2021 Ram 2500 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2021 Ram 2500 has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,297,960 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STEERING 25V765000 2025-11-06 532 affected
Defect

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…

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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23V060000 2023-02-09 302,067 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

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…

STRUCTURE 22V904000 2022-12-08 1,224,078 affected
Defect

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.

POWER TRAIN 22V835000 2022-11-10 250,079 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

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.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 22V140000 2022-03-10 370,437 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

AIR BAGS 21V925000 2021-11-24 376 affected
Defect

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21V798000 2021-10-14 131,177 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy

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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21V163000 2021-03-11 19,214 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy

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…

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
35
5fires
ENGINE
25
5fires
POWER TRAIN
23
1crashes
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
8
2fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
8
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
6
1crashes
STEERING
5
1fires
AIR BAGS
4
3crashes2injuries
SEAT BELTS
4
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints154

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2026-04-28

“Vehicle caught fire while engine was running, vehicle idling. Vehicle is a total loss. Prior nhtsa complaints regarding these vehicles causing fire from electrical components under the hood. Unknown if fire was due to electrical or leaking fuel issues under the hood. Major safety risk to…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2026-03-20

“Vehicle caught fire while engine was running, vehicle idling. Vehicle is a total loss. Prior nhtsa complaints regarding these vehicles causing fire from electrical components under the hood. Unknown if fire was due to electrical or leaking fuel issues under the hood. Major safety risk to…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-03-20

“Vehicle caught fire while engine was running, vehicle idling. Vehicle is a total loss. Prior nhtsa complaints regarding these vehicles causing fire from electrical components under the hood. Unknown if fire was due to electrical or leaking fuel issues under the hood. Major safety risk to…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2026-03-20

“Ram is refusing to repair and item on my truck egr cooler is cracked, leaking and burning coolant. They have recalled every year model but mine. All have same issue, all have same part and part number. Dealership suggested I contact ntsb to see if I could get it recalled. It is said to cause ifres…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-03-02

“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…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2026-02-13

“Front right wheel detached while driving on the highway - going about 45mph due to snow on roadway. We are glad no one was injured. All the lugs had come off the wheel. Now need wheel and rim replacement, and new hub assembly and lugs. It will be repaired at the dealer where we bought the vehicle…”

WHEELS · reported 2026-01-26

“The lifters failed at 64,000 miles they where replaced under warranty. But now the lifters are making noise again with 71,000 miles since replaced. It’s a bad design that could be fixed permanently with the right parts! No warning lights just failure.”

ENGINE · reported 2026-01-02
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2021 Ram 2500 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.