Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the tailgate unlatched unintendedly. The contact was able to close the tailgate; however, the tailgate had since failed to unlatch and was no longer able to be opened. After inspecting the vehicle and researching the cause of the failure, the contact concluded that the tailgate was out of alignment. The dealer was made aware of the failure but had not inspected, diagnosed, or repaired the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V904000 (Structure). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle had already received the one-time free repair under recall. The failure mileage was 68,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the front hood latch suddenly failed causing the front hood to erroneously open and make contact with the front windshield. During the incident, the glass windshield shattered causing shards of glass to enter the cabin of the vehicle. Both the front driver and front passenger sustained small lacerations from the shards of glass making contact. No medical treatment was required. The front windshield frame and the roof of the vehicle were also damaged. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,200.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the car wash, he noticed that the headliner had turned blue. The contact stated that the inside of the rear end of the vehicle was corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that water was leaking through the rear taillight on top of the cab into the headliner and rear end of the vehicle. The dealer installed silicon in the gap between the rear subframe and the rear taillight; however, the failure had been recurring. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately was 3,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that there was water leaking into the cabin of the vehicle near the windshield on the upper left and right corners. The third brake light on the rear windshield had moisture inside the housing, causing the leak into the cabin of the vehicle. The contact noticed the floorboard was wet. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 29,300.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while entering the vehicle, he noticed water leaking into the interior of the rear lamp coming from the top of the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle could be repaired using silicone to fix the failure. The contact was concerned that the repair would not fix the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
I purchased the new vehicle in May 2021. As a single individual, normally I am alone in the vehicle. While on a trip to Florida my niece was sitting in the rear-passenger seat with the window partially open and sustained a very slight cut on her forearm from the window. After inspection, there is a visible deformation of the glass. Back in Chicago I waiting until my first oil change was due and reported the glass defect to the dealer service department. The service manager decided that the glass was not defective but possibly damaged by transport from the factory. They refused to address the issue. I contacted Ram customer service and was told to keep visiting other dealers until I find one willing to address the issue. Auto door window glass is Tempered and if damaged during transport, would have shattered. …
Rear window is leaking into truck came home from vacation and it rained while vehicle parked outside found both my key fob could not be detected and UCONNECT would not respond to commands thru phone. Vehicle totally inoperable could not start. Had towed to Shivley Motors where it currently sits. Found out that water leak could ruin the rf module and electrical componets behind rear seat to include not limited to airbag, carpet, interior. Car totally inoperable no lights signals all it does is alarm goes off. Went to dealer to lift rear seats and found my black carpet to be white with mold which is health hazard being i have allergies to certain mold so now my car is a health risk to myself and my child whom has a heart condition. Have contacted RAM CARES and got them involved but waiting as the dealer has not specified a date they will look at the vehicle. …
In January I experienced a "backlite leak" that allowed water to enter the cab of my vehicle. As a direct result of this water intrusion, my RFH (Radio Frequency Hub) module failed due to electrical shorting caused by moisture exposure. This failure was sudden and completely outside of my control and was not the result of misuse, neglect, or normal wear and tear. Not to mention the risk it put my family in as I was driving with my wife and daughter when the module failed and caused total power failure. I was driving down the road with my family in the vehicle when without any warning the truck completely shut down and didn't have any power. I brought it to the dealership I bought it from and they stated they fixed the leak and replaced the RFH. Fast forward to this past week, there was another leak in the rear window. …
After intense rainstorms, we tried to start our Ram 1500. All key fobs won't work but there was battery life in all of them. We could not get into our truck or start it with the key fobs. Only way inside the truck was with the emergency physical key inside key fob, but then the truck alarm kept going off with no way to turn it off. Our safety was put at risk since we couldn't operate our truck. After talking to service department through our dealership, they suggested towing the truck to them for diagnostic testing since we couldn't even start or place car into neutral. After diagnostic testing, the dealership confirmed our RF module located behind the rear seats was damaged by water damage and showed water was still in the module. The dealership confirmed this was their 6th case like this. Problem is they suspect the rear glass leaks to cause damage to the RF module. …
While driving on interstate at approx 70 mph...I heard and felt what seemed like an explosion. At first I thought a tire blew out, but within seconds I could hear wind noise coming from my sunroof (the fabric shade was closed). I could then hear what sounded like pieces of glass blowing around on top of the fabric. Once I found a safe place to stop, I was shocked to see that the glass pane of my sunroof was shattered. There was no vehicle within 100 yds in front of me and I didn't pass under any bridges, etc. The glass simply exploded. I am thankful that the shade was closed otherwise I would have been showered with glass. The noise was so startling that at first I thought someone had fired a shotgun...it was that loud...loud enough to be a deadly distraction at highway speeds. …
Related recalls
Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022.
Body complaints in other 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2021 Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the body & structure of the 2021 Ram 1500, 5% of the model year's 683 complaints. The component named most often is body (29 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Ram 1500 body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 22V-904 (hinge and attachments, Dec 8, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2021 Ram 1500 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 8,000 miles, and 67% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.