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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
2,535 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Ram 1500 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2021 Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #24

Feb 072023

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Incident occurred two times. Driving in normal conditions at 30mph or less. The vehicle disabled the gas pedal/power, engaged the emergency brake, and turned on the emergency lights. Car had to be turned off and restarted. Vehicle resumed normal operations after restarting.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #23

Nov 192022

1500

  • miles
Was making a slow 10-15mph right hand turn out of my neighborhood and the truck stalled. Power was still on, park brake came on while in motion. Had to shift back to park to restart. Once restarted, no caution or warning lights on the dash.

- Pascagoula, MS, USA

problem #22

Oct 142022

1500

  • miles
I bought my truck brand new with 500 miles on it Oct. 14th 21. I made it to around 70k when the truck would stutter and hesitate to drive. Took it to dealership and said No codes, nothing wrong after 2 days of "checking it". Brought it back at 76k and truck would hardly drive, but yet said they couldn't figure it out and sent me on my way. Was driving home at 85k and truck stalled going 75mph while on a 2 lane highway. The truck rolled to about 30 mph and completely died and locked up steering wheel and activated the E brake as I was almost safely off the road. After trying time and time again, I finally got the truck to start and off the road. Called dealership and was told they wouldn't tow it as it was out of warranty at this point. So I had no choice but to limp it to them 400 miles away. They let it sit over weekend and went to test drive it and drove as it would normally. Sent me back out with it, only for it to happen again at 99k and stall. Same process as before and had to lug it to them out of my pocket. They Finally agreed to replace fuel pump, but out of my pocket conviently since they sent it back numerous times and now out of any warranty. At 105k, I took it back to dealership with same issue as before and was told there was nothing to do and sent me on my way. At 111k it stalled on highway at night and almost caused a major crash as the E brake set it's self while traveling at 45mph in a construction zone. Limped to dealer yet again, and they replaced the EVAP cannister as part of their guessing game. Now today at 115.5k I have dropped it off again for same issue. Stalled while traveling 75 on Interstate and almost caused me to hit a pole as I only have so much room to get off the road before it shuts down. I have since called MOPAR themselves and have yet to hear more as the Dealership has not helped at all. This has ALL transpired over the course of 1 year with brand new 2021 Ram 1500 V6 Penstar. Please help.

- Henrietta, TX, USA

problem #21

Jun 212022

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving to work and made a right turn (I did not come to a complete stop). As I finished the turn, maybe going 5-7 MPH, I pressed on the gas pedal to accelerate and the truck did not respond. A second later the truck turned off and the parking brake automatically engaged, so I came to a complete stop in the middle of a road with other vehicles around me. I had to put the truck back into park, start the truck, and disengage the parking brake, and then was able to continue my trip to work. There were no Check Engine Lights on before or after it happened. I spoke to the local Ram and multiple other dealerships further away and they said they haven't heard of this happening to any other Rams, and just to watch it and if it continues to happen call them back. A quick google search will show that it happens frequently to other people over the last year or so, some of which are at highway speeds, which is very dangerous. I am fortunate this was at low speed, because your parking brake engaging at highway speeds could obviously be catastrophic.

- Windber, PA, USA

problem #20

May 052022

1500

  • miles
On two separate occasions while backing out of my driveway, my truck automatically jumped from 2WD, to 4WD Low/High both simultaneously and also locked the park brake. In both of these cases, I was able to place the vehicle in park, turn the vehicle off, let it set a minute or two and once restarted, the vehicle was in 2WD again and performed as it should. It was just concerning as to why it would do this. But on May 5th, I left home and was traveling down the road at approximately 20 mph, when the vehicle jumped into 4WD Low/High once again and the park brake engaged automatically. I always wear a seatbelt, but had I not had it fastened yet, I would have immediately been slammed into the steering wheel. It was towed to the dealership as it would never release from 4WD or the park break would not release either. They have had it since May 6th and cannot find anything wrong as it has since went back to "normal" as they said. But this is a major safety concern if it will automatically jump into 4WD at 20 mph......what will keep it from doing this at 70 mph on the interstate? That will cause all sorts of issues and probably fatalities if this happens. I do not feel safe being told that nothing is wrong with the vehicle and that I can pick it back up, and drive it until it happens again and they will see what they can find then. It might be too late at that point.

