2016 RAM 1500 Problems and Recalls (1,540 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2016 RAM 1500 is Steering (19% of 1,540 owner reports). There are 17 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 1,540 complaints · 17 recalls

What problems show up on the 2016 RAM 1500?

287 of 1,540 filings named Steering (19% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (226 reports).

There are 17 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Transmission / driveline, Tires, Steering, Electrical, Engine, Airbags, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2015 has 1,453 reports on file; this year has 1,540. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2016 RAM 1500

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 17 campaigns on file below.
  2. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Steering. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Steering 287 complaints · 18.6% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 92
  • Fires 36
  • Injuries 73
  • Deaths 5
All RAM 1500 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Steering (STEERING) appears in 287 of 1,540 owner complaints (18.6%) in this vehicle snapshot. Steering (STEERING): 287 complaints, 18.6% of reports Steering (STEERING) 5 crash reports 1 fire reports 287 · 18.6% Engine (ENGINE): 226 complaints, 14.7% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 16 fire reports 226 · 14.7% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 224 complaints, 14.6% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 3 fire reports 224 · 14.6% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 165 complaints, 10.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 6 crash reports 2 fire reports 165 · 10.7% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 156 complaints, 10.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 32 crash reports 4 fire reports 156 · 10.1% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 81 complaints, 5.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 crash reports 81 · 5.3% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 78 complaints, 5.1% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 crash reports 78 · 5.1% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 61 complaints, 4.0% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 61 · 4.0% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 32 complaints, 2.1% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 24 crash reports 32 · 2.1% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 307 complaints, 19.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 14 crash reports 9 fire reports 307 · 19.9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Steering (STEERING) 287 18.6% 5 crashes · 1 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 226 14.7% 0 crashes · 16 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 224 14.6% 0 crashes · 3 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 165 10.7% 6 crashes · 2 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 156 10.1% 32 crashes · 4 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 81 5.3% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 78 5.1% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 61 4.0% 1 crashes · 1 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 32 2.1% 24 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 307 19.9% 14 crashes · 9 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2016; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2015. 2016-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q4: 33 owner reports 33 2017-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2017-Q2: 30 owner reports 30 2017-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2017-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2018-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2018-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2018-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2018-Q4: 26 owner reports 26 2019-Q1: 35 owner reports 35 2019-Q2: 33 owner reports 33 2019-Q3: 105 owner reports 105 2019-Q4: 58 owner reports 58 2020-Q1: 36 owner reports 36 2020-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2020-Q3: 42 owner reports 42 2020-Q4: 26 owner reports 26 2021-Q1: 34 owner reports 34 2021-Q2: 21 owner reports 21 2021-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2021-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2022-Q1: 26 owner reports 26 2022-Q2: 27 owner reports 27 2022-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2022-Q4: 24 owner reports 24 2023-Q1: 33 owner reports 33 2023-Q2: 36 owner reports 36 2023-Q3: 63 owner reports 63 2023-Q4: 50 owner reports 50 2024-Q1: 67 owner reports 67 2024-Q2: 43 owner reports 43 2024-Q3: 54 owner reports 54 2024-Q4: 43 owner reports 43 2025-Q1: 75 owner reports 75 2025-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2025-Q3: 64 owner reports 64 2025-Q4: 52 owner reports 52 2026-Q1: 49 owner reports 49 2026-Q2: 41 owner reports 41 2026-Q3: 48 owner reports 48 2026-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Oct 2015 Oct 2026 Recall campaign 15V661000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V661000 Recall campaign 15V663000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V663000 Recall campaign 16V167000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V167000 Recall campaign 16E041000 ◆ Recall campaign 16E041000 Recall campaign 16V301000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V301000 Recall campaign 17V198000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V198000 Recall campaign 17V302000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V302000 Recall campaign 17V821000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V821000 Recall campaign 18V332000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V332000 Recall campaign 18V486000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V486000 Recall campaign 19V347000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V347000 Recall campaign 19V757000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V757000 Recall campaign 20V475000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V475000 Recall campaign 21V632000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V632000 Recall campaign 22V406000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V406000 Recall campaign 23V411000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V411000 Recall campaign 25V010000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V010000 Investigation PE16014 ● Investigation PE16014 Investigation EA23001 ● Investigation EA23001 Investigation RQ23003 ● Investigation RQ23003 Investigation RQ25003 ● Investigation RQ25003
  • Campaign 17V198000 was reported 294 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V821000 was reported 566 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V332000 was reported 703 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V486000 was reported 882 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V347000 was reported 1,168 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V757000 was reported 1,002 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V475000 was reported 1,296 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V632000 was reported 1,912 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V406000 was reported 1,925 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 25V010000 was reported 3,165 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2016-Q1 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 8
2016-Q3 Owner reports 6
2016-Q4 Owner reports 33
2017-Q1 Owner reports 23
2017-Q2 Owner reports 30
2017-Q3 Owner reports 17
2017-Q4 Owner reports 12
2018-Q1 Owner reports 23
2018-Q2 Owner reports 16
2018-Q3 Owner reports 23
2018-Q4 Owner reports 26
2019-Q1 Owner reports 35
2019-Q2 Owner reports 33
2019-Q3 Owner reports 105
2019-Q4 Owner reports 58
2020-Q1 Owner reports 36
2020-Q2 Owner reports 32
2020-Q3 Owner reports 42
2020-Q4 Owner reports 26
2021-Q1 Owner reports 34
2021-Q2 Owner reports 21
2021-Q3 Owner reports 25
2021-Q4 Owner reports 17
2022-Q1 Owner reports 26
2022-Q2 Owner reports 27
2022-Q3 Owner reports 23
2022-Q4 Owner reports 24
2023-Q1 Owner reports 33
2023-Q2 Owner reports 36
2023-Q3 Owner reports 63
2023-Q4 Owner reports 50
2024-Q1 Owner reports 67
2024-Q2 Owner reports 43
2024-Q3 Owner reports 54
2024-Q4 Owner reports 43
2025-Q1 Owner reports 75
2025-Q2 Owner reports 37
2025-Q3 Owner reports 64
2025-Q4 Owner reports 52
2026-Q1 Owner reports 49
2026-Q2 Owner reports 41
2026-Q3 Owner reports 48
2026-Q4 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 15V661000
Recall campaign 1 15V663000
Recall campaign 1 16V167000
Recall campaign 1 16E041000
Recall campaign 1 16V301000
Recall campaign 1 17V198000
Recall campaign 1 17V302000
Recall campaign 1 17V821000
Recall campaign 1 18V332000
Recall campaign 1 18V486000
Recall campaign 1 19V347000
Recall campaign 1 19V757000
Recall campaign 1 20V475000
Recall campaign 1 21V632000
Recall campaign 1 22V406000
Recall campaign 1 23V411000
Recall campaign 1 25V010000
Defect investigation 1 PE16014
Defect investigation 1 EA23001
Defect investigation 1 RQ23003
Defect investigation 1 RQ25003
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (17)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Transmission / driveline, Tires, Steering, Electrical, Engine, Airbags, and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 15V661000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    If the rear axle shaft was not properly heated treated, it may fracture and a wheel separation could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the axle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 23, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R59.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 15V663000

