2021 Ram 2500 Electrical Recall (21V163)

Recall 21V163 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Ram 2500 in recall 21V163?

7L Turbo Diesel engine.

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay, which could result in a vehicle fire.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 2500 with recall 21V163?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your 2500 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the electrical system, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V163?

Recall 21V163 covers 19,214 vehicles: 2021 Ram 2500; 2021 Ram 3500.

NHTSA lists 19,214 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the 2500 electrical recall?

Yes. 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.

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 This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-798.

When was recall 21V163 announced?

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V163 to NHTSA on March 11, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 10, 2021.

This recall was filed 67 months ago. If your 2500 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my 2500 is part of recall 21V163?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V163 is open on your 2500, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V163000 is open on your 2500, it will be listed there, along with Ram recall number Y08. You can also ask any Ram dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should 2500 owners do about recall 21V163?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V163000 applies to your 2500.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ram dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Keep a simple log of any electrical system symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are 2500 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 52 of them about the electrical system.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 170 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 52 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Ram 2500: 108 complaints in total, 35 about the electrical system
• 2021 Ram 3500: 62 complaints in total, 17 about the electrical system

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was plugged in charging for about 15 minutes and unoccupied when it suddenly caught fire. The contact noticed smoke emerging from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated before the failure. There were no reported injuries.

2021 Ram 2500 owner, NE, NHTSA complaint 11644856, filed February 25, 2025

The vehicle has uneven response when turning or driving down the road turn signals do not cancel properly and it has a persistent clicking sound coming from the steering column. My safety is at risk as the steering isnt consistent while driving.

2021 Ram 2500 owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11731733, filed April 16, 2026

At a stop light after 10 min of normal driving on country and city roads my truck started smoking from front passenger wheel well. Smoke intensified and quickly turned black. Immediately pulled over and found flames burning through front passenger wheel liner and from around passenger side battery and intake filter.

2021 Ram 2500 owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11429824, filed August 20, 2021

Can recall 21V163 make my 2500 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same electrical system problem is common in lemon law claims.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same electrical system again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021 Ram 2500 has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 21V798000.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V163