2021 Ram 1500 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

270Engine complaints

41.2%Of all 655 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE270 · 41.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM184 · 28.1%

Unspecified / other98 · 15%

POWER TRAIN92 · 14%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM66 · 10.1%

Share of the 655 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2021 Ram 1500 overview page.

What owners report

“On two occasions vehicle has stalled after making a stop and then turning onto another roadway. First incident occurred at approximately 60 miles on odometer…”NHTSA complaint 11437627 — filed 10/21/2021

“Twice in one week the Truck has stalled in the middle of the road at very low speed. Maybe it a issue with the etorque…”NHTSA complaint 11437621 — filed 10/21/2021

“I left my house 10/18/21 to go to work, drove the truck approximately 2 miles going into two separate curves and then stopping at a…”NHTSA complaint 11437259 — filed 10/18/2021

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Ram 1500 have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2021 Ram 1500: 270 of 655 complaints on file (41.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2021 Ram 1500 have in total?

655 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 26 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 23 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.