2016 Ram 5500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ram 5500 has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

25%

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 5500. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED TO PREVENT IT FROM MOVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAGU
• WAS DRIVING 65 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL, ON THE HIGHWAY, IN MOTION WHEN I FELT A VIBRATION FOR MAYBE 10 SECONDS, DASH LIGHTS CAME ON WITHIN A COUPLE SECONDS OF VIBRATION STARTING, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, TRUCK WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. SOMEONE HAD TO BRING A TRUCK AND TRAILER TO COME PICK

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

3 complaints

13%

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 5500. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WAS NOT ALIGNED AND THE FRAME WAS LEANING TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER LOCATED AT 903 S BURLINGTON BLVD BURLINGTON, WASHINGTON 360-757 0038) W
• THE HIGH PRESSURE BOOSTER HOSE INTERIOR LINER CAME APART AND JAMMED INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE PORT. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. THIS IS AN AMBULANCE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE OF THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL. IT WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND RESULTED IN A NEAR MISS. TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

13%

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 5500. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WAS NOT ALIGNED AND THE FRAME WAS LEANING TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER LOCATED AT 903 S BURLINGTON BLVD BURLINGTON, WASHINGTON 360-757 0038) W
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

• ALL FUNTIONS OF STEERING COLUMN FAILED. FOUND UNPOWERED WIRE TO 6STEERING COLUMN MODULE. TRACED WIRE TO FUSEBOX AND FOUND SEVERAL CORRODED WIRES ALONG WITH RUBBER COATING FALLING OFF. REPLACED BAD WIRE ENDS AND AM NOW LOOKING FOR A PERMINENT FIX.
• WAS DRIVING 65 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL, ON THE HIGHWAY, IN MOTION WHEN I FELT A VIBRATION FOR MAYBE 10 SECONDS, DASH LIGHTS CAME ON WITHIN A COUPLE SECONDS OF VIBRATION STARTING, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, TRUCK WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. SOMEONE HAD TO BRING A TRUCK AND TRAILER TO COME PICK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ALL FUNTIONS OF STEERING COLUMN FAILED. FOUND UNPOWERED WIRE TO 6STEERING COLUMN MODULE. TRACED WIRE TO FUSEBOX AND FOUND SEVERAL CORRODED WIRES ALONG WITH RUBBER COATING FALLING OFF. REPLACED BAD WIRE ENDS AND AM NOW LOOKING FOR A PERMINENT FIX.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)