When making a turn from a stop, the truck will kill the engine then engage the parking brake. I thought this may have been tied to Ram Safety Recall 37A, which I had fixed at the dealership, but the truck continues to have this issue even after the recall was fixed. This is not my video, but it shows what happens [XXX] Also, complaints about this issue can be found in this thread from a Ram forum [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2021 Ram 1500 engine complaints
Page 3 of 11: complaints 41 to 70 of 281, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Mgu is out. Apparently there are 4000 on back order bc this part keeps failing on these etorque vehicles
THE VEHICLE STARTS BUT WILL NOT ACCELERATE, and the necessary replacement part is still unavailable. I was informed that the manufacturer does not have the part in stock and that it needs to be manufactured, with an estimated arrival date of July 29th.
Bearing bad in mcu e tourqe system no parts and replacements avaliable dealer said been orderd for 6 months and have not received one
2021 Ram 1500 Laramie. 2 Occasions of unexpected engine Revving. 1) Pulled up to a stop, waiting for cross traffic, when fully stopped, the Engine began to rev up by ~500 RPM, up then back down, about 3 times in a row. Each time the truck tried to creep forwards, forcing me to step on the brake harder to prevent movement. Each engine surge lasted 1-2 seconds. 2) At low speeds (<20mph), car had similar RPM surges, but just caused some jerking. Both occasions occurred within 2-3 minutes of a cold start (~70 Deg F Env. temp). Certainly a safety concern, needs to be addressed.
The alternator with the etorque option. Truck is available upon request. Stellantis knows of the issues with the motor and doesn’t have a fix. The part to fix is on back order with no eta till available. I have been researching and some are without a vehicle up to a year. Dealers are aware of the situation. No warnings are shown prior to a total power loss failure. While driving home from work lights all over the dash lighted up and my truck was reading 9 volts. Luckily I was close to home and coasted into the driveway. My truck is now dead in the water sitting in driveway till when a part becomes available. I ended up leasing a car due to having no other option to get to and from work.
When driving home in the rain going 65+/- MPH my truck just shut off and turned back on, but was not able to accelerate. Had to pull off on the side of the road and the car started back up. This happened at least 5 more times on my 30 minute ride back home. When I finally got it home the truck would not cut off. I had to disconnect the batter which still did NOT stall the truck. Luckily I found a forum that advised to pull a specific fuse to cut the truck off. My biggest concern was that no warning lights or error codes came up on the dash it just went blank and came back on. The vehicle is currently at Roger Williams Ram Dealership in Weatherford TX. They have had the truck over a week and are still trying to figure out what the problem is. They have replaced a fuse box to my knowledge but this didnt fix the issue. I have video of the incident (driving with no power).
Engine light came on. Was driving ~25MPH on city street, in x-section of 2 major streets and heard loud mechanical noise, warning indicators audible and visual, and vehicle bucked and stalled within 100ft of when it started. After restarting vehicle was able to move about 20 more feet before losing power again. Brough to dealer, diagnosed with MGU (Motor Generator Unit) failure and battery that was defective due to incorrect charging. MGU part is nationally back ordered, with approximately 4000 replacement units on order with manufacturer, and 5 years of history of problems reported on owner chat boards and websites, both with brand new vehicles and vehicles that are just a few years old.
My Ram has the ETorque Generator that failed. It has caused the vehicle to suddenly stop and lose power. It first lost all electrical components in the interior. Then driving function shut off which includes the power steering. I was then driving down the street and it suddenly stopped and grinded into the park position of the transmission. The engine bay was very hot and I was surprised a fire didn't start. I hooked up jumper cables to another vehicle to get it off the road way as you couldn't shift it into neutral when the battery was dead. Pretty much all of the warning lights came on as I was still moving and they are still on. I took it into the ram dealer locally and they said there is 4379 that are in the same boat. There is no outlook to get replacement parts. I then took the Etorque generator out and tried having it rebuilt as there was no answer from Ram when it could be fixed. The place I took it to specializes in rebuilding alternators and they were able to fix the bearing problem in the generator but were unable to fix the function of recharging the batteries in the vehicle. So I have to put my truck on a charger every night so its charged up enough to make it to and from work. The vehicle has been inspected by a member of the Fergus Falls Fire Department and he is concerned with constant charging of the battery and electrical issues.
The first time, the vehicle was, in effect, "dead," as nothing worked. After 24 hours it started without any codes being present. The second time, the vehicle stopped, shut down and engaged the e-brake. Nothing was thereafter operational. Four days later, it started without any mechanical intervention The only thing I did was remove the battery connections and then reinstall them. Three to four hours later it started.
