NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Ram 1500. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
While driving the vehice on 9/23/25, it randomly turned off while driving down my street. Took a while to get it started again, then once it was started, it would not turn off. I brought the vehicle to a local shop. There were NO warning lights.The next day they let me know that the issue was from a faulty sliding backlite, there were cracks on the frame by the back windows that caused water to leak down around the window into a control module that was filled with water that caused the vehicle to randomly turn off while driving down the street then later caused it to not be able to turn off. If this issue caused the vehicle to turn off while on a highway or a curvy road it would have almost definitely ended with a severe accident. I got in touch with stellantis and they know about the issue but aren't willing to help in any way.
The alternator has went bad on my 5.7 V8 E-torque motor and the alternator is on back order from Dodge and no dealers are able to tell the owners when the part will be available. My truck has been down for a week with no end sight. I have reached out to Dodge on several occasions and then placed on hold only to have my phone calls redirected to an State of Indiana Dodge dealer.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that an Over-the-Air update was been performed on the vehicle overnight and the following day the battery was drained and needed to be replaced. The contact drove another vehicle to an independent mechanic and purchased a new battery. After replacing the battery, an error code for a firmware failure was displayed on the instrument panel. As a result of the message, the radio module became defective, and the back over prevention system failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
My vehicle is currently at the service department of a dealership by my, Covert CDJR Bee Cave, due to two codes that recently set: P0EA7 and P026E. Mopar/Stellantis issues a TSB for this issue. Number 07-003-22. This is a known and documented issued but if your vehicle is outside the original 36 month, 36k mile warranty they will not cover it. This issue is not from wear and tear it is a defect and flaw in the original design. I have requested good will coverage and up to this point have been denied.
Failed fuel pump Needs a new fuel pump at 34000 miles. Vehicle currently at the dealership service department I saw there were previous recalls on these vehicles and their fuel pumps I should not have to replace a fuel pump at this mileage, ever
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V265000 (Power Train); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had previously been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.
1. The Motor Generator Unit (MGU) failed on my 2021 Ram 1500. The component is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. 2. The MGU failure caused a loud whining noise that worsened over two weeks, raising concern that the part could seize or fail while driving. A sudden failure could result in loss of vehicle power or drivability, creating a dangerous situation for me and others on the road. 3. Yes. A certified Ram dealership inspected my vehicle and officially diagnosed the MGU as defective. 4. Yes, the dealership confirmed the failure. To my knowledge, it has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. 5. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. The only symptom was a whining noise that started faintly and gradually increased over the course of approximately two weeks before the dealer diagnosis.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS and ECS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall related to the ABS. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
My etorque motor starting making a really loud noise. So I took it in to have it looked. Technician said the etorque motor was going. Ordered a new one but said it was on back order. My truck then died and the part still does not have a ship date.
I am receiving a check electronic brake system alert. I can no longer use cruise control, traction control or four wheel drive.
Driving when a drunk driver ran a red light hitting me
The contact owned a 2021 RAM 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, another vehicle collided with his vehicle on the front passenger side of the vehicle after running a red light. The driver's side air bags did deploy but failed to inflate. The contact stated that he sustained injuries to his right rib, left ankle, purple bruises from whiplash to his left leg, and a hand. He also suffered a concussion to the head which required medical Attention. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The vehicle was totaled by Allstate to Co Parts. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000..
Failed Motor Generator @ 74,000 miles while is covered under the Federal emissions warranty. Vehicle has been off road for 30 days with no ETA on replacement parts
the rear defrost overheated causing the rear windshield to shatter
I was told by the dealer that the exhaust bolts for the Y pipe to the extension pipe are broken causing my exhaust to be louder than normal. My truck is 4 years old and I expect that the exhaust hardware would last longer than 4 years but apparently not. This condition may allow exhaust fumes to leak into the cab area of the vehicle potentially leading to someone getting sick or worse causing an accident from potentially loosing consciousness while driving. I went to a forum where they discussed this issue of the broken bolts on the Dodge Ram Trucks.
