NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Ram 1500. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
My truck has the electronic steering with just over 130k miles, for some reason the electronic steering will just stop working, but no warning lights come on to the dash. When I take it to have it check it works fine. Then it will quit working again. I've read where thier is a recall on them but the dodge dealership says my truck isn't one of them.
On the highway at 70mph, vehicle stuttered and lost all power. Engine light came on. On side of road vehicle would turn over but not start. Using code reader got codes cp026 and cp016 indicating low or no fuel pressure. Towed 35 miles to dealer. Discovered next day that fuel.pump had failed and sent debris into the fuel injection system. I have been waiting more than since they notified owners when problem discovered for a remedy as per the recall. Now the HPFP has failed. Waiting on FCA for their solution as this is my only vehicle.
Loss control while going down the highway, as the traction control is not working, I loss control when the road had a slight hill and curve. It has been a little under a year since my ABS module/control as gone bad. This causes the loss of traction control, ABS braking and other issues. This is a safety concern as the traction control is needed and brakes lock up without the ABS. This is a well-known issue with 2012-2017 Ram's. The main issue is the part is not available to correct the issue which makes this an even more serious safety issue.
The safety recall for the 2016 RAM Ecodiesel is taking too long. The recall was issued in 2022 and it is now 2024. I want my HPFP replaced ASAP.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving in a parking lot, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving while the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the Chevrolet dealer it was purchased from. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer, Crystal Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (5404 S Illinois Rte 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60012), and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V167000 (Steering). The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Been inspected by the dealer. ABS modules as with many other owners cannot be replaced due to a lack of inventory on a vehicle less than 10 years old. Abs and traction control lights stay on as well as having the brakes locking up during wet conditions. It’s completely unsafe and too widespread for the company not to have a solution. Much less at the owners dime due to a flawed design.
The steering in the truck has gotten a lot more difficult all of a sudden. It is still drivable for now but some turns require additional force. This just happened and as such has not been taken to a garage or dealership. I have contacted FCA to see if the repairs may be covered under the recall for the EPS module if that is what this turns out to be. There were no warning lamps etc. It just got a lot harder to turn yesterday (06/02/2024)
The ABS module has been out on my truck for almost a year and RAM still hasn't released a part. According to forums on the internet for this year model and others, this has become a common issue. I am driving my truck without the ability to use my ABS system. I have called RAM customer service and my local dealer(s) several times and a part is not available. I can't get a response from my case worker with RAM. This should be a recall issue.
ABS Module failure, Anti-Lock Brake system failure.
Intermittent loss of powersteering around turns almost causing vehicle to go off road or head on into oncoming traffic
Has had the "Hemi tick" ever since I bought it new. But didnt seem to effect performance, so I thought.......Time went on and the "tick" became louder and louder even though I got the oil changed religiously, air filters, tires, (2) tune ups, all proper maintenance was performed for the livelihood and longevity of the truck accordingly and have receipts to back up that claim. Now, at about 100,000 miles i had to replace the rear differential and axle of which i noticed was a recall of the same year and same truck but they say according to my vin number there are no recalls.......well, we need to include my truck in some of these because ive already paid out of pocket for the same problem listed in the recall. Also, regarding the active class action "HEMI TICK" lawsuit, low and behold, as i accumulated more miles, it gravitated to a loud tick, and an extreme loss of power when trying to accelerate to get on a highway or pass somebody on the highway, or even just take off from a green light.....it runs higher rpm than normal, the combustion is incorrect for sure, If I needed to hit the gas to get out of the way of danger, chances of success are grim. Twice I was on the highway going 70 and it straight up died, went blank! We were ok, thank God! My miles per gallon has dwindled away lower and lower getting about 8-11 mpg. It overheated this last summer in this condition. Anytime I parked and idled i had to have the hood open to prevent overheating. Took it to a couple auto shops and after replacing the fan clutch twice, the PCM, the throttle body/position sensor, accelerator position sensor, radiator flush, new radiator cap..........we cleared all error codes being we replaced the problems causing it to present a clear operating truck error free. .........all except the engine light when turning the key to power on, it blinked 10 times. Took it to dealership who quoted 800 to tear down the engine to get to the lifters and camshaft. 5,250.00 quote for lawsuit problem.
