NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A faulty steering column control module may prevent the driver's side air bag from deploying during a crash.
This page covers 11 recalls and 60 owner complaints for the 2021 Ram 3500.
Electrical system complaints lead the 2021 Ram 3500 owner reports, with owners describing a range of issues including warning lights, charging problems, and intermittent power losses. Engine complaints are the next most common, and several owners report fuel system failures, specifically, a high-pressure fuel pump failure that spreads metal contamination through the fuel system, leaving the truck unable to restart. Powertrain reports describe wheel-end issues, including at least one account of a rear wheel detaching while towing, attributed to wheel bolts coming loose. A separate pattern involves rear brake performance, where owners report reduced rear axle braking during heavy hauling, a condition some say dealers have reproduced but not formally documented. Tire separation on low-mileage trucks also appears across a small number of reports, though that concern points more toward the tire brand than the vehicle itself.
60
Total Complaints
4
Fire-Related
By System
The 2021 RAM 3500 has 11 recalls, the most serious being a fire risk affecting diesel-equipped trucks, where the intake air heater relay can short circuit and start an engine compartment fire even with the ignition off and the vehicle parked.
Prior repair attempts on some trucks did not fully resolve this issue, and subsequent recalls address the same underlying fire risk, including a separate concern where transmission fluid can leak from the dipstick tube and ignite on hot engine components. Turning to occupant safety, two recalls cover side curtain airbags that may not inflate properly in a crash due to inflators that fail to deploy as intended, and a steering column control module defect can prevent the driver's side airbag from deploying in a crash. On the wheels, incorrect torque information in the owner's manual can lead to over-tightened lug nuts that break the wheel stud, potentially causing wheel separation and a crash. The electronic stability control warning light may fail to illuminate when the system has a fault, leaving the driver unaware of a problem. There is also a tailgate that can swing open while driving due to misaligned strikers, potentially spilling cargo onto the road.
At a glance
What can fail
A faulty steering column control module may prevent the driver's side air bag from deploying during a crash.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering column control module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An electrical short can develop in the heater grid relay whether the ignition is on or off, potentially causing an electrical hazard.
What the fix does
The heater grid relay will be replaced at no cost to you at an authorized dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tailgate striker may be misaligned with the box latch, preventing the tailgate from latching properly and allowing it to open while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment and adjust it as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Pressure and heat can build up inside the transmission, causing transmission fluid to leak from the dipstick tube.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The ABS control module software may fail to turn on the electronic stability control malfunction warning light when ESC malfunctions occur.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the ABS control module software at no cost to restore the warning light function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side airbag curtain inflators may not work correctly, causing the side curtain airbags to fail to inflate properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the side curtain airbag assemblies as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Side air bag curtain assemblies may contain incorrect gas pressure, causing improper deployment in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the side air bag curtain assemblies at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The intake air heater relay can short circuit even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition off, potentially causing a fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the intake air heater relay as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An electrical short in the intake heater relay can cause a vehicle fire whether the ignition is on or off.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the relay and replace it if needed. Insulating material will be applied if a related recall is open.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The owner's manual contains incorrect torque specifications for wheel lug nuts. Following these specs can cause over-tightening, which may break wheel studs and lead to wheel separation.
What the fix does
Dealers will correct the torque specifications in the owner's manual and service documents, and inspect and replace wheel studs as needed at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An electrical short in the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay can occur, potentially causing a vehicle fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the Relay and replace it if needed. Insulating material will be applied if a related recall is open.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
