2021 Ram 1500 · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 29owner reports
- 5,800median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 3, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
131 of the 679 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 29 of those describe phantom braking.
Tick what matches of 29 reports
Phantom braking 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, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Phantom braking is a car that brakes hard on its own, often at highway speed, with nothing in the road ahead. About one owner in five mentions a near miss with the car behind.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on collision avoidance cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Due to a software malfunction, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module may disable the electronic stability control system.
Certain vehicles were built without the retaining clip that secures the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal, which can cause the brake pedal to separate from the brake system.
All 15 recalls on the 2021 Ram 1500, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“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.”
Filed Feb 14, 2023
“I was making a right hand turn at about 5-10 mph and the truck stalled. All dash lights were still on. Truck was in Run position, engine just stalled, it put itself in park and emergency brake was engaged. Restarted truck with no warning lights or possible cause of fault. Thankfully there was no traffic or I couldâve been hit.”
Filed Nov 14, 2022
“Engine shuts off while driving 30-35 mph and automatically applies emergency brake”
Filed Jun 25, 2022
“Engine stalls and applies emergency brake has happened two times first on 2/16/22 other on 3/2/22”
Filed Mar 4, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 29 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
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
- Battery dies or the car will not start 42 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 32 reports
- Fuel pump failure 27 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 27 reports