Power Steering suddenly partially went out while driving.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel system, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
POWER STEERING FAILURE THIS TRUCK I BELIEVE WAS MANUFACTURED 12/2015 AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS RECALLED ORIGINALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT HAS FAILED
FUEL LEVEL SENSER NOT READING , WENT ON VACATION FUEL WASNT READING AN I JUST FILLED IT UP . TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AN THEY SAID ITS WORKING NOW , AFTER WE WENT ON THE WAY BACK IT STARTED DOING IT MORE AN MORE . AN PLUS THE TAILGATE OPENS ON IT OWN ALL THE TIME
Power steering went out at highway speeds. Truck was almost impossible to steer. Not yet currently at shop as of 1/25/24 Message said to service power steering immediately.
While listening to radio, radio station would change on its own a couple times. Also, while listening to pandora, songs would skip out of no where.
The air ride (air bags) have deflated and will not inflate. Had at dealer and was told $6000 to fix. I only had vehicle for a little over a year at that time. Since then air ride has failed
While driving through mountainous terrain, my truck became unable to change gears and illuminated a check engine light and an electronic throttle control warning. I was able to limp it home to the dealership for repairs where they identified that the crankshaft tonewheel had delaminated. This exact issue is addressed in recall W68/NHTSA 20V-475 by FCA with the verbiage: "The magnetic material attached to the tone wheel on your vehicle provides a signal to the crankshaft position sensor. If this signal material is lost, the engine loses its ability to synchronize injector pulses and cam timing. This loss of crankshaft position can result in an engine stall, as well as loss of the ability to restart the engine. A loss of motive power can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning." Incredulously, FCA will not reimburse me for the cost of the repairs because they did not include my VIN in their W68 recall announcement. The exact part failed in the exact manner outlined in this recall, but their method to avoid liability is to simply say my VIN wasn't affected by the manufacturing defect--which it obviously was. Instead, they included my affected VIN in their W58 recall--which like a safe driver I complied with immediately--that only consisted of a software flash and an extended mileage/time warranty on the part (should it fail), that of course failed within 2 months of the warranty period expiring. I cannot understand how NHTSA would allow FCA to exclude VINs from W68 that were clearly affected by this very same manufacturing defect, and instead loop in clearly affected VINs in a simple software flash with a limited extended warranty. I ask that NHTSA please hold FCA accountable for this manufacturing defect and correctly cover ALL affected VINs with recall W68/NHTSA 20V-475.
My truck is equipped with an air suspension system. During winter weather when temperatures dropped in the low 20's and lower, the air system blows a fuse and drops the suspension to an unsafe position for driving. It has occurred several times including while driving. A warning message sometimes (but not always) a warning is flashed on the screen to have the truck serviced immediately. I have had to cancel important trips to the hospital for my disabled wife because the truck is not reliable during Wisconsin winter weather. My local dealer has inspected and assessed he problem. He has given me an estimate to replace the system but cannot assure me that it will not fail. I called RAM customer service to get a technical explanation of the air suspension problem and solution from the manufacturer who designed and manufactured the product. I called RAM customer service seeking an answer. I cannot justify spending $4000 on something than will not solve the problem. I was not told by the original dealer that I couldn’t drive the truck in Wisconsin winters. There are many people complaining about this on RAM forums and other internet sites. This is obviously a problem and I need a truck that will be reliable to drive safely during winter.
I had about 3/4 of a tank of gas. I noticed my fuel gauge go down to empty, and the low fuel light started blinking. It then when back up to about 3/4. It did this a couple of times until it stayed on empty, and the check engine light came on. The next time I started my truck, I got a "Fuel Sensor Fail" notification. I get that every time I start up. When I filled my tank, the gauge began to work again, but I still had a check engine light. I checked my codes, and had a P0463 code, which indicates a fuel sensor fail. I cleared the code, and the gauge worked for about a day and half. When I got to about 3/4 of a tank of gas again, it all happened again. I have about 78,000 miles.
The ram air suspension keeps failing causing the car to drop to bump stops and mounts around out of control. The suspension on my vehicle has been repaired multiple times throughout the years. And has failed once again during normal driving operations. It has once again been fixed just to fail within days. Then brought back to the dealership just to fail within hours of it being repaired again. There are also multiple complaints on forums and Facebook pages and websites about the failure.
Several days ago, I started to notice on my 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 (Outdoorsman edition - 5.7L Hemi V8 Engine) that my power steering is working intermittently. At first I thought I was hitting potholes or bumps in the road when turning, but the problem is getting progressively worse. My wife was very scared last night 2/1/2024 when driving the truck because she stated she was having a hard time steering. Driving the truck this morning, I noticed again and more frequently, that the power steering on the truck is working intermittently. Of course, I did what we all do, I Google searched this issue, and saw the NHTSA was doing an investigation on these issues for the 2016 series of Ram trucks, so I thought I would report this issue with my truck to the agency. The truck routinely visits automotive shops and service stations, and nobody has stated there are any issues with the electric power steering system.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact forcefully steered the steering wheel, and the vehicle regained power steering functionality shortly afterward. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving and occurred increasingly while driving at slow speeds. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V167000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
2016 ram ecodiesel engine failure, low oil pressure Vehicle died in heavy traffic Reproduced by dealer, excessive amounts of metal in oil, no one else inspected. Tried to file complaint with manufacturer however they denied my claim case #[XXX]. No support by manufacturer too many miles. This is a known defect with this engine with many warranty claims. No repair parts available back ordered for up to a year. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This vehicle has a faulty ABS module that Ram doesn't make the part for. The part 68292756AA been shown on backorder for over 1yr. After chatting with a Ram customer service agent I found out this part has been discontinued and was advised that I try an aftermarket part. Guess what ? The aftermarket part is not compatible with the program download. This is unacceptable. There seems there is forums after forums with people in the same predicament. This issue really needs to be investigated .
Traction control light, brake light and abs light all on. Has been burning my 3rd light bulb and dash speedometer goes blank sometimes when driving. Also feels like brakes are engaged while driving sometimes. Check engine light come on and off sometimes. I was told it was The ABS CONTROL MODULE BY DODGE DEALER SHIP. ALSO TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT SOMETIMES. Have to turn vehicle off to reset. But sometimes it takes several of times to reset.
Approximately five times over six years, my 2016 Ram pickup engine will shut off on its own with no warning. It has always happened on the highway at high speed. This puts others at risk as I must put on hazard lights and coast to a stop with minimal control of the vehicle while other motorists try to avoid hitting me. The instrument lights remain on and once stopped, I can put transmission into park and restart the vehicle. I would allow an inspection at any time, but one has not been done by others yet as it is so random.
Power steering has become very stiff when turning while in motion, almost impossible to turn steering wheel when parked. Vehicle is parked due to safety and long wait for repair from Dodge dealer. Pickup is sole vehicle for household, rental not covered by dealership or insurance until deemed undrivable by dealer (per both dealer and insurance company).
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. An unknown message was displayed. The contact parked the vehicle, and then the transmission seized in park(P). The vehicle was turned off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
It keeps saying parking light out. The engine light is now on and brakes and suspension are not good. Texas Crown auto sales or Crown auto sales sold me this lemon and I have only made 6 months of payments on it. It goes to the shop and stays at least three weeks every month In 2024. I have pictures and video of everyone that worked on it and sold it to me that they fired already.
While driving on a highway my power steering stopped working. There is a recall for 2015-2016 Ram 1500 for power steering failure. The recall states, vehicles manufactured in January of 2015 through September of 2015 may be effected. This truck was manufactured in September of 2015. Manufacture says this is not there problem. The fact this vehicle has no power steering greatly increases the risk of myself, my family and of every other motorist on the road, especially during snowing and icy months.