I've had 2 incidents so far. 1. I stopped at a 2 way stop and as I accelerated to drive across the intersection (a truck was coming at me on my right side) my truck hesitated and I had no power to continue to go forward. I stepped on the gas, it revved up and continue to cross the road. 2. I was driving around a roundabout and went to accelerate on the straight away and it had a hesitation, I lost power (control ). I pressed on the gas a couple of times and then it came back and I was accelerating fast onto the on ramp.
I am reporting a recurring safety issue involving exhaust fumes entering the cabin of my 2021 Ram 1500 Big Horn, particularly during cold starts or remote starts while idling. Despite multiple attempts to have this issue repaired through authorized dealerships, the problem has not been resolved. On the first visit, dealership technicians discovered two cracked exhaust manifolds, which were replaced. On a second visit, they found and tightened bolts further. On the third visit, they claimed there was no longer a problem, but no physical diagnostic tests (such as pressure, bubble, or smoke testing) were conducted. Still concerned for my family’s safety, I paid for an independent diagnostic inspection. The certified mechanic confirmed an exhaust leak at the junction between the exhaust manifold and collector pipe, citing either improper installation or flawed sealing from previous repairs. The technician verified this using a stethoscope and noted a strong odor inside the cabin via the HVAC system. This issue poses a potential carbon monoxide exposure risk to occupants, especially during colder conditions when the vehicle is idling and windows are closed. RAM case management (case #92878431) has been involved, but there has been poor communication and no clear resolution. I am concerned this is a manufacturing or design defect and that it could affect other owners. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this issue due to the serious health and safety risks associated with exhaust fume exposure.
At 45mph the engine cut off. I had to coast to a stop on the side of the road and place the truck into park and then restart the engine. I have already taken the vehicle into the dealership to have recall 37A remediation performed last year.
Cracked passenger side exhaust manifold
Made a turn at 15 mph and the car shut off by itself randomly. This is the fourth time it’s happened since owning the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated there was rainwater leaking into the rear passenger’s side cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who replaced the third brake light and applied sealant; however, the leak persisted. The contact was informed by the dealer that the leak failure may be caused by a faulty frame or window. No further information was available. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a ticking sound coming from the engine, and while at the dealer the contact was informed that the exhaust manifold was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed by an independent mechanic that the bolts inside the exhaust manifold were inadequate and were prone to failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,700. The VIN was not available.
While I was driving on the freeway, my check engine light came on and my battery voltage dropped rapidly (within 5 minutes I had a dead battery). My transmission, power train and electrical components all stopped working. Luckily I was pulling over before this happened so I didn’t get in a wreck on the freeway. I had a tow company take my vehicle to the dealer for inspection. After a few days they let me know it was the alternator inverter which was not functioning correctly and caused my battery to drain along with all my electrical components malfunctioning and engine stalling. The dealer has now had my truck for weeks and won’t let me drive it until they resolve the issue with a new inverter which is on back order with no updates on arrival.
Back ordered part: Part # 68623194AB No ETA
While slowing down to stop at a stop sign the engine shut off on its own. Dash showed message to shift into park once the vehicle stopped. Parking brake also engaged on its own. After shifting into park, restarting the truck, and disengaging the parking brake I shifted back into drive but the vehicle wouldn't move. I shifted into reverse and it would go backwards. Shifted back into drive and it worked properly. It's not safe to have the engine just shut off while you are driving. Also having to put vehicle into reverse before getting it to go into drive is unsafe on a crowded road with vehicles behind you.
My vehicle has had 2 starter replacements, 2 batteries replaced , 1 radiator replacement. 3 times at the dealership for clock spring repair. Exhaust system replaced because of bolt rusted parts. This vehicle is a built to serve edition and it hasn’t led up to its name. Without me paying for an extended warranty i dont know what would i would’ve done.Does this vehicle require for a buy back from the corporate headquarters
On 3/6/25 at 0520 hours, I 95 northbound in Stafford, VA. at mile marker 141 in left travel lane at approximately 75 mph the truck suddenly lost power slowing significantly. We pulled over onto the left shoulder as the truck slowed and stopped. The truck required shutting off the ignition and restarting the vehicle for it to operable. We had vehicles behind us slamming on brakes and quickly changing lanes in order to avoid hitting us. This truck has been checked by a dodge dealership for previous complaints of this occurring at lower speeds. Dodge dealership told us, there are no codes, no recalls ( only on V8) , we can note it in file but there is nothing else we can do. This is unacceptable and almost got us into a serious accident. There is something wrong with the etorque.