2021 Ram 1500 Longhorn Anniversary addition vin: [XXX] Navigation/console Display flashes “115V Cargo outlet on”, the front windows don’t work, main display off/dark, heater turns on, A/C doesn’t work, seatbelt alarm doesn’t work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle began to vibrate. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the front axle half-shaft was worn and needed to be replaced. The contact also took the vehicle to a tire shop and was informed that new tires were needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was referred by the manufacturer to report the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.
2021 Ram 5.7 etorque MGU bad and vehicle sitting as part appears to be on nationwide back order. vehicle sitting while still making payments and paying insurance. seems to be major issue and no recall yet.
I have a 2021 ram 1500 and the belt started to make a lot of noise. I got it to the dealership and they had it a whole month and a half. They said it was the alternator but no it was something called a MGU (motor generator unit). Can't find it no where in the country. Im stuck with a 50k truck that I can drive. Warranty can't fix it and now I can't sleep.
Driving to work and my truck lost all electrical power. All display lights turned on and hazard light signal started blinking but the hazard lights were not actually on. I then lost all electrical power; power steering, hazard lights would not turn on, all dash lights and display lights, head lights at first and then the battery died a couple minutes after that started. I could not put the truck into neutral so I could push it to the shoulder of the highway. I had to put it in Neutral manually with the pull tab under the steering wheel. My Ram 1500 5.7L hemi etorque was towed to Andy Mohr Chrysler Jeep Ram. The service shop told me that the motor generator unit is on back order and it could take a month or 2 months for the part to come in.
The NoLimitz module cause my vehicle to shut off while in motion 1 time, and lose critical controls to safely operate the vehicle while in motion twice (power steering, gauge cluster, power brakes). Even though the engine still ran, once shut off it would not start again or go into neutral. I conclude the issue was the device as the power light on it was off (it should remain on when the ignition is in run or ACC as stated on the instructions from the manufactory). Once I un-plugged and re-plugged the module back in, everything returned to normal other than DTCs.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a critical issue with my 2021 Ram 1500 equipped with the eTorque mild hybrid system. The vehicle has become inoperable due to the failure of the etorque alternator in this system. Unfortunately, Mopar—the official parts supplier—has not made this part available, and it has been on indefinite backorder for months. This is a known issue and has broken just outside of warranty. I'm in desperate need of this part and the backorder and supply time is unknown with no ETA.
Went to start the vehicle with the key fob and the vehicle would not start. Had it towed to ram dealership and was told that the RF hub module needed to be replaced due to being damaged from water at leaked in from the rear window. Upon researching online forums, this seems to be an ongoing problem for this making model because of where the module is located. If there is not already in the works, there should be because this will continue to happen, especially where it rains a lot.
When the turn signal bar is in the neutral position, the right turn signal stays on. When the turn signal bar is in the left position, the right turn signal turns off, but the left turn signal stays off. This makes it impossible to signal left, and often causes the right turn signal to come on, which can be misleading to other drivers.
When making a turn from a stop, the truck will kill the engine then engage the parking brake. I thought this may have been tied to Ram Safety Recall 37A, which I had fixed at the dealership, but the truck continues to have this issue even after the recall was fixed. This is not my video, but it shows what happens [XXX] Also, complaints about this issue can be found in this thread from a Ram forum [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
After having the Fuel Pump replaced, it was revealed that there are wires above the fuel tank that have melted and are causing a fuel leak into different elements of the under carriage of the truck. The manufacturer is not willing to honor the recall and replace these parts (even though they are connected to the fuel system) so by their own logic this must be considered a separate issue. It is concerning that there is electrical melting occurring and causing a fuel leak right next to the effected area
Vehicle was a 2021 Ram 1500 (60k miles) with no known problems or issues. Drove home during during rainstorm truck operated normally. Next morning truck started normally with an error message "Power Steering Unavailable". Truck then began to run through a series of "error messages" and windshield wipers turned on and truck would not shutdown, unless you disconnected the battery. Towed to dealership and after several weeks of diagnostics with the manufacturer's assistance (due to the number of errors) it was determined the failure was the Power Steering Module. Once the Power Steering Module was removed, all other modules came back online and functioned normally. Even though the dealership has seen multiple failures of this type, it was not on the recall for this truck. Had this failure happened with my family in the vehicle while driving, it could have had devastating effects...
Mgu is out. Apparently there are 4000 on back order bc this part keeps failing on these etorque vehicles
The contact owns a 2021 RAM 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a faulty alternator. The contact was informed that the alternator needed to be replaced; however, the part was indefinitely on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while idling, the contact observed a clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the alternator was faulty. The contact was informed that the alternator needed to be replaced; however, the part was indefinitely on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Vehicle Info: 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn VIN: [XXX] Date of Incident: [XXX] Location: Exit ramp of [XXX] and [XXX] Problem Description: On [XXX], I was involved in a front-end collision with a tree while driving approximately 50 mph in my 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn. The impact caused significant damage to the front of the vehicle, and around the vehicle, yet none of the airbags deployed. I experienced back and neck pain as a result of the crash. I believe this may indicate a failure or defect in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), crash sensors, or airbag control module. Injuries: Back pain and neck pain Thank you for your attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The MPU system was going out caused engine noises, the engine didn't sound like it wanted to change gears i drove very rough to the repair shop, it looks to be like a well known issue on Dodges with Etourqe they are 3 to 6 months behind in parts manufacturing
Driving on highway lost all power sudden shut down of motor pulled off highway immediately ,autoshifted into park skidding in gravel unable to restart had towed to dealer,,they put in new under hood battery at my expense (was charging system failure) part needed was backordered. Got truck back home running lower than normal voltage local dealer claiming nothing wrong with it ,,diag from other dealership says otherwise,,,this isnt just a mechanical issue, its a safety issue as i drive alot.
Bearing bad in mcu e tourqe system no parts and replacements avaliable dealer said been orderd for 6 months and have not received one
Mine was flickering the 115v cargo outlet and the radio was Turning on and off… blind monitoring system, Cap applying the brakes, automatically thinking something was in front or behind me
I took my truck into the dealership for the second time because my tpms module was not functioning correctly. I would get an error about a mile into my travels saying it was unavailable. My second appointment the technician found the rear windshield is leaking water down through the back driver side and dripping water onto the module. Ram issued a previous recall for cars manufactured on or before Sept 30 2020. My truck was manufactured Nov 4 2020. The problem is the same but my truck some how was manufactured after the supposed fix date. It’s clear if you read on ram forums that tons of people are having the same issue. Rams fix is just sealing it but I have to pay out of pocket due to their failure of admitting the recall should go past Sept 30 2020 manufacture date.
The alternator with the etorque option. Truck is available upon request. Stellantis knows of the issues with the motor and doesn’t have a fix. The part to fix is on back order with no eta till available. I have been researching and some are without a vehicle up to a year. Dealers are aware of the situation. No warnings are shown prior to a total power loss failure. While driving home from work lights all over the dash lighted up and my truck was reading 9 volts. Luckily I was close to home and coasted into the driveway. My truck is now dead in the water sitting in driveway till when a part becomes available. I ended up leasing a car due to having no other option to get to and from work.
2021 Ram 1500 Laramie. 2 Occasions of unexpected engine Revving. 1) Pulled up to a stop, waiting for cross traffic, when fully stopped, the Engine began to rev up by ~500 RPM, up then back down, about 3 times in a row. Each time the truck tried to creep forwards, forcing me to step on the brake harder to prevent movement. Each engine surge lasted 1-2 seconds. 2) At low speeds (<20mph), car had similar RPM surges, but just caused some jerking. Both occasions occurred within 2-3 minutes of a cold start (~70 Deg F Env. temp). Certainly a safety concern, needs to be addressed.