Lack of action on an existing NHTSA recall. FCAUS has failed to act on NHTSA recall 22V-406 for the high pressure fuel pump. Today I contacted the local Ram dealership service department and was told that they do not have a waitlist to fix the issue, or any idea when repair parts will become available. This is 566 days after the recall was announced in June 2022. The inaction of FCAUS/Stellantis is a danger to the livelihood and safety of owners of affected vehicles and the safety of drivers that share the roads with owners of affected vehicles.
My electric power steering keeps going in and out of not working. Does not matter speed one minute it will be extremely stiff and next just fine. I noticed there is a recall for this type of vehicle and issue and my truck was manufactured in August of 2015 which is in the timeline of the recall.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly lost motive power and stalled, almost causing a crash. The contact stated the vehicle was able to be restarted moments later. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it remained for the past six months, due to parts not being available. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the ABS, TPMS, trailer brake control unit, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the part to repair the vehicle was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V406000 (Fuel System Diesel) and 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine and electrical system warning lights were illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer and was advised that the parts to repair the vehicle were not yet available and were related to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System Diesel). The failure mileage was 260,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the reluctor wheel had delaminated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
While driving at 70 MPH down I-90 in upstate New York, during rush hour traffic, my 2016 Ram 1500 eco diesel lost power (engine stopped). The truck lost power, including a loss in power steering. I was able to navigate the truck to the side of the road and a state trooper pull behind me while waiting for the tow truck. The truck would not start after this. There was no advanced warning for this failure. There were no warning lights, and before the engine stall, the truck was driving and behaving as it should. The truck was towed to a mechanic off the highway and later towed to Castilone Dodge in Batavia NY. The dealer found the magnetic perimeter of the tone wheel was flaking, which caused an issue with the driveshaft sensor, causing the truck to stall. Castilone found there is an existing recall on this for 2014-2019 RAM eco diesel trucks. The recall is for "Risk of delamination of crankshaft position sensor tone wheels". However, upon looking into this and calling RAM directly, RAM stated the recall only affects some VINs, and mine was not included. I spoke to two different people at RAM, who reiterated this. RAM claims that my truck received a good tone wheel, which was not included in the recall, and because of this, they refused to cover the repair and towing bill. The truck was taken to West Herr RAM in Lockport, NY, where they replaced the tone wheel for $1,760.65. I find it curious, that my truck experienced the same issue that was covered under recall warranty for other 2014-2018 RAM EcoDiesels. But my truck VIN was not captured in the recall. I asked RAM to investigate whether there are additional VINs that should be captured under the recall. They refused to escalate my request or do any additional research. I'm asking for help form the NHTSA to hold RAM accountable to at least determine if this issue impacts additional trucks.
The power steering shuts off randomly.
My 2016 RAM 1500 has been experiencing intermittent electric power steering. system failures, causing vehicle control failure when I try to turn left or right. When I disconnect the car battery, the electric power steering system temporarily works again, but then shows the same symptoms again. I haven't had any accidents with the vehicle, but I've been avoiding taking long trips due to the insecurity of the malfunction of the electric power steering.