    Tires

    Report date
    Component:
    Tires (TIRES)
    Consequence:
    Without a heat shield, heat from the exhaust system may damage the spare tire. When used, the damaged tire may have a tread separation or side wall rupture, resulting in a loss of control and an increased risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a spare tire heat shield if the vehicle is missing one. Vehicles that have already been sold with an excess of 50 miles will also have their spare tires replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R58.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 16E041000

    Safety recall 16E041000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the seat cover impedes the air bag deployment, the seat thorax air bags may not provide adequate protection in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of a injury.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners to remove the front seat covers and return them for a full refund. The recall began on July 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S30.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 16V167000

    Steering

    Report date
    Component:
    Steering (STEERING)
    Consequence:
    If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS unit, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on May 16, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S19.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 16V301000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    A fractured halfshaft may damage underbody components and create road debris, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front halfshafts, free of charge. The recall began on July 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S32.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 17V198000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    A broken or locked up differential may result in a loss of motive power and possibly a loss of vehicle control. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the differential retaining pin, free of charge. The recall began April 24, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T20.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 17V302000

    Safety recall 17V302000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the rollover side curtain air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a crash that necessitates activation of these safety systems.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the ORC software, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T25.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 17V821000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 18V332000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 18V486000

    Safety recall 18V486000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    If the tailgate latch releases and the tailgate opens while driving, cargo may fall out, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began September 17, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U74.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Recall campaign 19V347000

    Safety recall 19V347000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    If the tailgate opens while the vehicle is being driven, cargo may fall out the vehicle and create a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the tailgate latch, free of charge. The recall began May 23, 2019. Chrysler is expected to notify owners of the expanded population on October 18, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's number for this recall is V44. Note: 2015-2017 MY Ram 1500 pickup trucks with truck beds other than 8 foot, are currently covered under NHTSA recall 18V-486 for this issue.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Recall campaign 19V757000

    Engine

    Report date
    Component:
    Engine (ENGINE)
    Consequence:
    Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EGR cooler, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and, as necessary, replace the intake manifold. The recall began April 16, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB1.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Recall campaign 20V475000

