Is the 2016 Ram 5500 reliable?

The 2016 Ram 5500 has 24 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.1x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: WHEELS problems.

What are common problems with the 2016 Ram 5500?

Top problems: WHEELS (6 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (6 complaints, avg repair $500); STEERING (3 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2016 Ram 5500?

Yes, there are 7 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL, POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. Contact any Ram dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2016 Ram 5500?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2016 Ram 5500 is approximately $1,478/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2016 Ram 5500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ram 5500 has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 21. The most common issue is wheels problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 ram 5500. the contact stated that the front driver's side wheel bearing fractured and detached from the vehicle. the failure occurred without warning. the vehicle was towed to texan dodge chrysler jeep ram (18555 eastex fwy, humble, tx) where the failure was confirmed. th. There are 7 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

WHEELS

6 complaints

25%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TEXAN DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (18555 EASTEX FWY, HUMBLE, TX) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. TH
• The contact owns a 2016 Ram 5500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V398000 (Wheels) however, the local dealer and other unknown dealers informed the contact that they could not accommodate the vehicle for recall repair. The contact stated while his driver was driving at
• The contact owns a 2016 Ram 5500. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and making a left turn the dual left rear tires had separated from the vehicle and the vehicle landed on the axle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he had the vehicle t

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TEXAN DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (18555 EASTEX FWY, HUMBLE, TX) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2016 Ram 5500

Based on 21 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 72K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

High-mileage issuemedian 77K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

WHEELS

High-mileage issuemedian 140K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

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 (7)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING17/05/2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Ram 5500

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,478

Full coverage / month

$123

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-12%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1478

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ram 5500 Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

24K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

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

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ram. If you're buying a used 2016 5500, 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.

Estimated Repair Costs

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
WHEELS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TEXAN DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (18555 EASTEX FWY, HUMBLE, TX) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I FELT A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND THEN A LOUD BANGING NOISE FROM UNDERNEAT THE TRUCK. I LOST POWER AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN FOUND PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION ON THE ROAD AND ALOT OF FLUID. THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING BUT DID NOT CATCH FIRE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TRUCK STARTS SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (62-72MPH) STEERING IS NON-RESPONSIVE WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE SWAY AND THEN STEERING WILL CATCH IMMEDIATELY AND THE SWAYING GETS WORSE. HAVE TO SLOW TO 40 MPH TO REGAIN CNTROL OF THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN OTHERS AROUND YOU ARE DRIVIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TRUCK STARTS SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (62-72MPH) STEERING IS NON-RESPONSIVE WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE SWAY AND THEN STEERING WILL CATCH IMMEDIATELY AND THE SWAYING GETS WORSE. HAVE TO SLOW TO 40 MPH TO REGAIN CNTROL OF THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN OTHERS AROUND YOU ARE DRIVIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 7 recalls have been completed — free at any Ram dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)