Rear tailgate keeps coming open while traveling on highway
I have had 3 incidents with lose of power steering in the last two months
The vehicle has a faulty ABS module, which has resulted in my truck losing traction on dry roads and wet roads, however the “wet” roads are a result of a minimal sprinkle. The vehicle is beyond a vital component of my ability to make a living, i work in construction and have to be able to safely move equipment and supplies to sites; as of right now I am unable to drive the vehicle. The faulty ABS module caused my brakes to lock while pulling out of a park space with a slight incline in my place of employment, resulting in the sliding backwards towards a company vehicle and to avoid hitting it I moved the steering wheel to collide with a brick wall. The brakes and rotors were replaced a few months earlier this year as well as the truck being serviced regularly, however, the truck has continued to have parts fail throughout this year. From the starter to the fuel injection system, pump, gaskets between the engine and fuel intake, and now the vehicle is literally completely unsafe to drive and operate on the road! The traction control regulator is apart of the ABS system control module! I have looked everywhere (Firestone, DARCARS, Ect.) to find a replacement part and have been told that there are none available until sometime in March of 2024! There are no other options for me to reach out to. The vehicle can be inspected if requested, the issue appeared 3-4 weeks ago before being brought into the firestone shop before being serviced for faulty gaskets and fuel injection issues. The vehicle is under 100,000 miles, and I purchased it with just over 43,000 miles. I am in the process of contacting my insurance company and collecting the various service charges from different repair shops resulting in the inability to get the part.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed due to a failure related to the recall. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
ABS module, traction control, cruise control not working due to failed ABS module. Yes it can be inspected. RAM dealership saying to drive it. Puts myself, my family, and others at risk due to failed braking. ABS is a safety feature that is required in newer vehicles but isn’t working. Dealer confirmed and also by 3rd party mechanic. Yes. Abs and traction control lights on. Appeared to fully not work December 2023. Had intermittent problems before starting back in 2019. I cannot afford to drive a rental car for the unforeseen future while Chrysler takes their time to figure out a statement. It isn’t right for the customers and other drivers to be put at risk for their engineering problems. Now my truck cannot be traded in at the max value due to the ABS module failure so the customer loses money trying to get from under the non safe vehicle. Please help and save peoples lives by making Chrysler own up to their failed engineering.
—2016 Ram 1500 with 50,000 miles—ABS brake light and brake light came on. 2023 Took Ram into dealership to have it fixed and was told that the ABS module was out and that a new one would need to be ordered. Dealership said that they are on back order and I must pay for half of it before they order. I paid them to order it but it is still back ordered. Was told this is a common problem and should be a recall due to loss of braking. I also had them check a clicking noise and was told that the head of the bolt on the exhaust broke and was told by the dealership that this is a very common problem and should be a recall because exhaust is leaking at the manifold allowing for the exhaust to enter the cab possibly leading to exhaust toxicity. There are many online forums detailing all of these issues and the cost is exorbitant.
Service Electronic braking system. ABS dashboard light illuminated. Traction control symbol illuminated. Dashboard brakelight illuminated. Faulty ABS control module diagnosted by independent repair center.
I am very angry that the drivers seat belt on my Dodge Ram Hemi 2016 is NOT working properly. I bought the truck used in the fall of 2016 and I & my family have been the only drivers since then. The truck only has 92,235 miles on it & has NOT been used for towing, work nor has it been in an accident. I use it to do my grocery shopping. In 2023 November, the drivers side seat belt quit locking in place when used & it won't retract. If I have an accident I will go through the windshield. The truck is NOT safe for me to drive and the issue with the seat belt is mechanical. I am getting all sorts of pushback from the customer service of Stellantis, Chrysler, FCA US, Dodge Ram, & Mopar representatives. The response is utterly inappropriate - THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND FOR A TRUCK THAT HAS SO LITTLE MILEAGE ON IT, THEY NEED TO FIX THE SEAT BELT ISSUE IMMEDIATELY - AND THEY WON'T. Mopar seat belts have a reputation for the tensioner & springs to deteriorate w/o any abuse or misuse by the vehicle owner. "The truck has too many miles on it or it's more than 3 years old." To replace the seat belt with a Mopar seat belt will cost me over $900. I have done nothing wrong with the truck and yet Stellantis et al are trying to require me to pay for replacement. Yes I had the seat belt evaluated by a Certified Mechanic just not at the local dealership. I was also informed that this type of issue is typical as well as the response. TO HAVE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF AND YET YOU REFUSE TO RECTIFY IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. I need the NHTSA to start looking at this issue. There are innumerable instances of truck owners OR Dodge owners getting stuck with the same type of situation that I'm in all over the internet. PLEASE HELP ME. Best Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)