Ram 1500 Classic · Model year 2021 · No longer built
2021 Ram 1500 Classic specs, maintenance & manuals
Shopping for a used 2021 Ram 1500 Classic or keeping one on the road? Here are the maintenance schedule, fluid capacities and 12 manufacturer publications and its towing capacity (up to 10,610 lb), straight from the factory sources.
- Max towing
- 10,610 lb
- Combined MPG
- 17–20
- Recalls
- 0
- Schedule covers
- 150k miles
What changed for the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic
The 2021 1500 Classic versus 2020: what's different, from the factory charts and spec sheets.
- Maximum tow rating fell from 10,680 lb to 10,610 lb.
Compared automatically from the manufacturer's trim feature charts, specification sheets, towing guides and the EPA's fuel-economy data for 2020 and 2021. No trim equipment chart is on file for one of the two years, so equipment changes aren't listed. Equipment varies by trim and market; confirm details on a specific vehicle.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic fuel economy (EPA)
The EPA rates the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic at 17–20 MPG combined; the 3.6L 6-cylinder (RWD) is the most efficient and the 5.7L 8-cylinder (RWD) the thirstiest. Every EPA test configuration is below, from the government's fuel-economy database.
City, highway and combined figures are in MPG (MPGe on electricity).
| Version | Engine | Transmission · drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 Classic 2WD | 3.6L 6-cylinder | 8-speed automatic · RWD | 17MPG | 25MPG | 20MPG | $3,100 | 450 |
| 1500 Classic 2WD | 5.7L 8-cylinder | 8-speed automatic · RWD | 15MPG | 22MPG | 17MPG | $4,200 | 513 |
| 1500 Classic 4WD | 3.6L 6-cylinder | 8-speed automatic · 4WD | 16MPG | 23MPG | 19MPG | $3,300 | 474 |
| 1500 Classic 4WD | 5.7L 8-cylinder | 8-speed automatic · 4WD | 15MPG | 21MPG | 17MPG | $4,200 | 526 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. MPG is miles per gallon (MPGe for electric operation). Plug-in hybrids list gasoline-only MPG with the electric rating underneath. Annual fuel cost assumes 15,000 miles a year at the EPA's fuel-price assumptions, so yours will differ. Range is total driving range on a full tank or charge.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic wheels & tires
The spec sheet doesn't list tire sizes for this model year; here is what the owner's manual says.
- Cold tire pressure
- Not a single number: the owner's manual refers to the tire and loading placard (Tire and Loading Information Placard at the driver's side door opening), which lists the pressures for your exact tire size and load.
- Spare
- Equipment decides: a compact spare, a non-matching full-size spare or a tire service kit with no spare; a non-matching or compact spare has no pressure sensor.
- Lug nut torque
- 130 ft-lb (176 N·m), M14 x 1.50 thread, 22 mm socket
- Pressure monitor
- A tire pressure monitoring system warns when a tire is low.
Sizes and pressures vary by trim, wheel package and load: check the placard on your vehicle and the tire sidewall. Pressure and spare notes from the owner's manual.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic maintenance schedule
The factory schedule for normal driving. Oil changes follow the oil-change indicator on most models; severe use (towing, dusty roads, lots of idling) shortens some intervals.
A dot means the service is due at that mileage or after that many years, whichever comes first.
Additional Inspections
- Inspect the CV/Universal joints
- Inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, and replace if necessary
- Inspect the brake linings, replace as necessary
- Adjust parking brake as necessary
Additional Maintenance
- Replace cabin air filter
| Service | 20k2 yr | 30k3 yr | 40k4 yr | 50k5 yr | 60k6 yr | 70k7 yr | 80k8 yr | 90k9 yr | 100k10 yr | 110k11 yr | 120k12 yr | 130k13 yr | 140k14 yr | 150k15 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Inspections | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect the CV/Universal joints | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, and replace if necessary | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect the front and rear axle surfacesIf gear oil leakage is suspected, check the fluid level. If using your vehicle for police, taxi, fleet, off-road or frequent trailer towing, change axle fluid. | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect the brake linings, replace as necessary | ||||||||||||||
| Adjust parking brake as necessary | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect transfer case fluid | ||||||||||||||
| Additional Maintenance | ||||||||||||||
| Replace cabin air filter | ||||||||||||||
| Replace engine air cleaner filter | ||||||||||||||
| Replace spark plugsThe spark plug change interval is mileage based only, yearly intervals do not apply. | ||||||||||||||
| Flush and replace the engine coolant at 10 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km) whichever comes first | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect the transfer case fluid, change for any of the following: police, taxi, fleet, or frequent trailer towing | ||||||||||||||
| Change the transfer case fluid | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect and replace PCV valve if necessary | ||||||||||||||
At every oil change
- Change the oil and filter
- Rotate the tires. Rotate at the first sign of irregular wear, even if it occurs before the oil indicator system turns on
- Inspect the battery and clean and tighten terminals as required
- Inspect the CV/Universal joints
- Inspect the automatic transmission fluid if equipped with dipstick
- Inspect the brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses and parking brake
- Inspect the engine cooling system protection and hoses
- Inspect the exhaust system
- Inspect the engine air cleaner filter if using in dusty or off-road conditions, replace engine air cleaner filter if necessary
- Inspect and replace the Evaporative System Fresh Air Filter as necessary, replacement may be more frequent if vehicle is operated in extreme dusty conditions
2021 Ram 1500 Classic fluids & capacities
Oil, coolant, transmission and axle fluids with their capacities and specifications, wheel torque and fuel requirements, from the owner's manual.
