2021 Ram 2500 problems: what to check before you buy
The 2021 Ram 2500 has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns to check, the newest filed in 2025, plus 106 owner complaints, the fewest of the eight Ram 2500 model years in our 2015–2022 collection, with the electrical system (35) and the engine (25) named most often. Before you buy one, run its VIN through NHTSA's free recall lookup; the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF shows title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file.
Buying this 2021 Ram 2500? Enter its VIN.
The decode is free. The original ClearVIN PDF is $14.99 one time, with no account: title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for that VIN. Check open recalls with NHTSA’s free VIN lookup.
Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
No subscription. No charge to check the VIN. Report contents vary by vehicle; applicable tax is shown at checkout.
See what the paid report includes →NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2021 Ram 2500, alongside 106 owner complaints filed with the agency, most often about the electrical system. Eligible recall remedies are generally free through the manufacturer's approved repair process, even after the warranty ends; some software remedies are delivered remotely. Federal no-charge coverage has an age limit for vehicles first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. Check the specific VIN — a previous owner may already have had the work done.
Half of the 16 NHTSA owner complaints on the 2021 Ram 2500 that list mileage came after 33,000 miles (NHTSA complaints file of November 11, 2026). How many miles will a Ram 2500 last? →
One VIN. One $14.99 history report.
For $14.99, VIN Lookup delivers an original ClearVIN vehicle-history PDF for the 2021 Ram 2500 VIN you enter: title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file. ClearVIN is on the U.S. Department of Justice’s list of approved NMVTIS data providers; VIN Lookup sells that original report. The records returned vary by VIN.
The VIN decode is free. No card is needed until you choose to buy; applicable tax is shown at checkout. A missing record is not proof that an event never happened.No account · Refund reviewed if not delivered, unopenable or wrong VIN by our error · Sold by VIN Lookup (SH LLC, Sheridan, WY)Original provider PDF
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What to check before buying a used 2021 Ram 2500
Model-year data describes the production run, not the car in front of you: two cars of this model year can differ entirely, one with every recall repaired and the other with none. The counts below are from NHTSA data collected on 2026-09-15.
- Verify the 8 recall campaigns by VINCopy the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label, not from the listing, and run it through NHTSA's free recall lookup. It shows unrepaired recalls within its coverage and does not show completed repairs, so ask the seller for dated repair paperwork. The campaigns cover the airbags, the electrical system, the body structure, the powertrain and more. 1 of the 8 was filed in 2025 or 2026 and has had the least time to be repaired.
- Test-drive for what Ram 2500 owners report most35 of the 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system: on the drive, try every light, window, lock, screen and power outlet, and watch for warning lights or a slow start. Another 25 name the engine: start it cold, listen for knocking or ticking, watch for warning lights and smoke, and look for oil or coolant leaks. Complaints are unverified owner reports, not proven defects, but they show where to look.
- Check the title and odometer in the history reportRecall and complaint data describe the 2021 production run, not this car's past. The VIN decode here is free; the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF lists title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for that VIN. Records vary by vehicle, and a missing record does not prove nothing happened.
- Book an independent pre-purchase inspectionHave a mechanic you choose inspect this Ram 2500 before you buy, and ask them to look hardest at the electrical system, the engine and the powertrain.
Is the 2021 Ram 2500 a good truck to buy used?
NHTSA's records cannot rate one used 2021 Ram 2500; they can show how this model year compares with the other Ram 2500 years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection. The 2021 has 106 owner complaints on file; of the eight Ram 2500 model years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection (2015–2022), seven drew more. The median of the Ram 2500 years with enough complaints to compare is 203. The 2018 stands out instead, at 2,567. Its 8 recall campaigns compare with 8 to 15 across the Ram 2500 years in the 2015–2022 collection; the 2015 has the most. These counts track how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they rank years within the Ram 2500, not build quality; whether one 2021 Ram 2500 is a good buy depends on its own history and condition.
Which 2015–2022 Ram 2500 years have the most complaints?
Among the eight Ram 2500 model years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection, the 2018 has the most owner complaints, 2,567. The 2021 has 106. Older and better-selling years have had more time and more owners to file reports.
2021 Ram 2500 recalls and reported problems at a glance
What owners report most
These are the vehicle systems named most often in complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 2500. A complaint is an unverified owner report: it does not establish a defect, and a high count can simply reflect a popular model. Use it to decide where an inspection should look hardest.
| Vehicle system | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 35 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Power Train | 24 |
| Structure | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
Recall campaigns for the 2021 Ram 2500
Each campaign below is an official NHTSA record. An eligible remedy is generally free through the manufacturer’s approved process, which may be an authorized service visit or remote software update. Federal no-charge coverage has a 15-year first-sale limit measured at the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. A campaign covers a production range. Check the VIN for open recalls within NHTSA’s coverage; confirm applicability and completed repairs with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
| Campaign | Component | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 25V765000 | 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 Vehicl… |
| 23V060000 | 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. |
| 22V904000 | 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. |
| 22V835000 | 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. |
| 22V140000 | 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 durin… |
| 21V925000 | 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. |
| 21V798000 | 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. |
| 21V163000 | 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. |
What this data cannot tell you
- A complete recall or repair history for one vehicle. NHTSA’s VIN lookup covers unrepaired recalls within its scope; confirm missing campaigns and completed work with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
- Whether a complaint is accurate. NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them.
- How reliable the model is overall: complaint volume tracks how many vehicles were sold as much as how they hold up.
- Anything about title brands, accident history, odometer records, or liens on an individual vehicle.
Primary sources behind this page
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- Recalls Lookup by VINNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle recall remedy age limitNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall and complaint datasets: scope and API documentationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 25V765000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 23V060000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 22V904000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 22V835000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 22V140000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 21V925000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 21V798000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 21V163000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Approved NMVTIS Data Providers — checked October 26, 2026U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
The 2026-09-15 data collection queried these NHTSA model names for 2021 Ram: 2500. Records appearing under more than one name are counted once. The documentation explains the collection endpoints; a campaign link opens its official record across all affected vehicles, not the recall status of a specific VIN.
2021 Ram 2500 questions
What should I check before buying a used 2021 Ram 2500?
Check the 8 NHTSA recall campaigns against the car's VIN with NHTSA's free lookup and ask for dated repair paperwork. Owners name the electrical system and the engine most often in 106 complaints; those are unverified reports, not proven defects, but they show what to test on the drive. Recall data says nothing about this car's past: the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF lists title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for the VIN. Finish with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ram 2500 have?
NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls covering the 2021 Ram 2500 as of 2026-09-15. Whether a specific vehicle is affected — and whether the repair was already done — depends on its VIN.
What are the most common 2021 Ram 2500 problems?
Owners most often report problems with the electrical system, the engine and the powertrain to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports and do not establish a defect, but they show where to focus an inspection.
Are Ram recall repairs free?
Generally, yes for eligible vehicles, even after the warranty ends. Federal law limits the required no-charge remedy when a vehicle was first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; a manufacturer may still cover an older vehicle voluntarily. Check the VIN with the manufacturer for the approved remedy, which may be a dealer visit or a remote software update.
Can I check recalls on a specific 2021 Ram 2500 VIN?
Yes. NHTSA's free VIN lookup reports unrepaired recalls within its coverage. It excludes completed repairs and can omit some recent recalls, older campaigns and vehicles outside its coverage. A zero result is not a complete recall or repair history. Ask the seller or manufacturer for dated repair documentation.