2021 Ram 1500 engine problems
280 of the 679 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 1500 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 172 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 280 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 6 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 68 · 2022: 65 · 2023: 51 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 48 · 2026: 25
Half of the 36 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 4,000 and 38,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
679 complaints in all about the 2021 Ram 1500, 25 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 1500 engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Was making a left had turn from a stop sign and my truck just shut off. I was going roughly 5 mph or less when this happened. I was able to coast for a second until the emergency brakes came on for some reason while the truck was still in drive.
Driving on city streets at low speed, the engine has stalled 3 times from April to July 2021. All 3 times occurred within 5-10 minutes of starting the vehicle. Approaching an intersection, then slowly making a turn (once turning left, twice turning right) and attempting to accelerate.
I started the truck and drove about a 1/4 mile in my neighborhood. I never got over 20 mph. I approached a red stop light to turn right. I stopped at the light to check for traffic. I then proceeded to turn right and 1/2 way through the turn the truck shut off without warning and it automatically applied the emergency brake.
Pulled out into Traffic SEVERE lack of acceleration almost cause Me to get hit in the Driver side door. Got online and noticed a lot of People complaining about a Pedal Lag. This Is DANGEROUS and needs to be addressed. This is a 2021 Ram with 283 miles on it again this is a DANGEROUS issue
Making a right hand turn into school parking lot at 7:11 am this morning the engine died, steering went stiff and emergence parking break set. Almost caused a very serious accident with injury's to multiple minors. Was moving 11 MPH with my foot on the brake into the right turn, when I let off the brake the engine died.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications172 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 9100898 Service bulletinSep 8, 2026
- Engine PNs: MY 24-26 WD/DT (5.7L) Code P00B is being misdiagnosed and incorrect parts are being installed causing over repair. Refer to SOL S2609000006 The IAFM Foam Engine Valley Cover (PN 53013735AB) does not provide sufficient clearance for proper routing of the MDS solenoid jumper harness (PN 05148163AE). As a result, the harness may become compressed by the foam cover. To prevent unnecessary
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P208B P20E8 P0128 P0403 P0507 P0513 P2504 P0013
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Ram 1500 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Ram 1500
Source: the same files- electrical problems 197 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 99 complaints
- fuel system problems 95 complaints
- brake problems 74 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2021 Ram 1500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 280 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (41% of everything owners filed about it), and 172 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2021 Ram 1500?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 15 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 27,803 miles; half of them between 4,000 and 38,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.