 days later, the dealer was still waiting on parts from the manufacturer to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact had not experienced a failure.
- NHTSA ID
- 11753967
- Incident
- Aug 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ram Promaster 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention) and associated the failure with the recall. The local dealer was contacted; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11753071
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2024
- Mileage
- 34,000 mi
This problem first occurred on a state highway in [XXX] in 2023 and again in 2026 (this incident.) While driving south on XXX, there was an undulation/slight bump in the interstate while in a mild right hand curve. My vehicles brakes engaged without my input and slowed me down from 70mph to 35mph with traffic behind me. My gas accelerator and brake pedal were unresponsive from user input. At no point was my vehicle out of control to trigger such aggressive braking from my ESC, ERM, or ABS. The concern here is that thankfully this was on dry roads and traffic was far enough behind me to avoid a collision. My concern is this happening in winter weather/icy/wet roads, or with significant traffic behind me causing a possible high speed rear-end vehicle accident. There was a safety recall for ESC/ABS a few years ago on my vehicle that I dealt with through the dealer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11751811
- Incident
- Jul 19, 2026
There was a tailgate recall for the tailgate falling down potentially spilling cargo onto the road. The dealership Autonation Dodge in [XXX] tried fixing the recall multiple times but the tailgate kept falling down after they tried to fix it 2 or 3 times. Now they're trying to make me sign a service fee authorization which I don't agree with because either the recall isn't fixed, or there are other issues that can cause the tailgate to fall down which should be included in this recall because they can potentially cause the same dangerous situation which caused the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11744491
- Incident
- Feb 13, 2026
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. The vehicle is used to tow an enclosed cargo trailer weighing approximately 7,000 pounds.The safety risk: inability to engage reverse on demand creates a hazard in any situation requiring reverse motion, including backing away from a stopped vehicle, reversing out of a fuel station, backing a loaded trailer at a campground or boat ramp, or executing an evasive reverse maneuver. With a trailer attached, loss of reverse function can leave the truck and trailer stranded in active traffic lanes or at intersections.The defect was first reported to a dealer in August 2023 with diagnostic trouble code P2701 stored (Friction Element B implausible pressure, internal transmission fault). The code was logged but not addressed at that visit. Over the following 32 months the same defect was reported to the same dealer four additional times. On the fourth visit the dealer replaced the complete transmission and torque converter under warranty and certified the repair complete after a documented 77 mile dealer test drive. The same defect returned approximately 4 customer miles after the truck was returned to me. The truck is currently at the dealer for the fifth repair attempt, with the dealer's own write-up confirming that the vehicle will not move while in reverse at operating temperature.The defect has been confirmed by the dealer service department through their own diagnostic process, has been documented across five repair orders, and has resulted in a complete factory transmission and torque converter replacement that failed to resolve the issue.Warning indicators: a P2701 diagnostic trouble code was s
- NHTSA ID
- 11734218
- Incident
- Apr 28, 2026
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:BODY
Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
ENGINE
RADIATOR - ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
RADIATOR - ENGINE COOLING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE
SENSOR - TURBOCHARGER SPEED
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE
SENSOR - TURBOCHARGER SPEED
CORE – HEATER
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2025 | 62 | 6 | 0 | 57.0 |
| 2024 | 59 | 5 | 0 | 64.2 |
| 2023 | 48 | 8 | 0 | 58.6 |
| 2022 | 181 | 12 | 0 | 57.8 |
| 2021Viewing | 108 | 8 | 0 | 60.8 |
| 2020 | 163 | 10 | 2 | 61.2 |
| 2019 | 193 | 12 | 2 | 65.9 |
| 2018 | 2,590 | 10 | 4 | 68.2 |
| 2017 | 693 | 12 | 4 | 66.7 |
| 2016 | 258 | 14 | 3 | 64.3 |
| 2015 | 214 | 15 | 4 | 60.9 |
| 2014 | 341 | 16 | 4 | 59.2 |
| 2013 | 178 | 16 | 3 | 61.4 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 3 | — |
| 2009 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.