THE VEHICLE STARTS BUT WILL NOT ACCELERATE, and the necessary replacement part is still unavailable. I was informed that the manufacturer does not have the part in stock and that it needs to be manufactured, with an estimated arrival date of July 29th.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to pull out of the driveway at 5 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into park and the parking brake independently activated, with the message "Auto-correct Shifter" displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact shifted back into drive; however, moments later while driving on a neighborhood street at 25 MPH, the failure reoccurred. The contact shifted back into drive; however, the failure recurred twice more. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that further diagnostic tests were needed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,561.
Component: Motor Generator Unit (MGU) — part of the eTorque system on 2021 Ram 1500. What happened: I own a 2021 Ram 1500 with eTorque. In the year I’ve owned the truck, it has broken down twice due to major electrical issues. Most recently, it has been in the dealership’s shop for over 3 weeks due to a faulty MGU (Motor Generator Unit). There is no estimated time for repair because the part is backordered nationwide. Safety risk: The MGU failure caused the vehicle to become completely inoperable, leaving me without reliable transportation. I am concerned this issue could lead to a loss of power or stalling while driving if it had occurred under different conditions. Reproduction/inspection: The issue has been confirmed by the dealership (Preston Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in New Castle, PA). They are unable to proceed with the repair due to lack of part availability. The truck is currently sitting on the lot. Warning lamps/symptoms: Prior to failure, warning lights appeared and the truck experienced erratic behavior. The vehicle would not start after being turned off for a short period of time, and the RF hub had previously failed as well.
When driving home in the rain going 65+/- MPH my truck just shut off and turned back on, but was not able to accelerate. Had to pull off on the side of the road and the car started back up. This happened at least 5 more times on my 30 minute ride back home. When I finally got it home the truck would not cut off. I had to disconnect the batter which still did NOT stall the truck. Luckily I found a forum that advised to pull a specific fuse to cut the truck off. My biggest concern was that no warning lights or error codes came up on the dash it just went blank and came back on. The vehicle is currently at Roger Williams Ram Dealership in Weatherford TX. They have had the truck over a week and are still trying to figure out what the problem is. They have replaced a fuse box to my knowledge but this didnt fix the issue. I have video of the incident (driving with no power).
The uconnect radio system freezes. It will do this and then reset. Sometimes it resets multiple times before working. It will freeze when using the backup camera. The entire screen will be frozen until it resets itself it takes approximately 60 seconds for it to reset.
My Ram has the ETorque Generator that failed. It has caused the vehicle to suddenly stop and lose power. It first lost all electrical components in the interior. Then driving function shut off which includes the power steering. I was then driving down the street and it suddenly stopped and grinded into the park position of the transmission. The engine bay was very hot and I was surprised a fire didn't start. I hooked up jumper cables to another vehicle to get it off the road way as you couldn't shift it into neutral when the battery was dead. Pretty much all of the warning lights came on as I was still moving and they are still on. I took it into the ram dealer locally and they said there is 4379 that are in the same boat. There is no outlook to get replacement parts. I then took the Etorque generator out and tried having it rebuilt as there was no answer from Ram when it could be fixed. The place I took it to specializes in rebuilding alternators and they were able to fix the bearing problem in the generator but were unable to fix the function of recharging the batteries in the vehicle. So I have to put my truck on a charger every night so its charged up enough to make it to and from work. The vehicle has been inspected by a member of the Fergus Falls Fire Department and he is concerned with constant charging of the battery and electrical issues.
Our check engine light came on and we took it to get the code read. We had the code read by 3 independent sources and nothing came back on the code. There is currently a recall for this EXACT same issue with Dodge Ram 1500s from the exact same year but for some reason our truck VIN is not coming up as being on the recall. Now, we cannot pass smog in our state because the check engine light is on and the dealership does not have us on the recall for this exact issue.
