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#BS-2016-RAM150-7AE4

2016 Ram 1500Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 2,128 owners and 17 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
2,128
Crashes
126
Fires
60
Recalls
17
TSBs
604
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 2,128 complaints, 126 crashes, 60 fires, and 17 recalls. Complaint rate is 1.9x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

engine failure

14 complaints • Severity 9.6/10

$X,XXX
2

jumps when coming to a stop

11 complaints • Severity 7.1/10

$X,XXX
3

engine light on

8 complaints • Severity 5.8/10

$X,XXX
4

not shifting properly

8 complaints • Severity 8.2/10

$X,XXX
5

air suspension does not work properly

7 complaints • Severity 9.1/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

344 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 50K miles.

!Inspect the SteeringMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

271
0–30K
310
30–60K
201
60–90K
123
90–120K
49
120–150K
55
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (310 reports) • Median: 50K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (344 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine344 (16%)
Steering312 (15%)
Fuel System275 (13%)
Brakes271 (13%)
Drivetrain201 (9%)
Electrical187 (9%)
Other128 (6%)
Speed Control106 (5%)

2016 Ram 1500: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2016 Ram 1500, with 344 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 50,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 50K-mile mark.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2016 Ram 1500, with 312 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2016 Ram 1500, with 275 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2016 Ram 1500, with 271 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

68
16
108
17
127
18
342
19
167
20
122
21
137
22
242
23
285
24
322
25
208
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Ram 1500. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (17 recalls)

15V661000Nov 2015

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured June 17, 2015, to September 28, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been built with rear axles that were incorrectly heat treated.

15V663000Dec 2015

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ram 1500 trucks with a 5.7L engine and dual exhaust manufactured August 3, 2015, to August 10, 2015. The affected vehicles may be missing a heat shield for the spare tire.

16E041000Jul 2016

EQUIPMENT

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling aftermarket Mopar Canvas Seat Covers for certain 2012-2016 RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. These Mopar canvas seat covers were sold through Chrysler dealerships beginning October 15, 2015. The seat covers can impede the deployment of the seat thorax airbags.

16V167000May 2016

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2015, to September 13, 2015. Contamination on the Electric Power Steering (EPS) control circuit board may cause a short and result in the loss of power steering assist.

16V301000Jul 2016

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016 RAM 1500 trucks manufactured February 19, 2016, to March 3, 2016. The front halfshafts may have been incorrectly manufactured causing them to fracture without warning.

+ 12 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2016 Ram 1500 NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

3 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (4)

3 investigations still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

EA23001OpenOpened Mar 2023

High pressure fuel pump failure

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

PE16014ClosedOpened Dec 2016 · closed Jan 2024

Vehicle Rollaway

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

RQ23003OpenOpened Aug 2023

Intermittent/Comp Loss of Power Steering

STEERING

RQ25003OpenOpened Jul 2025

Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

The worst model year for the Ram 1500 is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2016 Ram 1500 vs. Class Average (Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD)

This vehicle

2,128

Class avg

1144

1.9x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical standard pickup trucks 2wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 2,128 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 17 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Ram 1500 Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013
View all Ram 1500 years →

2016 Ram 1500: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Ram 1500?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2016 Ram 1500 is related to the engine, with 344 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2016 Ram 1500 reliable?
The 2016 Ram 1500 has 2,128 complaints, 126 crash reports, and 60 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 1.9x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2016 Ram 1500?
NHTSA rates the 2016 Ram 1500 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 3 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Ram 1500 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2016 Ram 1500 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2016 Ram 1500 has 17 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ram 1500 problems start?
Based on 1009 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 50,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2016 Ram 1500 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 2,128 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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