2016 Ram 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ram 3500 has 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: 1st alignment and tire rotation @1800miles "toe set", another rotate then off set ball joint because it developed a "pull" and "climbed crown", 3rd rotation, was told no more alignment available within specs, 3,800 miles needs rotation due to outer tire wear, shimmy on minor road imperfections has j. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 10 crash reports 3 injuries

180

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

29 complaints

16%

• 1ST ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION @1800MILES "TOE SET", ANOTHER ROTATE THEN OFF SET BALL JOINT BECAUSE IT DEVELOPED A "PULL" AND "CLIMBED CROWN", 3RD ROTATION, WAS TOLD NO MORE ALIGNMENT AVAILABLE WITHIN SPECS, 3,800 MILES NEEDS ROTATION DUE TO OUTER TIRE WEAR, SHIMMY ON MINOR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS HAS J
• DRAG LINK FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. APPARENTLY THREADS STRIPPED OUT IN THE COUPLER NUT RESULTING IN TOTAL STEERING LOSS. *DSY
• DRAG LINK FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. APPARENTLY THREADS STRIPPED OUT IN THE COUPLER NUT RESULTING IN TOTAL STEERING LOSS. *DSY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“1ST ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION @1800MILES "TOE SET", ANOTHER ROTATE THEN OFF SET BALL JOINT BECAUSE IT DEVELOPED A "PULL" AND "CLIMBED CROWN", 3RD ROTATION, WAS TOLD NO MORE ALIGNMENT AVAILABLE WITHIN SPECS, 3,800 MILES NEEDS ROTATION DUE TO OUTER TIRE WEAR, SHIMMY ON MINOR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS HAS J”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

25 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ABNORMAL EXHAUST ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE HEATER WAS RUNNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE
• DEAD PEDAL. FROM A DEAD STOP IF YOU STAB THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE POWER IS APPLIED TO THE DRIVETRAIN. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND RAM SHOULD HAVE TO REPROGRAM THESE TRUCKS TO APPLY POWER WHEN CALLED FOR BY THE ACCELERATOR
• SIGNIFICANT LAG IN ENGINE RESPONSE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM DEAD STOP. DELAY IS APPROX 3-4 SECONDS FROM TIME ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED UNTIL TRUCK RESPONDS.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ABNORMAL EXHAUST ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE HEATER WAS RUNNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

20 complaints

11%

• NEXEN TIRES RODIAN LT HRX 235/80/R17 ON A NEW DODGE RAM 3500 HAD 14,000 MI WHEN DISCOVERED PIN HOLES IN THE SIDE WALL WHICH CANNOT BE REPAIRED, SPLITTING VISIBLE BETWEEN THE TREADS AND TIRES CONTINUOUSLY LOOSING AIR. NO BLOW-OUT HAS YET OCCURRED RESULTING IN BODILY INJURY. THE SITUATION IS BEING B
• BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON IT HAS A VIOLENT SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 62-72 MPH. THREE DIFFERENT RAM DEALERS AND RAM CUSTOMER SUPPORT TEAM STATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT'S OPERATING AS DESIGNED. POTENTIALLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SHAKE SEEMS TO M
• I BOUGHT 2017 RAM 3500 IN JANUARY 2017 AS A NEW CAR. AFTER 1300 ML I BOUGHT AFTER MARKET WHEELS AND TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE. THEY DID INSTALLED THEM AND CHECKED THEM AFTER. CAR DROW ALMOST FOUR THOUSAND ML DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL. LAST WEEKEND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“NEXEN TIRES RODIAN LT HRX 235/80/R17 ON A NEW DODGE RAM 3500 HAD 14,000 MI WHEN DISCOVERED PIN HOLES IN THE SIDE WALL WHICH CANNOT BE REPAIRED, SPLITTING VISIBLE BETWEEN THE TREADS AND TIRES CONTINUOUSLY LOOSING AIR. NO BLOW-OUT HAS YET OCCURRED RESULTING IN BODILY INJURY. THE SITUATION IS BEING B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

19 complaints

11%

• THE TRUCK WAS LOADED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,400 POUNDS OF HAY IN THE BED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE TOWARD THE REAR. IT WAS PLACED INTO PARK AS WITNESSED BY THE 2 PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AS THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR. A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER, T
• DEAD PEDAL. FROM A DEAD STOP IF YOU STAB THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE POWER IS APPLIED TO THE DRIVETRAIN. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND RAM SHOULD HAVE TO REPROGRAM THESE TRUCKS TO APPLY POWER WHEN CALLED FOR BY THE ACCELERATOR
• WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP THE ENGINE HAS A 3 TO 4 SECOND LAG. NORMAL RESPONSE RESUMES AFTER THE INITIAL LAG. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN CONSISTANT THROUGHOUT 2016. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW. PRESENT MILEAGE IS 4500.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE TRUCK WAS LOADED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,400 POUNDS OF HAY IN THE BED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE TOWARD THE REAR. IT WAS PLACED INTO PARK AS WITNESSED BY THE 2 PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AS THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR. A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER, T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints

• THERE IS AN EXTREME DELAY WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CORRELATION BETWEEN HOW FAR THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION. WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AND ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, THIS DELAY IS A SEVERE SAFET
• INVOLVED IN A FRONT END, AND DRIVER SIDE COLLISION AT A SPEED OVER 50MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE ALSO CAUGHT FIRE, THERE WAS A MINI EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING, ABOUT THIS MATTER.
• THE TRUCK SEATS ARE VIBRATING REALLY BAD AT 60 TO 70 MPH. THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW IN NC . I DROVE IT HOME TO FL AND TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER , THEY BALANCE THE FIRESTONE TIRES AND IT IMPROVED A LITTLE EVERY 5000 I HAD TO ROTATE OR MY TEETH WOULD START TO CHATTER. I INSTALLED MICHELIN TIRE NO IMP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THERE IS AN EXTREME DELAY WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CORRELATION BETWEEN HOW FAR THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION. WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AND ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, THIS DELAY IS A SEVERE SAFET”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 180 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: 1ST ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION @1800MILES "TOE SET", ANOTHER ROTATE THEN OFF SET BALL JOINT BECAUSE IT DEVELOPED A "PULL" AND "CLIMBED CROWN", 3RD ROTATION, WAS TOLD NO MORE ALIGNMENT AVAILABLE WITHIN SPECS, 3,800 MILES NEEDS ROTATION DUE TO OUTER TIRE WEAR, SHIMMY ON MINOR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS HAS J
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ABNORMAL EXHAUST ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE HEATER WAS RUNNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: NEXEN TIRES RODIAN LT HRX 235/80/R17 ON A NEW DODGE RAM 3500 HAD 14,000 MI WHEN DISCOVERED PIN HOLES IN THE SIDE WALL WHICH CANNOT BE REPAIRED, SPLITTING VISIBLE BETWEEN THE TREADS AND TIRES CONTINUOUSLY LOOSING AIR. NO BLOW-OUT HAS YET OCCURRED RESULTING IN BODILY INJURY. THE SITUATION IS BEING B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE TRUCK WAS LOADED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,400 POUNDS OF HAY IN THE BED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE TOWARD THE REAR. IT WAS PLACED INTO PARK AS WITNESSED BY THE 2 PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AS THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR. A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER, T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)