    Engine

    Report date
    Component:
    Engine (ENGINE)
    Consequence:
    An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-2002. FCA US's number for this recall is W58.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  14. Recall campaign 21V632000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the SABIC assemblies, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on October 4, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 26, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y55.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Recall campaign 22V406000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners starting January 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for Ram 1500 owners were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLS's number for this recall is Z46.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  16. Recall campaign 23V411000

    Safety recall 23V411000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated July 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 66A. This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-475.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  17. Recall campaign 25V010000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's numbers for this recall are 05C, 09C, and 10C.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 7 of 1,540 complaints · page 1 of 62
2026-10-07Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11769628
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ABS and Brake lights on dash since October of 2024. No module available from any MOPAR source for a year. Had accident in July 2025. Truck slid as ABS did not engage which was direct cause of the accident resulting in damage to both vehicles. I have followed up monthly as to the availably and they continue to be on backorder and for a year it was showing Stellantis was investigating issue. Apparently this has been an ongoing safety issue that has not been address as a recall.
2026-10-07Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11769617
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Component or System Failed & Availability for Inspection: High-pressure fuel pump and common rail fuel injection system under NHTSA Recall 22V-406 (Recall Z46). The vehicle and all removed/affected components are grounded and available for inspection at Peterson CDJR in Boise, ID under Repair Order #46751. Safety Risk: Risk of sudden loss of motive power and engine stall while driving, creating collision hazards as defined under NHTSA Recall 22V-406. Chronological Timeline & Dealer Findings: July 5, 2024: Peterson CDJR performed Safety Recall Z46 (NHTSA 22V-406) Procedure A, replacing only the high-pressure fuel pump. September 2026 (RO #45520): Vehicle presented with an illuminated check engine light. Peterson CDJR diagnosed a faulty fuel pressure sensor and replaced the fuel rail and sensor for $2,809.45. September 2026 (RO #46751): Following a 55-mile test drive, Peterson CDJR technician verified the diesel fuel from the fuel tank tested completely clean. Inspection of the newly installed fuel rail sensor documented internal metallic debris actively circulating through the fuel system. September–October 2026: Peterson CDJR opened STAR Case #102997574. DealerCONNECT records and the technician notes from RO #45520 state that the entire fuel system requires replacement. Dealer requested authorization for Recall Z46 Procedure B (complete fuel system replacement kit ⁠CSSMZ46DAA⁠). October 5, 2026: Stellantis corporate documented via DealerCONNECT that the fuel system requires replacement, but stated they will not authorize the repair under warranty because the recall was previously closed. Inspections by Manufacturer / Others: Inspected by Peterson CDJR certified technicians and documented in STAR Case #102997574. Reviewed via DealerCONNECT by Stellantis corporate, who confirmed fuel system failure but refused remedy coverage under open Corporate Case #98257662. I have not had followup from my Stellantis case manager. Dealer is responsive.
2026-09-29Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11767670
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the messages "Service Emissions Control" and "Exhaust Filter 100 Percent Full - Service Required - See Dealer" were displayed, and there was a strong fuel odor coming through the vents while idling or while driving. Additionally, while attempting to refuel the vehicle at the gas station, fuel splashed out and the vehicle could not be refueled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and initially informed the contact that the vehicle was still covered under Emission Recall Number: V08 and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and Emission Recall Number: V08; however, the contact was informed that the manufacturer had not approved the recall repairs. The contact called the manufacturer was advised that she would receive a call back from a supervisor; however, the contact had not been contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
2026-09-28Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11767610
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Driving down residential street and steering got stiff . Not safe at all . Message on screen power steering service. 2 mechanics said to would need to replace complete electric power steering gear assembly.
2026-09-28Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11767578
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I hit a tree head on dodging a deer going between 35 and 40mph and none of my air bags deployed.
2026-09-28Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11767330
CrashFireInjuryDeath
After driving approximately 30-45 minutes a message on the dashboard showed up saying "Immediate Air Suspension Service/Repair Required". The suspension locked up at this point. Driving down the interstate at speeds of 70 mph was not safe for the vehicle or the occupants. This problem was addressed by a licensed Ram mechanic/dealership and determined the compressor was bad as it had stored codes for overheating. A new compressor was added. A week later the same message appeared. A deeper dive was done to look for causes, and nothing could be determined. This has occurred a total of three times.
2026-09-24Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11766787
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rack and pinion has failed after 10 years. Luckily it went out a my wife was getting home. I've had a mechanic verify that it has failed completely and I am in the process of getting a new one.

Ram 1500 Complaints and Recalls by Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 RAM 1500?

Owners named Steering most often — 287 of 1,540 reports (19%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2016 RAM 1500?

NHTSA lists 17 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Transmission / driveline, Tires, Steering, Electrical, Engine, Airbags, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2016 RAM 1500?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources