Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2021 Ram 3500 — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2022 to Dec 2024
The most reported issue is engine problems (6 complaints). 4 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (9)
NHTSA Campaign: 21V798000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 3500, 2500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. An electrical short in the relay may cause a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. This recall has been superseded by 23V060.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V925000
Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
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.
Risk: An air bag that deploys improperly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V398000
Component: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.
Risk: Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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 letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y26 owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's numbers for this recall are Y26 and Y36.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V163000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay, which could result in a vehicle fire.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 structures, or near other vehicles until the vehicle has the final repair completed. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y08. This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-798.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V140000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 2500 and 2021-2022 Dodge Durango vehicles, and 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs. The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V835000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FCA US, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 2500 and 2020-2022 Ram 3500 vehicles. A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
Risk: Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V904000
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 23V060000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:RELAYS/SOLENOIDS
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off.
Risk: An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 owners on or about 4/5/2023. Phase 2 will include 2022 model year vehicles and Phase 3 will include 2021 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers and owners on or about 4/27/2023 for Phase 2 and 5/11/2023 for Phase 3. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 28, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 13A. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798.
NHTSA Campaign: 25V765000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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."
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 59)
Engine →3 issues
Your vehicle caught fire in the engine bay while driving, with no warning lights appearing beforehand. The fire department extinguished the fire, and no one was injured, but the vehicle was totaled and towed away. Your vehicle had a pending recall notification related to the electrical system, and the fire occurred the day after transmission service was completed at approximately 99,000 miles.
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Your 2021 RAM 3500's Cummins 6.7L diesel engine has experienced failure of the hydraulic lifters and camshaft, causing a loud ticking noise and engine malfunction that makes the vehicle undriveable. This issue has been confirmed by your RAM dealership and appears to affect multiple 2019-2025 model year trucks with the same engine. The repair will likely require replacement of the hydraulic lifters and camshaft components, along with related engine work to restore proper operation.
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Your engine's hydraulic roller lifters have failed. Hydraulic lifters are small components that help your engine valves open and close smoothly. When they fail, you may notice rough idling, decreased performance, or unusual noise from the engine. Fixing this will likely require replacing the failed lifters and possibly related gaskets and seals.
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Tires →3 issues
Two of your tires have separated (the internal layers came apart) within a couple of months, even though your truck has fewer than 24,000 miles and the tires are only 5 years old. The tire manufacturer rejected your second claim, saying the tires failed because the truck isn't driven enough, though your brother had the same problem with identical tires and truck model with similar mileage and received a full replacement. Resolving this will likely require contacting the tire manufacturer directly with documentation of both failures, or pursuing a warranty claim through your vehicle's dealer.
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While driving on the interstate while towing a heavy fifth-wheel trailer, your truck's front passenger tire developed vibration and appeared to be out of round (warped). The tire had only 16,600 miles on it and proper pressure (80 psi), which you'd checked 4 days earlier. You likely have internal damage to the tire's radial structure that caused it to fail. You'll need to replace the tire and inspect the wheel for any damage from the failed tire.
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Your Ram 3500 came with Nexen LT235/80R17 factory tires, and you experienced two blowouts on the right front tire within a short period—the second replacement also failed after about 2,000 miles. During towing, you noticed severe steering wheel vibration and side mirror bouncing that subsided only when you slowed down; the failed tire was hot to the touch and couldn't be balanced. Replacing the tire resolved the vibration issue completely.
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Service Brakes →2 issues
Your truck's rear brakes aren't applying full pressure like they should, especially when hauling heavy loads, forcing you to brake more carefully and use alternative braking methods to stop safely. The dealer has reproduced the problem but won't document or fully investigate it, and the manufacturer hasn't responded to your written complaint. You've noticed uneven wear between your front and rear brake pads, indicating the rear brakes aren't doing their share of the work.
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See attached document for complaint.
Unknown Or Other →2 issues
Your left turn signal doesn't automatically cancel after you complete the turn about 60% of the time. This leaves the blinker on longer than intended, which can confuse other drivers and create dangerous situations where they might pull out in front of you. The fix will likely involve inspecting or replacing the turn signal stalk mechanism or related electrical components.
