Buzz Squeak Or Rattle Noise From Left Side Driver Door Area.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 RAM 1500 airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2021 RAM 1500 have filed 23 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 1500 | 49 |
| 2018 1500 | 15 |
| 2019 1500 | 72 |
| 2020 1500 | 14 |
| 2021 1500 (this page) | 23 |
| 2024 1500 | 3 |
| 2025 1500 | 4 |
13crashes
11injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Tailgate Ajar Indicator Light Is On And Or High Effort Required To Close And Latch The Tailgate
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Customer Satisfaction Notification Z09 Driver Side Seat Incorrect Fasteners
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Customer Satisfaction Notification Z09 Driver Side Seat Incorrect Fasteners
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Water Leak At Headliner Near Driver Microphone
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2021 RAM 1500 trucks describe two major airbag issues. First, in at least nine crash incidents, airbags failed to deploy despite significant frontal or side-impact collisions occurring at speeds between 30 and 50 mph. These include multi-vehicle pileups, collisions with poles and trees, offset frontal impacts, and side-impact T-bones. In one case, the airbag deployed but did not inflate. Body shop inspection found no system faults on one vehicle before the accident. One occupant suffered a brain injury; multiple others sustained head, rib, ankle, knee, and spinal injuries due to lack of airbag protection.
Second, owners report intermittent or persistent airbag warning lights signaling system failure. Dealership diagnostics confirm the need for airbag replacement, but parts remain unavailable due to shortages and managed allocation. One owner waited approximately one year without resolution. Another took the truck back to the same dealer multiple times; each repair failed to prevent the warning light from returning. When the owner brought it back a third time, the dealer did not diagnose or repair it.
Manufacturer response has been inconsistent: some owners say they received no follow-up after filing complaints; others were told parts were unavailable with no timeline for remedy. One seat belt did not consistently stay fastened.
Same RAM 1500 airbags reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Airbags fail to deploy in collision
In multiple reported crashes involving significant frontal or side-impact collisions at speeds ranging from 30–50 mph, owners report airbags did not deploy when they should have. Crash scenarios include frontal impacts (trees, vehicles), multi-vehicle collisions, and side impacts. Body shop inspection in one case showed no system faults prior to the accident. In one case, driver-side airbags deployed but failed to inflate.
When: At collision/impact across various mileages (1,500 to 85,000 miles); timing suggests no age-related pattern
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during frontal collision; No airbag deployment during side-impact collision; Airbag deployed but did not inflate; No occupant protection despite significant vehicle damage
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were either towed, impounded by police, declared total loss by insurance, or repaired (extent unspecified). One body shop found no system faults during inspection.
Airbag warning light with system failure diagnosis
Owners report intermittent or persistent airbag/SRS warning lights indicating system failure. Dealer diagnosis confirms airbag system needs service or replacement, but parts remain unavailable or warranty/service process stalls. One owner reports the warning light came on around January 2025 and remained on for approximately one year without remedy. Another owner reports repeated repairs at the same dealership that fail to resolve the issue—the warning light reappears after each repair.
When: Mileage range 35 mph driving condition (narrative #5) to 51,000 miles; no direct mileage cited for narrative #3
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag or SRS warning light illuminates on dashboard; Warning message indicates airbag system needs service; Persistent warning light despite dealer repair attempts; Repeated failure of replaced airbag components
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers diagnosed need for airbag replacement but parts unavailable (shortage, managed allocation part noted). One owner's vehicle underwent multiple repairs at same dealership with no lasting fix; final service visit resulted in no diagnosis or repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer told owner parts shortage and managed allocation part is the cause; no timeline or remedy offered. One owner claims manufacturer stopped responding after vehicle was repaired post-accident.
Seat belt tensioner failure or inadequate seat belt retention
One owner reports no apparent seat belt tensioning during a high-impact collision. Another reports driver-side seat belt does not consistently stay clicked.
When: During collision/ongoing; no specific mileage cited
Symptoms owners cite: No seat belt tensioning observed during impact; Seat belt fails to remain fastened; Occupants struck interior surfaces due to lack of restraint
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I own a 2021 Ram 1500 (“Build to Serve” edition). The airbag/SRS warning light came on around January 2025. The message states that the airbag system needs service. This indicates that the airbags may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, putting my safety and the safety of my passengers at risk. I took the vehicle to the Ram dealership and they confirmed an airbag system failure. They…
Had airbags trouble with your 2021 RAM 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2021 RAM 1500?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 23 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 39,440 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/RAM/1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.