2021 Ram 3500 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2021 Ram 3500 has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,745,945 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 89 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…

WHEELS 21V398000 2021-05-27 447,985 affected
Defect

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.

Consequence

Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were…

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
16
1fires
POWER TRAIN
11
1fires
ENGINE
10
2fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
9
1fires
WHEELS
6
SERVICE BRAKES
5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4
BACK OVER PREVENTION
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
STRUCTURE
3
Total complaints89

What owners report

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

“The contact owns a 2021 ram 3500 . The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 25v720000 (engine and engine cooling) and 25v552000 (back over prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · reported 2026-06-01

“The contact owns a 2021 ram 3500 . The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 25v720000 (engine and engine cooling) and 25v552000 (back over prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…”

BACK OVER PREVENTION · reported 2026-06-01

“The contact owns a 2021 ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the entire fuel system needed to be replaced due to the high-pressure fuel pump exploding after metal…”

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL · reported 2026-04-08

“The contact owns a 2021 ram 3500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v552000 (back over prevention) and 25v720000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the…”

BACK OVER PREVENTION · reported 2026-03-25

“The contact owns a 2021 ram 3500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v552000 (back over prevention) and 25v720000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · reported 2026-03-25

“The contact owns a 2021 ram 3500. While the contact's husband was driving at 55 mph, the driver's rear wheel detached. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while a pickup box trailer was hitched to the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was determined…”

WHEELS · reported 2026-03-13

“While driving my truck I noticed my mpg gauge was showing 0 mpg. Then I realized my "miles to go" gauge was reading "low" even though I had plenty of fuel in the tank and my fuel gauge was showing 3/4 full. Even though I use my truck as a commercial vehicle, and drive coast to coast, I was luckily…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2025-11-14

“While driving my truck I noticed my mpg gauge was showing 0 mpg. Then I realized my "miles to go" gauge was reading "low" even though I had plenty of fuel in the tank and my fuel gauge was showing 3/4 full. Even though I use my truck as a commercial vehicle, and drive coast to coast, I was luckily…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2025-11-14

Defect investigations

Investigation EA23001 Opened 2023-03-17 · open

High pressure fuel pump failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel…

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 3500 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.