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2021 Ram 3500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
43% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Ram 3500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 4 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).
Does the 2021 Ram 3500 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 25 of 58 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (43%), and the largest group is filed under power train (11). For comparison, the 2020 scores 51% and the 2022 scores 74%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Ram 3500 years
Of the 10 Ram 3500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (43%). The worst is the 2022 (74%), the best the 2018 (5%). By volume, the 2021 drew 62 complaints (25 drivetrain), against 116 for the 2020 and 190 for the 2022.
Ram 3500 years to avoid and best years →
2013 3500 problems · 2014 3500 problems · 2015 3500 problems · 2016 3500 problems · 2017 3500 problems · 2018 3500 problems · 2019 3500 problems · 2020 3500 problems · 2021 · 2022 3500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Ram 3500
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 25 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Ram 3500 transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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…
8 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Ram 3500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Ram 3500
Does the 2021 Ram 3500 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 25 of 58 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (43%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ram 3500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Ram 3500 is electrical system: 17 of 62 complaints (27%) name it, followed by power train (11) and engine (10). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 43% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Ram 3500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 43% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Ram 3500 years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Ram 3500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total: 22V835000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ram 3500 years are better?
Among the Ram 3500 years we track, the 2018 (5%), the 2017 (17%) and the 2016 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (43%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ram-3500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.