2021 Ram 1500 · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 42owner reports
- 60,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 2, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
197 of the 679 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 42 of those describe dead battery.
Tick what matches of 42 reports
Dead battery on other 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (36 reports), the module (7 reports), the alternator (5 reports) and the starter (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the electrical system covers the 2021 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the 1500
Engine stall with intermittent restart. Open.
Software security vulnerability. Closed jan 5, 2016, led to recall 15V-508.
Totally integrated power module failure. Closed jul 24, 2015.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 46,259 and 78,900 miles, from the 10 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 25 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 Ram 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
Flash: Amplifier (AMP) Diagnostic and System Updates **Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs):** ● B143B-12 - ANC Microphone ...
Battery Drain Suspected or "Identified" From USB or Media Hub
Battery Pack Control Module (BPCM) Software Update Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination.
21 more on the 2021 Ram 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“Every time my truck sits for more than 3 days even in the summer the battery dies. I have to jump this truck more than I jumped anything in life. It has less than 30000 miles on it and Iâve had nothing but trouble with the battery staying charged and the air bag system being jimmied to keep the sensor from not going of by the dealer.”
Filed Jan 26, 2026 · 30,000 miles
“Alt/Gen failure stopped the truck in the middle of an intersection No transmission power steering lights. Had to walk back home to charge the battery in a driving rain storm leaving the truck in the intersection.”
Filed Jan 16, 2026
“All warning lights on dash came on including battery. Freedom Dodge assessed it on 11-10-2025 and said the vehicle generator has an internal short and is discharging the battery. If being operated could cause the vehicle to die while in motion. I am making $700 per month payments and Freedom indicated over 6000 of these units are on back order and cannot give me a date for replacement only saying "months"”
Filed Nov 15, 2025
“After a simple battery replacement, the entire infotainment system and computer for the vehicle crashed. Safety systems and other safety systems for the vehicle connected to the main computer can no longer be controlled, including parking sensors and other equipment and the battery continues to go dead. Many other owners are having the same issue.”
Filed May 29, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 42 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 199 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 73 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 58 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 32 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 29 reports
- Fuel pump failure 27 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 27 reports