2022 Ram 1500 Electrical Heating Element Recall (21V871)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · 22 vehicles · Reported November 10, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling 22 2022 Ram 1500 vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with incompatible heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), resulting in the windshield defrosting and defogging system being inoperable to drivers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems." An inoperable defrosting and defogging system can reduce visibility for drivers in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V871 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V871000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Y88 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 10, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Vehicles | 2022 Ram 1500 |
| Units affected | 22 |
| Component | Visibility > Defroster / Defogger / Hvac System > Windshield > Electrical Heating Element |
| Safety risk | An inoperable defrosting and defogging system can reduce visibility for drivers in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Ram 1500 in recall 21V871?
These vehicles may have been built with incompatible heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), resulting in the windshield defrosting and defogging system being inoperable to drivers.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Ram 1500 vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with incompatible heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), resulting in the windshield defrosting and defogging system being inoperable to drivers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Is it safe to drive a 2022 1500 with recall 21V871?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An inoperable defrosting and defogging system can reduce visibility for drivers in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An inoperable defrosting and defogging system can reduce visibility for drivers in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the electrical heating element.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V871?
Recall 21V871 covers 22 vehicles: 2022 Ram 1500.
NHTSA lists 22 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ram | 1500 |
What is the fix for the 1500 electrical heating element recall?
Yes. FCA US, LLC will repurchase the affected vehicles, free of charge.
FCA US, LLC will repurchase the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 22, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y88.
When was recall 21V871 announced?
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V871 to NHTSA on November 10, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 22, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 10, 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V871000. |
| November 22, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your 1500 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my 1500 is part of recall 21V871?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V871 is open on your 1500, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V871000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should 1500 owners do about recall 21V871?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V871000 applies to your 1500.
- Call a Ram dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the electrical heating element happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are 1500 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 616 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 15 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 21V871 was reported on November 10, 2021, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 2 of them (13%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the lighting and visibility and were received on or after November 10, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 616 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 15 of them involve the lighting and visibility. 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.
- 2022 Ram 1500: 616 complaints in total, 15 about the lighting and visibility
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
When driving home on a rainy day on an active interstate road, 66 west bound lane my truck turned off engine. I was in right hand lane so I was able to coast to side of road. Once stopped the truck automatically on its own went into park.
2022 Ram 1500 owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11642979, filed February 16, 2025
The right turn signal light will not cancel when setting the turn signal back to neutral. The left turn will not light up the left signal. Setting the turn signal to the left signal has become the only way to cancel the right turn signal light.
2022 Ram 1500 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11668232, filed June 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the taillights became inoperable. In addition, the contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the contact was driving at night.
2022 Ram 1500 owner, KY, NHTSA complaint 11670454, filed July 1, 2025
Can recall 21V871 make my 1500 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.
Owners often ask whether this electrical heating element recall means their 1500 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your 1500 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ram 1500 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V871
Did the recall 21V871 fix work?
Since recall 21V871 was reported on November 10, 2021, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 2 of them (13%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed November 22, 2021.
Is the 21V871000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my 1500 is part of recall 21V871000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V871000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ram. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.