Fluid capacities
| System | Applies to | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| All engines | ||
| Fuel tank (approximate) | Regular Cab Shortbed/Crew Quad Cab models | 26 gal98 L |
| Regular Cab Longbed/Crew Quad Cab models (optional) | 32 gal121 L | |
| 3.6L engine | ||
| Engine oil with filter | 6 qt5.6 L | |
| Cooling system | 13.7 qt13 L | |
| 5.7L engine | ||
| Engine oil with filter | 7 qt6.6 L | |
| Cooling system | 18.3 qt17.3 L | |
Engine fluids
| Component | Fluid / grade | Mopar product |
|---|---|---|
| Engine coolant | OAT (Organic Additive Technology) antifreeze/coolant, 10 year/150,000 mile (240,000 km) formula | Mopar Antifreeze/Coolant 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT |
| Engine oil3.6L engine | SAE 5W-20, API certifiedMS-6395 | Mopar, Pennzoil or Shell Helix (examples); Mopar SAE 5W-30 to MS-6395 acceptable if 5W-20 unavailable |
| Engine oil5.7L engine | SAE 5W-20, API certifiedMS-6395 | Mopar, Pennzoil or Shell Helix (examples) |
| Engine oil filter | Mopar engine oil filter, or a filter meeting SAE/USCAR-36 performance requirements | Mopar Engine Oil Filter |
Chassis fluids & lubricants
| Component | Fluid / grade | Mopar product |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic transmission | ZF 8 and 9 speed ATF, or equivalent | Mopar ZF 8 & 9 Speed ATF |
| Transfer case | Mobil LT | — |
| Front axle | GL-5 synthetic axle lubricant, SAE 75W-85 | Mopar GL-5 Synthetic Axle Lubricant SAE 75W-85 |
| Rear axle | Synthetic gear lubricant, SAE 75W-90MS-A0160 | Mopar Synthetic Gear Lubricant SAE 75W-90 |
| Rear axle limited-slip additiveLimited-slip rear axles | Limited slip additive, 5 oz (148 ml) addedMS-10111 | Mopar Limited Slip Additive |
| Brake master cylinder | DOT 3 | Mopar DOT 3 |
Fuel
| Engine | Minimum | Ethanol / biodiesel |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L engine | 87 octane Regular unleaded | 0–15% (up to E15) |
| 5.7L engine | 87 octane Regular unleaded (89 for optimum performance and fuel economy) | 0–15% (up to E15) |
Wheel lug nut torque
| Wheels | Torque |
|---|---|
| Lug nuts/boltsThread M14 x 1.5022 mm socket | 130 ft‑lb (176 N·m) |
- Not a flex-fuel vehicle: E85 and methanol blends are not approved.
- Reformulated gasoline and TOP TIER detergent gasoline are recommended.
- Re-check lug nut/bolt torque after 25 miles (40 km).
Source: Owner's manual on Mopar.com. Always confirm with the manual for your exact vehicle.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic recalls & safety
What the U.S. government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has on file for the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic: no recalls, 687 owner complaints and crash-test ratings. Fetched November 8, 2026.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 1500 Classic Crew PU/CC 4WD | 21.9% risk | |||
| Ram 1500 Classic Quad PU/EC 4WD | 21.9% risk | |||
| Ram 1500 Classic Regular PU/RC 4WD | 21.9% risk | |||
| Ram 1500 Classic Crew PU/CC 2WD | 19.8% risk | |||
| Ram 1500 Classic Quad PU/EC 2WD | 19.8% risk | |||
| Ram 1500 Classic Regular PU/RC 2WD | 19.8% risk |
Stars compare vehicles of similar weight; rollover shows the tested chance of a rollover in a single-vehicle crash.
Recalls
Owner complaints by component
- Complaints
- 687
- Crashes
- 27
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 23
- Engine277
- Electrical system199
- Unknown or other103
- Power train100
- Service brakes73
- Fuel/propulsion system70
- Forward collision avoidance52
- Steering50
Complaints are reports owners filed with NHTSA; they are not verified and a complaint can name more than one component. A high count reflects how many were sold as much as how often something fails.
Source: NHTSA public data (recalls, complaints and the New Car Assessment Program), covering Ram 1500 Classic. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic owner's manuals & publications
The manufacturer's owner's manual, quick guides, radio manuals, supplements and warranty booklets for the 2021 model year.
