2021 RAM 1500 Steering Problems
Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2021 RAM 1500, 7% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 38,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering service” (10% of reports).
- 50steering complaints
- 38,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering service: mentioned in 5 of 50 complaints (10%)
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 5 of 50 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 11 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 50 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
RAM 1500 steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 1500 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2025 1500 | 22 | 6% | 3,400 |
| 2024 1500 | 6 | 8% | — |
| 2023 1500 | 18 | 9% | 88,000 |
| 2022 1500 | 40 | 6% | 44,500 |
| 2021 1500 | 50 | 7% | 38,000 |
| 2020 1500 | 65 | 10% | 62,250 |
| 2019 1500 | 340 | 23% | 19,000 |
| 2018 1500 | 88 | 13% | 74,913 |
| 2017 1500 | 228 | 26% | 65,000 |
| 2016 1500 | 312 | 20% | 70,667 |
| 2015 1500 | 342 | 23% | 76,381 |
| 2014 1500 | 505 | 28% | 83,000 |
| 2013 1500 | 640 | 50% | 92,000 |
| 2009 1500 | 3 | 8% | 58,505 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering:steering control module; air bags:frontal
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500, Ram 4500, and Ram 5500 vehicles. The steering column control module may cause the driver's side air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering column control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 14C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 13, 2025.
Steering:steering control module; back over prevention:display function
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. The Trailer Reverse Steering Control Module (TRSCM) may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the TRSCM software. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on January 19, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y80. This recall was superseded by 23V-059.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Purchase vehicle new and report issue with steering vibration and wandering feel after purchasing on multiple occasions when having the vehicle serviced by dealership. No issues found was the response each time, but condition continued. Front tire wear indicated something wasn't right. Replaced…
I initiated a turn and the steering wheel suddenly and forcefully moved in the opposite direction of my steering input. The steering wheel was pulled out of my hand. I was unable to maintain the intended steering direction and the vehicle was involved in a collision. This was not an intentional…
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn, and excessive force was needed to turn the steering wheel to the left or the right. The Electronic Power Steering (EPS) warning light was illuminated. In…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 RAM 1500s have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 50 owner complaints about steering for the 2021 RAM 1500 (7% of the 682 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2021 RAM 1500 steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 38,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2021 RAM 1500?
The most frequent phrase is “steering service”, in 5 of 50 complaints, followed by “rack pinion” (5).
Other 2021 RAM 1500 problems
See all 2021 RAM 1500 problems or steering problems across all 1500 years.