2016 Ram 1500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Ram 1500 has 2044 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 1093. 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. There are 17 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 53 fire reports filed.
2044
Total Complaints
17
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
ENGINE
351 complaints- • 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.
“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
When Problems Appear on the 2016 Ram 1500
Based on 1,000 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 50K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.
TRANSMISSION
ELECTRICAL
OTHER
AIR BAGS
LIGHTING
WHEELS
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (17)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ram 1500 and 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-2002. FCA US's number for this recall is W58.
Above-average theft risk
The Ram 1500 was the #15 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 6,900 thefts reported to law enforcement.
Notes: Full-size truck; catalytic converters
Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.
Charging Cost Calculator for 2016 Ram 1500
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Ram 1500
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Ram 1500 Service Intervals
5.7L HEMI: 8,000 mile oil intervals; EcoDiesel: shorter intervals for DEF and fuel filter. Towing usage requires severe service intervals.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Ram New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Ram. If you're buying a used 2016 1500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ram dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
EV Incentives for 2016 Ram 1500
Updated 2026-07Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30
Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.
State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)
Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.
Estimated Repair Costs
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
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 17 recalls have been completed — free at any Ram dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ram 1500 — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 2044
- Recalls
- 17
- Fire reports
- 53
- Crash reports
- 81
- Injury reports
- 44
- Segment avg
- 1093
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Ram 1500