Owner's manuals
Quick guides
Supplements
On Mopar.com
Manuals and guides are hosted by the manufacturer on vehicleinfo.mopar.com and open as PDFs. Mopar.com's owner site also has VIN-specific manuals and recall lookups.
Great Lakes owner notes
What counts on a 2021 Ram 1500 Classic from Michigan to Tennessee
Lake-effect squalls, roads soaked in brine, potholes that open with every thaw and long Appalachian grades: driving in the Great Lakes states asks a lot of tires, batteries and undersides. These notes take the 2021 1500 Classic figures above and flag the ones that carry the most weight in Tennessee.
What the manual says about oil
Oil capacity is 6 qt (3.6L) and 7 qt (5.7L), and the manual lists SAE 5W-20. Where more than one engine appears in the lineup, the engine code on the window sticker settles which grade applies. The wrong one in a Tennessee winter gives up a little protection on every cold start, and over years of driveway starts that adds up.
Starting in single digits
Battery care in this schedule: inspect it and clean and tighten the terminals as required at each oil change. A battery that bakes through a Nashville or Memphis summer ages faster, then gets found out by the first hard freeze. Have it load-tested in fall rather than waiting for a slow crank.
Coolant through freeze and climb
Fluids table: OAT coolant (10-year/150,000-mile formula), 13.7 qt (3.6L) and 18.3 qt (5.7L). Scheduled replacement comes at 10 years or 150,000 miles. Stick to that chemistry, since mixing coolant types can shorten their protective life. On a used 1500 Classic from Tennessee, ask whether the coolant was changed on time, and check the level in the overflow tank with the engine cold before you drive it.
Filters for dust and pollen
The cabin air filter first comes up at 20,000 miles. Spring pollen in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys is heavy, and a clogged cabin filter also slows the defroster in winter because it chokes the blower's airflow. It is a five-minute job on most vehicles.
Fuel grade and winter reserve
Fuel requirement: 87 octane (89 recommended). In winter, keeping the tank above half is a sensible habit across the Great Lakes states, because lake-effect pileups and mountain snow on I-64 or I-77 can leave traffic stopped for hours, and fuel is your heat.
Each spec in these notes is pulled from the tables above. The commentary on salt, snow, potholes and grades is general guidance for the Great Lakes states; the owner's manual remains the authority.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic questions
How much oil does the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic take?
With a filter change: 3.6L engine, 6 qt / 5.6 L and 5.7L engine, 7 qt / 6.6 L. Capacities are from the owner's manual; check the dipstick or oil-life display after filling.
What kind of oil does the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic use?
3.6L engine: SAE 5W-20, API certified (MS-6395); 5.7L engine: SAE 5W-20, API certified (MS-6395); and Engine oil filter: Mopar engine oil filter, or a filter meeting SAE/USCAR-36 performance requirements (SAE/USCAR-36).
When is the first scheduled maintenance on the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic?
At 20,000 miles or 2 years: inspect the cv/universal joints; inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, and replace if necessary; inspect the brake linings, replace as necessary; adjust parking brake as necessary; replace cabin air filter. Oil changes in between follow the oil-change indicator.
Where can I find the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic owner's manual?
The manufacturer publishes it free on Mopar.com as a PDF (linked in the manuals section above), along with quick guides, radio manuals and the warranty booklet.
What MPG does the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic at 17–20 MPG combined, depending on the version. 3.6L 6-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, RWD: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined; 5.7L 8-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, RWD: 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined; 3.6L 6-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, 4WD: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined; 5.7L 8-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, 4WD: 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined. Ratings are the EPA's laboratory figures from fueleconomy.gov; real-world mileage varies with driving, load and weather.
What changed on the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic?
Maximum tow rating fell from 10,680 lb to 10,610 lb.
Does the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic have recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recall campaigns for the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic. NHTSA's data was last fetched November 8, 2026. Recalls are listed by model year, so a given vehicle may or may not be covered: enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or ask a dealer to see which are open.
What are the most common safety complaints about the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic?
Owners have filed 687 complaints about the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic with NHTSA. The components named most often are engine (277), electrical system (199), and unknown or other (103). 27 complaints involved a crash and 4 complaints a fire. Complaints are reports from owners that NHTSA does not verify, so treat them as a signal to look into, not a finding.
What is the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic's NHTSA crash-test rating?
NHTSA's overall 5-Star Safety Rating for the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic is 4 out of 5 stars (Ram 1500 Classic Crew PU/CC 4WD: 4, Ram 1500 Classic Quad PU/EC 4WD: 4, Ram 1500 Classic Regular PU/RC 4WD: 4, and Ram 1500 Classic Crew PU/CC 2WD: 4). The rating combines frontal, side and rollover tests.
Specifications come from the manufacturer's spec comparison and its media-site specification sheets; maintenance schedules, fluids and publications come from Mopar's owner site and owner's manuals. Equipment and ratings vary by configuration; check the owner's manual or a dealer for a specific vehicle. This model is no longer sold new.