Warranty Bulletin D-23-17 (XL1) Backlite Select 2019 - 2021 RAM 1500 Pickup (DT)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 RAM 1500 visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 RAM 1500 have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 1500 | 6 |
| 2018 1500 | 4 |
| 2019 1500 | 49 |
| 2020 1500 | 43 |
| 2021 1500 (this page) | 13 |
| 2025 1500 | 7 |
When does it fail?
Of the 13 visibility complaints filed for the 2021 RAM 1500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of RAM 1500 in our records for visibility problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility 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.
FCA Caribbean Warranty Bulletin ID-23-21 (XL1) Backlite Select 2019 - 2021 RAM 1500 Pickup (DT)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Back Glass Water Leak Warranty Extension XL1 The customer may experience one or more of the following: ? A cracked backlite frame Fig. 1 resulting in an interior water leak (crack is visible to the customer). ? Water leak from at top of the backlite. This bulletin involves replacing the backlite.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗A/C Diagnostic LOP Change
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Wind Whistle Noise From Dash A Pillar Area While Driving
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Visibility problems on the 2021 Ram 1500 fall into two camps: parts that fail suddenly and electronics that malfunction by design.
Auto-dimming mirrors are the chronic irritant. Both rearview and driver's side mirrors dim excessively on cloudy days, at night, and even from interior lights or parking lot lamps. The driver's side stays dark for 1–2 minutes while the rearview clears instantly, leaving drivers unable to see behind them. One owner visited the dealer seven times in three months; Chrysler engineers told them this is normal. It is not normal to lose rear visibility.
Sun visor support brackets snap without warning, sending the visor tumbling and blocking forward sight while driving—hazardous at highway speed. Third-party repair kits already exist for this, suggesting it's widespread. Dealers refuse warranty repair once out of warranty.
Windshield washer hoses crack at moderate mileage (40–40.5k), especially in cold. One failed while the truck was being driven at 65 mph in rain. A right-side windshield wiper nut came loose and rusty, preventing normal sweep motion.
Rear windows have shattered without impact—one possibly from extreme cold, one from rear defrost overheating. One backup camera displays shadows as featureless black, rendering it useless when backing near obstacles.
A rear backlite defect (TSB 23-098-23) allows water intrusion and mold growth, but FCA extended warranty only to some vehicles, not all with the same issue.
Same RAM 1500 visibility reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Auto-tint mirrors oversensitive to light, dim excessively
Rearview and driver's side auto-dimming mirrors dim too aggressively in low light conditions (cloudy days, night, parking lots, interior dome lights). Driver's side mirror stays dark 1-2 minutes after rearview brightens, creating hazardous visibility loss. Occurs repeatedly on any exposure to ambient light.
When: Within first week of ownership; occurs continuously throughout vehicle use
Symptoms owners cite: Mirrors dim excessively on cloudy days and at night; Interior dome lights trigger dimming; Parking lot lights trigger dimming; House lights trigger dimming; Driver's side mirror stays dark 1-2 minutes while rearview clears instantly; Unable to see behind vehicle when dimmed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated 7 service visits over 3 months; Chrysler engineers told dealer this is normal/designed behavior
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler engineers determined this is normal design; no fix offered
Windshield wiper - driver's side loose/rusty fastener
Right side windshield wiper nut became loose and rusty, preventing proper wiping motion left and right. Owner temporarilyFixed by applying plumber's tape and retightening nut. Appointment scheduled with dealer to address under manufacturer recall 75B.
When: First appeared during rainy weather
Symptoms owners cite: Right side windshield wiper loose; Wiper unable to move left and right normally; Rusty-appearing fastener nut; Reduced windshield visibility during rain
Repairs/costs cited: Owner applied plumber's tape and tightened nut as temporary fix; dealer appointment scheduled
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer recall 75B applies to this vehicle
Windshield washer fluid hose cracking in cold and normal use
Windshield washer fluid hose cracked, causing complete failure of washer spray function. One instance occurred at highway speed in inclement weather at 40k miles; another burst in 5-degree cold weather at 40.5k miles. Both required hose replacement.
When: At 40,000 miles during inclement weather; at 40,500 miles in 5-degree cold
Symptoms owners cite: No windshield washer fluid sprays; Reduced visibility due to dirty windshield; Cracked or burst washer hose visible upon inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer determined washer fluid hose replacement needed (first case); second case not repaired/diagnosed
Driver's sun visor support bracket failure
Plastic support bracket on driver's sun visor broke, causing visor to sag or separate from ceiling mount. Multiple owners report visor nearly or completely fell, blocking forward visibility. Issue appears widespread with third-party aftermarket support kits already available. Occurs without warning or symptoms.
When: At 26k miles (one owner); others not specified; out-of-warranty failures
Symptoms owners cite: Sun visor support plastic breaks when pulling visor down; Sun visor separates from ceiling mount while driving; Visor falls or hangs by electrical wires only; Visor blocked forward visibility on highway
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer refused warranty repair when out of warranty; aftermarket support brackets available from third parties
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ram has not addressed this as a known defect; part reportedly on backorder
Rear backlite water intrusion and mold growth
Rear window (backlite) has manufacturing defect allowing water intrusion into vehicle interior. Water saturation of floor boards and carpet under rear seats has caused mold growth. TSB 23-098-23 documents this known defect, but FCA extended warranty only to select vehicles, excluding others with identical year/make/model.
When: Known defect per TSB 23-098-23
Symptoms owners cite: Water intrusion at rear backlite; Saturated floor boards and carpet under rear seats; Mold growth in vehicle interior; Potential RF hub damage from water
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA Technical Service Bulletin 23-098-23 acknowledges defect; warranty extension applied selectively to some vehicles, not all affected models
Rear window spontaneous shattering
Rear windows shattered without impact or incident. Two instances reported: one possibly due to extreme cold (parked in driveway, unwitnessed); one attributed to rear defrost overheating. Both resulted in total window failure.
When: Exact mileage not specified; one at approximately 62k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud abnormal sound from vehicle; Rear driver's side glass fractured without impact; Rear window shattered from rear defrost overheating
Repairs/costs cited: First case taken to Safelite Auto Glass for repair; second case cause identified as rear defrost overheat
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of first failure but provided no assistance; owner advised to contact NHTSA
Backup camera poor shadow rendering and contrast
Backup camera displays all shadows as solid black areas with no visible detail. Shadows obscure load or other obstacles completely, forcing driver to back up blind in shadowed areas. Creates hazardous backing conditions, especially around children.
When: Continuous during shadowed backing scenarios
Symptoms owners cite: Shadows displayed as solid black with no detail; Load or obstacles in shadow invisible on camera display; Camera display becomes useless when camera itself enters shadow; Backup blind spot created by camera limitations
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while attempting to use the windshield washer function, there was no washer fluid coming out as needed. The contact parked the vehicle in the garage and notice that due to 5-degree weather, the windshield washer fluid line had burst. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure…
Had visibility 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 visibility problem on the 2021 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 47,500 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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.