On May 16 2025 I started my truck and all the lights started flashing on my cluster( I took pictures) I drove down the street in my vehicle and it put itself into park. I drove back to my shop and called the dealership to make an appointment along with enterprise Rent-A-Car. I had the rental vehicle from May 16 through May 22. After the ABS module recall was performed on May 21, 2025, my 2021 Ram Rebel began experiencing electrical and mechanical failures affecting multiple vehicle systems. While driving at approximately 7 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly shifted itself into Park. Just like the separate occasion, the parking brake engaged while the vehicle was in motion. These events pose a major safety hazard. Since the recall, the following issues have occurred: •SERVICE BRAKES: Parking brake engaging while driving; ABS-related instability. •POWER TRAIN: Vehicle attempting to shift into Park and 4WD High without input. •ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Dash lights flicker; HVAC system changes temperature settings on its own (e.g., jumping to 72°F); ongoing parasitic battery draw. •ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL: Loss of system coordination and erratic vehicle behavior. •FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM: Sudden drop in fuel range readings (e.g., from 180 miles to 23 miles instantly). •VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: Unexpected shifting and control changes during low-speed driving. •UNKNOWN OR OTHER: General system instability, rough driving behavior, and degraded performance. I was by the dealership when it went into park so I pulled in. The dealership has acknowledged the update was performed but refuses to inspect the truck until July 8, despite the escalating safety concerns. I believe the ABS module or its software update is causing communication failures across the vehicle’s CAN network, affecting critical systems. This vehicle is not safe to drive in its current condition. I was told because I did not purchase the vehicle at Wilder that I was not eligible for a loaner vehicle.
Engine light came on. Was driving ~25MPH on city street, in x-section of 2 major streets and heard loud mechanical noise, warning indicators audible and visual, and vehicle bucked and stalled within 100ft of when it started. After restarting vehicle was able to move about 20 more feet before losing power again. Brough to dealer, diagnosed with MGU (Motor Generator Unit) failure and battery that was defective due to incorrect charging. MGU part is nationally back ordered, with approximately 4000 replacement units on order with manufacturer, and 5 years of history of problems reported on owner chat boards and websites, both with brand new vehicles and vehicles that are just a few years old.
There is an exhaust leak at the manifold which lets exhaust gas int the engine compartment and it smells in the passenger compartment. I feel there is a health risk of carbon monoxide poisoning . It seems as though should be a repair made by the manufacturer.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon driving from a complete stop, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and independently shifted to park(P). After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V265000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact was later informed that the VIN was included in the recall and the vehicle was already repaired under the recall. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Recall Statement – Fuel Overflow and Injury Incident Involving 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 I am reporting a recurring and hazardous issue with the fuel system on my 2021 Dodge Ram 1500. March 30, 2025: While refueling at a local gas station, the tank overflowed by approximately 3 gallons once it reached full capacity. I initially believed the problem was due to a faulty pump and notified a station attendant to clean the spill. May 2, 2025: At a different gas station, while refueling the same vehicle, a small amount of fuel again overflowed unexpectedly. This raised concerns, as it occurred under different fueling conditions. May 25, 2025: While refueling at the same station used on May 2nd, approximately 5 gallons of gasoline overflowed from the tank. As I attempted to remove the nozzle, I slipped on the spilled fuel and fell onto the concrete, injuring my right leg. At this point, it became clear that the issue was not isolated to specific gas station pumps, but rather a defect in the vehicle’s fuel system. This ongoing issue poses a significant safety risk. Beyond the environmental hazard, I could have sustained a serious head injury or worse during the fall. I am convinced there is a malfunction in the fuel system of my vehicle, and I strongly believe this warrants immediate investigation and a potential recall. This matter is unacceptable and must be addressed to prevent further harm to myself or others.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026