2016 Ram 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
258 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
24,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 148 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 258 complaints (24.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 54 | 20.9% |
| Steering behavior | 46 | 17.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 31 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 8.1% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 3.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 64 |
| Engine | 53 |
| Steering | 43 |
| Electrical System | 37 |
| Service Brakes | 34 |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
Power Train: 64; Engine: 53; Steering: 43; Electrical System: 37; Service Brakes: 34; Unknown Or Other: 33; Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 75 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 75; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (75). 110 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 39 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 15 |
2015: 3; 2016: 24; 2017: 33; 2018: 44; 2019: 39; 2020: 22; 2021: 19; 2022: 16; 2023: 19; 2024: 11; 2025: 13; 2026: 15
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 31 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10785445 · 2015-10-22 (October 22, 2015)
LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION: THE 2016 2500 RAM DIESEL TRUCK HAS A PROBLEM THAT CAUSES IT TO DO A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. A COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE LOST, INCLUDING A... COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE... BRAKE LIGHTS... POWER STEERING... POWER BRAKES. EVERYTHING DIES WITH NO WARNING. JUST DEAD! FIAT DODGE RAM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ARE ALLOWING THESE VEHICLES TO BE SOLD TO AN UNKNOWING PUBLIC. THE REASON I KNOW THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN THE DEALER CALLED THE STAR HOT LINE AT RAM THEY WERE TOLD EXACTLY WHERE TO GO…
Owner-reported narrative. 124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876644 · 2016-06-26 (June 26, 2016)
DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SPEED UP AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED ON IT'S OWN. SHIFTED VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL AND ACCELERATOR WAS STILL CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. SHUT VEHICLE OFF THEN RESTARTED VEHICLE, ONCE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED VEHICLE AGAIN CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED ON ON ITS OWN. HAD TO BRAKE EXCESSIVELY TO STOP VEHICLE AGAIN PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ,ENGINE WAS REVVING AND TURNED IGNITION OFF AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AT THE MOMENT I LEFT MY DRIVEWAY ON A RURAL ROAD. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED. …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851761 · 2016-03-26 (March 26, 2016)
B/T 15-20 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. NO WARNING, NO NOISE, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE GOES TO NOTHING, AND RPMS DROP TO 0. I LOOSE CONTROL OF STEERING AS WELL. EVERYTHING ELSE HAS POWER TO IT (RADIO, LIGHTS, ETC WORK) HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES, 3 IN A ROW, SPENT 2 DAYS AT DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HAPPENED THE 4TH TIME AND I HAVE IT ON VIDEO. ITS GOING BACK TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY FOR THEM TO TRY AGAIN. CHRYSLER DODGE IS AWARE OF IT, AND HASN'T CALLED TO SPEAK WITH ME OR RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS, ITS BEEN 2WKS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,654 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10863534 · 2016-05-06 (May 6, 2016)
MY 2016 RAM 1500 ALMOST KILLED ME THIS MORNING. TRUCK HAS 4,000 MILES ON IT. AT 4 AM I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 EAST BOUND 170 MILES FROM PENSACOLA. CRUISE WAS SET AT 78 AND I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE. THE ROAD WAS PITCH BLACK. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND ALL ELECTRICAL. HEADLIGHTS WENT DARK DASH BOARD, ETC. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS PANICKED AND MANAGED SOMEHOW TO MAKE IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. AFTER GETTING TO THE SHOULDER EMERGENCY FLASHERS WOULD NOT WORK EVERYTHING WAS DEAD. JUST AS I WAS CONSIDERING GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE POWER…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10917232 · 2016-10-18 (October 18, 2016)
TODAY I HAD A CLOSE CALL. CRUISING EMPTY, NOT TOWING, SOMEONE PULLED OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY. GOT ON THE BRAKES. HAD A GOOD OPENING IN THE NEXT LANE. PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDDLE AND STARTED SHIFTING LANES. THE TRUCK WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, NOT EVEN A LITTLE. AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE 2-3 SECONDS IT STARTED TO ACCELERATE, AND BY THEN THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS GETTING VERY CLOSE TO MY REAR BUMPER. I DIDN'T PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BUT MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE. ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO THE DODGE DEALER AND HAVING A FORMAL NOTE PUT INTO MY FILE A…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10917232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10785556 · 2015-10-23 (October 23, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, RE-FLASHED THE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT A TERMINAL ON THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE WAS SHEARING OFF CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10926383 · 2016-11-16 (November 16, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10926383 at NHTSA ↗