I would like to submit a complaint regarding the Motor Generator Unit on a 2021 Ram 1500 e-torque motor. That part failed on my truck in early January, leaving me stranded for several hours. Thankfully the part did not fail while the truck was in motion, as the truck would have died and become completely inoperable. The vehicle has been at the dealership since January 4th, due to the part being on back order, with no ETA. I find it hard to believe that this is not a common problem, for that reason. There were no symptoms or check engine lights prior to this issue occurring.
Was driving at low speed approaching a turn. As soon as I turn the vehicle shut off and I had to restart my truck. It is similar to what happened in this video [XXX] Believe the truck software needs a reflash. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Since purchase of the vehicle, I have experienced transmission surges and low power and fuel economy. When decelerating to a stop or U turn and the vehicle is in ECO, right before full stop, the RPMs will drop to 300-500 and surge back up to 1500-1800 causing a lunge forward. Vehicle has been in 6 times for a persistent transmission surge paired with low power and fuel economy. Dealer has replaced the valve body, transmission control module, wiring, and complete transmission replacement. I can reproduce the issue everyday near my place of employment and have video evidence of the issue. Additionally, since the transmission was replaced, when going 10+ miles on the highway, the engine cooling fan runs full out and fuel economy plumets.
Engine tick/knocking noise @ idle speed increases with RPM. 110k miles. No warning lamps or signals. Vehicle brought to dealership for inspection and service. Dealer stated cracks in both exhaust manifolds & broken bolts. Engine valves and rods being replaced.
On 02/27/2025 my wife drove the 2021 RAM 1500 Limited Diesel truck and the engine certainly stopped running. It happened once around 2:10PM on the freeway I-5 Southbound near exit 189 in WA State. She was on the most inboard lane to prepare to take exit 189 with speed about 45-50 MPH. She was able to pull over to a safe location before the truck had completely stopped. Then she was able to start the engine and go again after 5-10 minutes. She drove for about 4 miles to her work place then the engine certainly stopped running again as soon as she pulled into the clinic parking lot around 2:30PM.
I just recently purchased this vehicle about a month ago. It had 39,000 miles when I bought it. This past weekend I was changing the oil and found out that the oil pan was rusted through. It was oil seeping from the pan. My concern is that if I hadn't noticed that and a rock hit it, the oil could've drained from the pan and seized the motor. Which ultimately could've caused an accident. I had it towed to a dealer. They told me that it was not covered under warranty. I approved the work because I need my vehicle back. I filed a complaint with FCA. A quick search online shows that this is a common issue with those vehicles up in the north but when you look at competing vehicles, this doesn't seem to be an issue for them so it's evident to me that FCA uses an inferior part for a critical component.
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH, there was an abnormal sound intermittently coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, the contact stated that the navigation system and the climate control system was inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
The truck has 58,xxx miles and on my way home from work today it just shut down in the middle of the highway. I could start it back up but as soon as I would shift into gear it would shut down again. Finally, after about 15-20 times of starting it and it shutting right back off, it stayed running and got me to within 5 miles of my home before doing it again. Now, I can’t get it to stay running so I’m going to have to have it towed in to be checked. I was able to get it off the road but it was extremely dangerous shutting down on a busy highway. I see that it has a recall that I hope will fix this issue when I’m able to get it taken in
I am submitting this report to alert the federal safety agency of potential safety violations and undisclosed structural damage, drivetrain modifications, and possible engine replacement regarding my 2021 RAM 1500, which was purchased from Courtesy Chevrolet after being previously owned by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Unreported Frame Damage & Structural Repairs Multiple inconsistent and unseen frame welds were discovered, indicating prior accident damage and unreported frame repair. Frame welds do not match factory precision welding, suggesting post-factory reinforcement or structural fixes. Undisclosed Transmission Swap from 8-Speed to 6-Speed According to the federal safety agency records and the vehicle’s VIN, my RAM 1500 was manufactured with an 8-speed transmission. After purchase, I discovered that the 8-speed had been swapped for an older 6-speed transmission (6HP70), which was never disclosed. This creates potential drivability and safety concerns, as the truck’s ECU may not be calibrated for the correct transmission. Possible Undisclosed Engine Swap The engine in my truck has multiple ink and paint markings, which are commonly seen on replacement engines. RFID engine label does not provide a matching serial number, making it difficult to confirm if the engine is original. The casting number on the engine sticker is inconsistent with the vehicle’s model year and VIN (2021), raising concerns that it may be from an older model. Engine mount bolts and wiring appear disturbed, suggesting prior removal and reinstallation. If my truck has an older or higher-mileage engine, this impacts performance, emissions compliance, warranty status, and safety. Lack of Maintenance Records & Vehicle History Transparency
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