2021 Ram 1500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
58% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Ram 1500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 78% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 39 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 55%).
Does the 2021 Ram 1500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 373 of 640 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 1500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%), and the largest group is filed under engine (276). For comparison, the 2020 scores 41% and the 2022 scores 53%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Ram 1500
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Ram 1500 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 373 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Ram 1500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Ram 1500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
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.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
13 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Ram 1500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Ram 1500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 373 of 640 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 1500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Ram 1500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Ram 1500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 in total: 23V265000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 22V767000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ram 1500 years are better?
Among the Ram 1500 years we track, the 2013 (20%), the 2019 (34%) and the 2018 (40%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (58%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2021 Ram 1500?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 Ram 1500 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.