- Oxford, AL, USA

problem #19

May 082022

1500

  • miles
My truck has stalled multiple times upon the first 5 minutes of driving. It has always been at low speeds of less than 15mph. Once the emergency braking system came on which required me to put vehicle in park to restart while in the middle of the road in traffic. Sometimes the engine dies after turning but sometime when going straight. Seems to always be associated with a slow down / stop via braking. This is a very hazardous situation that needs to be recalled an fix by the manufacturer.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #18

May 042022

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The parking brake started displaying not available on the heads up display. It did this several times within 5 minutes. When I was coming to a stop at around 5 mph the vehicle shifted into Park and set the parking brake and stopped. The engine stopped as well. I had to restart the vehicle to get it going and the check engine light was on after that.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #17

Apr 052022

1500

  • miles
4-5-22 Came to a full stopped at an intersection, and as I started making a right hand turn, engine just shut off then the beeping started. Stalled in the middle of a turn and oncoming traffic. while panicking and traffic coming i had to........... Shifted to park started the truck then shifted to drive and the engine revved but not moving. Dash said The E brake had engaged. Shifted to park again pressed the e brake button the back to drive at which point people were swerving to avoid hitting me. I was almost in a sever accident due to this. I have a scheduled an appointment with a dealer on 4-12-2022. There was no indication of anything wrong with the truck......nothing...... it just shut off. This is a very serious issue that Chrysler needs to acknowledge. Someone is going to seriously be injured by this. I looked online to see if there was a recall for it, there was nothing but I did see plenty of other people that this has happened to so it is not just a one and done people. Chrysler has a serious issue they need to address.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #16

Mar 282022

1500

  • miles
Engine shut off from a quick stop. After I pressed the gas to go again rolled through intersection and stopped. Had to be put in park restarted and take the e-brake off to get to go again

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

problem #15

Mar 182022

1500

  • miles
I was making a turn at a slow speed and the the truck just stopped. Parking brake went on and basically had to restart my truck. From what Im reading online, this is a very common issue. I was in a very busy intersection and definitely put me at high risk.

- Menomonee Falls, WI, USA

problem #14

Mar 022022

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine stalls and applies emergency brake has happened two times first on 2/16/22 other on 3/2/22

- Murray , KY, USA

problem #13

Nov 172021

1500

  • miles
Automatic emergency braking has failed to operate on several occasions, the warning flashes 'brake' but the truck never applies any brakes. If I was not able to slam on brakes myself and dive into another lane safely I would have crashed.

- Meridian, ID, USA

problem #12

Jan 262022

1500 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
Once again this truck is still having the same issues! I was on the local freeway going 60 and all of a sudden the truck brakes and shuts off while in in the express lane! [XXX]! How was our safety at risk" Really? I don't understand how these trucks haven't been recalled yet RAM recalled and bought back 2022 Rams due to defrosting issues. Apparently trucks breaking and stopping out of nowhere isn't a big deal but lets not make folks wipe their windows...So many of these Ram 1500 have the same issues and what"! STELLANTIS DOES NOT CARE! No warning lights came on yet again but just decides to brake and shut off. This isn't the first incident! Again I was fortunate to no get hit! But my nerves, mental/emotional status, and scares are enough injuries! Please see ram forms, social media, etc there are so many others with these issues that haven't reported to NHTSA! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- San Leandro, CA, USA

problem #11

Dec 082021

1500

  • miles
When I pressed the accelerator after the light turned green, the engine bogged, didn't respond and then stalled. The truck automatically shifted to park and engaged the parking brake. I tried to restart the truck multiple times and it would not start. Thankfully a passing tow truck driver stopped to help me get out of the busy road. After a few minutes, the truck started again and I was able to continue driving. Me being stuck in the middle of a busy road was extremely dangerous and a police officer had to direct traffic around my disabled truck.

