Car · Ram problems

2016 Ram 2500 problems

259 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Ram 2500. The most reported area is power train (transmission and drive) (25% of them). NHTSA also lists 281 service bulletins and 12 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 10. Deaths: 1.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 259 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Power train (transmission and drive)64 · 25%
• Engine and engine cooling56 · 22%
• Steering43 · 17%
• Electrical system38 · 15%
• Service brakes35 · 14%
• Other or unknown33 · 13%
• Speed control and throttle17 · 7%
• Body and structure13 · 5%

15 smaller areas not shown (71 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 281 repair bulletins from Ram for the 2016 Ram 2500. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 9100923Received September 30, 2026

   Electrical system

   AIR CLEANER - NONE Instruction to Dealers while ordering the PN# 68137142AD.

2. 112906Received July 2, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   Bearing - crankshaft thrust and kit.

3. S1203000003 REV.AReceived July 2, 2026

   Service brakes

   Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning.

4. S1623000028 Rev. KReceived June 18, 2026

   Electrical system

   Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot.

5. S2623000032Received May 6, 2026

   Body and structure

   Squeak Or Squawk Noise Coming From Either Side Door Of The Vehicle, It Could Be Just One Door Or More.

6. 110603Received March 13, 2026

   Electrical system

   Speaker - none.

7. 9100735Received December 17, 2025

   Electrical system

   Verify "Z" part number availability.

8. S2503000004Received November 13, 2025

   Electrical system

   Front Axle Disconnect (FAD) Electrical Connector Design Change On Replacement Axle Assemblies.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2016 Ram 2500. Recall repairs are free at a Ram dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 17V821000December 20, 2017

   Power train

   Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position.

2. 17V562000September 12, 2017

   Engine and engine cooling

   These water pumps may leak coolant.

3. 15V592000September 23, 2015

   Engine and engine cooling

   In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.

See all 12 recalls for the 2016 Ram 2500, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your 2500 will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Power train (transmission and drive) 64 complaints · 25%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Engine and engine cooling 56 complaints · 22%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Steering 43 complaints · 17%

• Tie rod end replacement (one side)$130 to $380
• Wheel alignment (four-wheel)$85 to $250

Electrical system 38 complaints · 15%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2016 Ram 2500: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Ram 2500?

Of the 259 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Ram 2500, 64 (25%) name power train (transmission and drive), and 56 (22%) name engine and engine cooling. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2016 Ram 2500 reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 16 of the 259 complaints as involving a crash and 3 as involving a fire. They also reported 10 injuries and 1 death. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2016 Ram 2500 have?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2016 Ram 2500. Recall repairs are free at a Ram dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 281 repair bulletins for the 2016 Ram 2500.

More

• 2018 2500 problems
• 2017 2500 problems
• 2015 2500 problems
• 2014 2500 problems
• 2012 2500 problems
• 2011 2500 problems
• 2010 2500 problems
• 2016 recalls
• All Ram recalls
• Ram problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.