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Your driver's side A-pillar handle (the grab handle on the doorframe near your head) is coming loose or detaching because the plastic clips that hold it in place are breaking. This could make it uncomfortable or unsafe to use when entering or exiting the vehicle. The fix will likely involve replacing the handle assembly or repairing/replacing the plastic clips that secure it.
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Wheels →1 issue
Your rear wheel detached while driving at 55 MPH with a trailer attached. A mechanic found that the rear wheel studs had sheared off into the wheel hub, causing the wheel bolts to come loose. This is a serious safety issue that could cause loss of control while driving. The repair will require replacing the rear wheel studs and possibly the wheel hub.
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Power Train,service Brakes,engine →1 issue
Your vehicle suddenly shut down and lost all power while driving through a busy intersection, with a warning light indicating an electronic throttle control problem. This left you stranded in traffic at highway speeds with vehicles approaching from multiple directions, creating a serious safety risk. The dealership acknowledged the issue but couldn't schedule service for two weeks, and doesn't seem to view this as a critical safety concern despite the vehicle losing power while in motion. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and repairing the electronic throttle control system and related engine sensors.
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Service Brakes,forward Collision Avoidance →1 issue
When you start your truck, multiple warning lights appear on the dashboard including the check engine light, ABS, 4WD, traction control, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Your ABS system has stopped working, which causes your brake pedal to pulse and lose pressure when you brake. The dealer found that both the ABS module and the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) need to be replaced to restore normal braking function.
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Seats →1 issue
Your driver's seat power motor malfunctioned and moved the seat all the way forward on its own, then wouldn't move backward when you pressed the control button. This pinned your legs against the dashboard and prevented you from reaching the gas and brake pedals. The seat motor or its electrical control system will likely need to be repaired or replaced to restore normal operation.
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Seat Belts →1 issue
Your rear driver's side and rear center seat belts won't latch properly — when you try to insert them into the buckle, they don't click or connect and just slide back out. This happens every time and is a serious safety concern since passengers are required by law to wear seat belts. The belts show no damage and haven't been heavily used, suggesting the buckle latches themselves may be faulty.
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Suspension,exterior Lighting,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your truck's front ball joints failed prematurely at just 20,000 miles, requiring replacement. Additionally, your third brake light is leaking water into the cabin at 26,000 miles, and the dealer won't cover it under warranty despite an active recall existing for the same part on similar trucks. Fixing these issues will likely involve replacing the worn ball joints and resealing or replacing the leaking brake light assembly.
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Electrical System,unknown Or Other,engine →1 issue
Your truck's instrument cluster is displaying multiple false readings: your MPG gauge shows 0, your miles-to-empty reads "low" despite a 3/4 full tank, your odometer has stopped working entirely, and both your check engine light and low fuel warning light came on while driving. This happens because your truck's odometer is programmed to stop functioning at 1,000,000 kilometers (621,369 miles), even though U.S. vehicles use miles. The fix requires installing a new gauge cluster, which will reset your odometer to 0 and require a replacement sticker to be placed in your door jamb to document the true mileage.
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Back Over Prevention →1 issue
Your rearview camera stopped displaying an image while you were backing up, which means your back over prevention system wasn't working properly. No warning lights came on to alert you to the problem. This issue may be related to a known safety campaign for 2021 Ram 3500 trucks.
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Power Train →1 issue
Your truck's engine revs up when you press the accelerator, but the vehicle won't move forward or backward, and the check engine light comes on. The dealer determined your transmission needs to be replaced, but the part was on backorder. This problem happened more than once, leaving your truck unable to drive.
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Engine And Engine Cooling,back Over Prevention →1 issue
You received recall notices for your 2021 Ram 3500 regarding back-over prevention and engine cooling issues, but the required parts weren't available at your dealer. You're concerned that the manufacturer has taken longer than reasonable to provide the parts needed to complete these recalls. No actual failure or safety incident has occurred with your vehicle.
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