Of the 20 electrical complaints filed for the 2021 RAM 2500,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
1 (100%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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
Electrical accounts for 20% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 near other vehicles until the vehicle has the final repair completed. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y08. This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-798.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
Service BulletinS1623000028 Rev. KJun 2026
Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
Radio Message "Power Surge On USB Detected" Customers may comment on the following: ● The radio displays the message: “Power surge on USB hub detected” Fig. 1. NOTE: After the message appears, no USB devices function in the hub (no charging, no data). NOTE: Hub operation does not return until the vehicle undergoes a full key cycle.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2021 Ram 2500 has a critical electrical fire hazard tied to heater relay failure (NHTSA campaigns 21V798000 and 23V060000). Owners report actual underhood fires starting at low mileage—one at 10,200 miles, another at 62,000 miles while vehicle sat unoccupied and plugged in charging. Fires spread fast enough to damage homes and require fire department response. Some vehicles burned despite recall notification; one owner's dealer never performed the repair despite the vehicle being brought in.
The recall repair itself is bottlenecked. Stellantis allocated parts at a trickle—dealers report getting one every two weeks or weekly allocations insufficient to clear backlogs. Owners waited months for recall completion after notification; one was denied recall service five times at the same dealership, another received recall notifications monthly with no parts available. One owner notes a dealer had relay parts in stock but Stellantis wouldn't allow dealership completion, citing manufacturer parts shortage—a contradiction owners find suspect.
Beyond fire risk, owners cite a broader electrical system fragility: ABS and traction control fail intermittently, blinkers and wipers stop working, cruise control cuts out, and one truck lost all engine power while on the highway twice—no diagnosis found. A backup camera won't activate in reverse. One owner reports a 6.7L diesel heater bolt that loosens and falls into the intake, destroying the engine block; aftermarket heater elements are available but factory remedy isn't mentioned. Dashboard weather notifications pop up constantly with no way to disable them.
Same RAM 2500 electrical reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Heater Relay Electrical Short / Fire Risk
Electrical short in heater relay (NHTSA Campaign 23V060000) creates fire hazard with ignition on or off. Multiple owners report actual underhood fires with flames and smoke, some while vehicle unoccupied or plugged in charging. Parts shortages have delayed recall remediation for over a year in many cases.
When: Low mileage (10,200–62,000 miles); one owner at 0 active recalls at time of fire; fires occurred months or years after recall notification
Symptoms owners cite: Flames coming from under hood; Smoke from engine bay and wheel well; Vehicle fire while plugged in charging; Vehicle fire during normal driving; Burned wires and melted plastic visible; No warning lights before fire in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair requires replacement heater relay part. Owners cite parts unavailable for months despite dealers receiving weekly/bi-weekly allocations. One owner notes dealer has parts in inventory but manufacturer blocks completion claiming parts unavailable. Replacement cost not stated by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ram/Stellantis issued recall 23V060000 and 21V798000 advising owners to park vehicles outside away from buildings. Dealers cite parts distribution disconnect. Manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timeframe per multiple complaints. Phase 3 remedy scheduled to begin 5/11/2023 had not started as of complaint filing.
Multiple Electrical/Electronic System Failures
Cluster of intermittent electrical and electronic control failures affecting brake systems, traction control, lighting, and climate control. May be related to broader electrical architecture issue beyond heater relay alone.
When: Intermittent failures; no specific mileage cited
Symptoms owners cite: ABS not working intermittently; Traction control not working intermittently; Blinkers not working; Windshield wipers not working; Cruise control not working; Gear electronic paddle (+/-) not working; Service electronic stability control light on intermittently; Service trailer brake system light on intermittently
Codes mentioned:Electronic stability control service light, Trailer brake system service light
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports conflicting information from multiple dealers on what is covered under warranty/recall. No repair completed or cost cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Uncertain; owner states conflicting guidance from dealers on warranty/recall coverage
Complete Engine Shutdown While Driving
Engine loses all power while vehicle is in motion, causing loss of power steering, power brakes, and starter function. Dealer unable to diagnose cause on repeat occurrences.
When: Highway speeds; at stop lights
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power while driving; Loss of power steering while driving; Loss of power brakes while driving; Vehicle will not start until brought to complete stop; Dashboard display shows 'Press brake and push button to start'; Vehicle stalls at stop light with no reason
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to identify cause after two service visits on same vehicle. No repairs completed.
Grid Heater Bolt Failure
Weak bolt on grid heater (diesel 6.7L engines) loosens over time and falls into engine intake, causing catastrophic engine damage. Owners report aftermarket fix available (intake horn heater element).
When: Long-term; develops as bolt weakens over time
Symptoms owners cite: Weak bolt on grid heater falls into intake; Catastrophic engine block damage from foreign object ingestion
Repairs/costs cited: Owners removing grid heater and installing aftermarket heater element in intake horn to prevent failure. Factory repair/retrofit not mentioned.
Dashboard Weather Notification Pop-ups
Connected infotainment system continuously displays weather notifications that cannot be disabled, creating driving distraction.
When: While operating vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Persistent weather notification pop-ups on 12-inch dash screen; No method to disable or turn off notifications; Distracting while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owner attempted to disable via Sirius connected feature cancellation without success.
Backup Camera Inoperative
Backup camera fails to display image when vehicle is in reverse.
When: Reverse gear engagement
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera does not activate in reverse gear
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
3 most recent
electrical
· filed 12/02/2021
Driving highway speed and truck shut off completely. Took to dealer, no issues found. 800 miles later driving highway speed truck shut off again. Took to dealer, no issues found so far. Complete loss of power, power steering, power brakes, etc. Display read, "Press brake and push button to start" while coasting in neutral both times.
electrical
· filed 11/22/2021
My vehicle has a 12" screen in the dash. While Operating the Vehicle, weather notifications keep popping up. I've looked for ways to disable this "feature", even gone as far as cancelling the Sirius connected feature(by calling Sirius).These Pop-ups still persist and are distracting me from paying attention to the road. There is not way to turn these off.
electrical · 10,200 mi
· filed 11/19/2021
The contact owned a 2021 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V798000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle with a fob key from inside his residence, he did not hear the engine start. The contact looked outside when he noticed there were flames coming from underneath the hood. The fire department extinguished the…
Had electrical trouble with your 2021 RAM 2500?
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 electrical problem on the 2021 RAM 2500?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 20 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 40,067 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover electrical issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2500.
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.