- Sparks, NV, USA

problem #10

Nov 192021

1500 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
Today 11/19 around 12:50pm Pacific Time I was picking up my kids from school and as I was going about 20mph and my truck braked out of nowhere then shut off. Nothing was with 50ft in front and luckily no one was behind me. This isn't the first time this has happened the first time was on the freeway as I was going 75mph and fortunate no on hit me then. This is a safety issues for owners and other drivers. Unfortunately my truck still has the issue of staying on at times which again is a safety issue and fire hazard. We have video on our security cameras that caught the dashboard blinking and no it's not any security light. My truck has been to the dealer twice already for these issues for about a month. The dealer couldn't figure out what was wrong they don't even know. A little over month ago Ram Customer care case manager (2nd one I've dealt with) called and she asked me if the dealer called me and I told her no one has called me but I have the same issues and some. She said she'd call the dealer for an appointment and after that nothing till last Wednesday 11/10 around 6pm Pacific Time I got a call from another case manager I missed that call as I was outside trying to get the truck to turn off and since then I have been returning her calls and nothing. I guess we'll just have to wait for something serious to happen before these issues become important to [XXX]. This truck is our family vehicle so why aren't these SAFETY ISSUES taken more SERIOUS? No warning lights came on dashboards before braking out of nowhere. Guess we'll just have to see what happens...We LOVE our RAM but [XXX] the issues it has. Can't upload videos on here they should change that. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- San Leandro, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 212021

1500

  • miles
engine stalls coming up to stop sign, no warning light, truck will not start until it comes to a comple stops, no power brakes, truck computer apples parking brake and you have to put in park and release brake before you can restart. This happen in the middle of a intersection with traffic on both sides of vehicle. no warning light.

- Chelsea, AL, USA

problem #8

Oct 142021

1500

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle on August 2021 with a towing package thinking I could tow an RV Trailer. The Vehicle did not have a brake controller. Went to the dealer who advise me that this item, Electronic Trailer Brake Controller - Mopar (82215278AE) is on back order (450 orders) and cannot per manufacturer advise me when this item will be in stock. The Trailer Brake Controller assist the vehicle when stopping by helping to brake the RV Trailer. The dealer did not advise me of this problem at time of purchase. I believe that vehicles, RAM Products will hit the road with no Electronic Trailer Brake Controller, (chip problems), for many years causing many vehicles accident and deaths.

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #7

Sep 122021

1500 8-cyl

  • miles
I was involved in an accident in North Carolina in bumper to bumper traffic. At one point I had to hit my brakes when the peddle went to the floor and did not stop which caused me to hit a tanker vehicle in the rear end. I crunched up the front grill, hood, 2 quarter panels, radiator and undetermined other damages.. Just an FYI, the air bags also did not deploy. Consumer contacted the dealer and the mechanic came out to inspect the vehicle and claimed it was due to braking failure and the not deployment of air bags.

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #6

Aug 172021

1500

  • miles
Driving on a residential street (less than 25mph) I approached a stop sign, stopped and then accelerated through the intersection, as I applied the gas, the truck stalled, shut down the engine, engaged the parking break and displayed numerous warnings about autobraking / parking systems. I don't have the exact details as it caught me off guard. This was on an active road, during work rush hour. I had to turn the knob back to park, restart the truck (parking brake was still applied so truck wouldn't move) shut it down again, restart again, manually turn off the parking brake and then the truck drove normally.

- Luling, LA, USA

problem #5

Aug 022021

1500

  • miles
2021 5.7L HEMI e-Torque While traveling at approximately 20mph I slowed down to stop at a stop sign and the truck start shifting down as it should. At around 5/7mph it stops, the truck shifts to P and applies the Parking brake. I-??m able to start the engine back up every time this happens but there-??s something wrong for sure.

- Piperton, TN, USA

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