2021 Ram 3500: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 86 complaints
86
Total Complaints
30,000mi
Median Mileage
Electrical System
Top Issue
0
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
24,500
25th Percentile
30,000
Median Mileage
78,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Electrical System
16
Power Train
11
Engine
10
Unknown Or Other
9
Wheels
6
Service Brakes
5
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Structure
3
Body
2
Back Over Prevention
2
Severity Assessment
0
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"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 ..."
"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 ..."
"The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V398000 (Wheels) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated th..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
TX: 12
CA: 9
WA: 6
MT: 6
FL: 5
SD: 5
AZ: 5
OR: 4
TN: 3
UT: 3
Who Files Complaints?
1.2%
Original Owners
98.8%
Second+ Owners
Ram 3500 — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (9)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Relays/Solenoids
Campaign 21V798000 | 14/10/2021
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside of buildings or structures, and not near other vehicles, until the vehicle has been remedied. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open,
Curtain
Campaign 21V925000 | 24/11/2021
An air bag that deploys improperly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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.
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Campaign 21V398000 | 27/05/2021
Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification
Electrical System
Campaign 21V163000 | 11/03/2021
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Customers are advised to not park these vehicles inside of buildings or
Control Unit/Module
Campaign 22V140000 | 10/03/2022
An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z20.
Automatic Transmission
Campaign 22V835000 | 10/11/2022
Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is ZA3.
Hinge And Attachments
Campaign 22V904000 | 08/12/2022
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.
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.
Relays/Solenoids
Campaign 23V060000 | 09/02/2023
An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers on or about 3/23/2023 and begin notifying own
Frontal
Campaign 25V765000 | 06/11/2025
A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
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
Maintain Your Electrical System
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Clean battery terminals annually with baking soda and water
- Replace the battery every 3-5 years before it leaves you stranded
- Don't leave accessories running with the engine off
- Check for corroded ground connections if you have intermittent electrical issues
- Replace dim headlights promptly — they're a safety issue and a wiring symptom
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28