2016 Ram 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ram 1500 has 2044 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 25.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 ram 1500. while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle lost acceleration. the contact coasted to the side of the road to a complete stop. after waiting approximately one minute, the contact restarted the vehicle and drove to an independent mechanic. the computer code i. ⚠️ 53 fire reports filed.

53 fire reports 81 crash reports 44 injuries

2044

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

25.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

351 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE, THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE COMPUTER CODE I
• WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARM, AFTER ABOUT 1/2 HOUR OF DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO DRIVE ROUGH. WHEN I COME TO A STOP IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HITS ME FROM THE REAR. WHEN I'M DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH AND SLOW DOWN IT DOWN SHIFTS HARD (CLUNK). WHEN I'M DRIVING AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY AND I GO TO PASS,WH
• WHEN REMOVING FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE STAYS AT 1450 RPMS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO 10-15 MILES PER HOUR. IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. AFTER TWO SERVICE VISITS, I AM TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL. IT DID NOT DO THIS PROBLEM DURING FIRST 1500 MILES.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 27 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE, THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE COMPUTER CODE I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

301 complaints

15%

• STEERING WHEEL POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THERE IS A INTERMITTENT POPPING NOISE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN . AT TIMES I CAN FEEL VIBRATION OF THE POP BEING TRANSFERRED UP THE STEERING COLUMN TO
• POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON MY STREET. TRUCK DID NOT QUIT RUNNING . ALMOST LOST CONTROL BUT WAS MOVING SLOW, THANKFULLY. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL MANUALLY. HAD TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER, STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH 6,800 MILES. POWER STEERING WAS WORKING WHEN ARRIVED AT DEALERSHIP. THEY
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“STEERING WHEEL POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THERE IS A INTERMITTENT POPPING NOISE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN . AT TIMES I CAN FEEL VIBRATION OF THE POP BEING TRANSFERRED UP THE STEERING COLUMN TO ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

275 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE INFORMATION. THE DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH MORE THAN TEN GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILU
• THE TRUCK DOWN SPEEDS TO 40 MPH WITHOUT NOTICE OR WARNING. THE FUEL FILTER APPEARS TO BE CLOGGING AND THE FUEL INJECTORS AND LINES ARE ALSO CLOGGED. DODGE REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE OPTING TO REPLACE PARTS AND INFORMING ME THAT I MUST MONITOR THE TRUCK BRING IT IN EVERY 12,000 MILES FOR REPAIR.
• I HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND AN ABRUPT DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING OUT OF MY DEVELOPMENT. THE SERVICE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASH. THIS HAPPENED ON MAY 17, 2017 AND SOME OF THE VEHICLES ECODIESEL FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. 2000 MILES LATER ALMOST TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE INFORMATION. THE DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH MORE THAN TEN GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

253 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTI
• THE BRAKE BOOSTER IS BLEEDING DOWN; WHEN YOU PART THE VEHICLE FOR 24 HOURS, THE FIRST TIME YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE IS NO POWER ASSIST. ONCE THE ENGINE STARTS, THE BOOST WILL RETURN. THE DEALER STATES THAT THEY HAVE 4 OTHER VEHICLES ON THEIR LOT THAT HAVE THIS SAME CONDITION, SO THEY STAT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND TOWING A CAMPER, THE BRAKE CONTROLLER COMPUTER FAILED AND THE BRAKES DETACHED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON AND THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

199 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FOUR BOLTS THAT SECURED THE DRIVESHAFT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AW
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM THE DRIVE POSITION TO THE PARK POSITION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON
• PURCHASED VEHICLE APRIL 15, 2016. SINCE THIS TIME WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR PARK TO DRIVE TRANSMISSIONS SHUDDERS OR SLIPS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. THIS NOW ALSO OCCURS IN WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE.ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE AND INDICA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 34 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FOUR BOLTS THAT SECURED THE DRIVESHAFT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2044 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE, THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE COMPUTER CODE I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THERE IS A INTERMITTENT POPPING NOISE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN . AT TIMES I CAN FEEL VIBRATION OF THE POP BEING TRANSFERRED UP THE STEERING COLUMN TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE INFORMATION. THE DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH MORE THAN TEN GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)