2016 Ram 5500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 17 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 29.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 11.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.9% |
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 | 5 |
| Wheels | 5 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Power Train: 5; Wheels: 5; Steering: 3; Electrical System: 2; Suspension: 2; Engine: 1; Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive): 1; Service Brakes: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 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 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10808615 · 2015-12-05 (December 5, 2015)
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 DRIVING 65-76 MPH. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 60-75 MPH. THIS VEHICLE HAD 2 MILES ON IT WHEN PURCHASED. ALL TIRES HAD THE RECOMMENDED AIR PRESSURE IN THEM. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTANT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 91 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992833 · 2017-06-02 (June 2, 2017)
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 [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121408 · 2018-08-16 (August 16, 2018)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11121408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11670776 · 2025-07-02 (July 2, 2025)
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transfer case. The contact stated that the transmission was loud and vibrated abnormally while driving. The contact previously owned a 2014 Ram 5500 with a noisy transfer case whi…
Owner-reported narrative. 156 miles reported. Look up ODI 11670776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142105 · 2018-10-23 (October 23, 2018)
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 MAGUIRE DODGE RAM (LOCATED AT 959 HIAWATHA BLVD W, SYRACUSE, NY 13204, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,122 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403861 · 2021-03-19 (March 19, 2021)
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. THROUGH AN INTERNET SEARCH AND CALLING THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND SPEAKING TO THE MECHANIC, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ACROSS MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS. HTTPS://WWW.DIESELTRUCKRESOURCE.COM/FORUMS/4TH-GEN-RAM-NON-DRIVETRAIN-2010-UP-202/STEERING-LOCKS-UP-BRAKE-A…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11269161 · 2019-10-17 (October 17, 2019)
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 UP MYSELF AND THE TRUCK AND A WRECKER TO LOAD TRUCK ON TRAILER. WHEN TRUCK WAS LOADED, YOU COULD SEE THAT THE TRANSFER CASE LOOKED LIKE IT HAD EXPLODED. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN PULLED OUT. I CHECKED FOR ANY ISSUES OF THIS TYPE WITH SIMILAR YEAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11269161 at NHTSA ↗