2016 Ram 1500: Problems & Reliability
AVOID2016 Ram 1500: AVOID — 1,503 owner complaints (3.08 per 1,000 sold), 1.7× the 1500 median year.
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 2.06, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.46. Severity drives it: 83% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, published U.S. sales, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
1,503
NHTSA complaints
3.08
Complaints per 1,000 sold
602
Service bulletins
17
Recall campaigns
2016 Ram 1500 recalls
17 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016, reported between Oct 15, 2015 and Jan 16, 2025.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 25V010000 | Jan 16, 2025 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 23V411000 | Jun 8, 2023 | Engine & cooling |
| 22V406000 | Jun 9, 2022 | Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 21V632000 | Aug 12, 2021 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 20V475000 | Aug 13, 2020 | Engine & cooling › Engine › Diesel |
| 19V757000 | Oct 24, 2019 | Engine & cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve) |
| 19V347000 | May 9, 2019 | Latches, locks & linkages › Tailgate › Latch |
| 18V486000 | Jul 27, 2018 | Structure › Body › Tailgate |
| 18V332000 | May 17, 2018 | Electrical system › Wiring |
| 17V821000 | Dec 20, 2017 | Powertrain / transmission › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift |
| 17V302000 | May 9, 2017 | Air bags |
| 17V198000 | Mar 23, 2017 | Powertrain / transmission › Driveline › Differential unit |
+5 more campaigns on the NHTSA record.
2016 Ram 1500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 602 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2016 — close to the 551 of the median 1500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (145), engine & cooling (90), powertrain / transmission (72). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2016 vs. the year before and after
From the 2015 to the 2016, owner complaints held roughly level (1,425 → 1,503). The 2017 that followed fell 41% (1,503 → 886), so the 2017 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 1500 | AVOID | 1,425 | 588 | 18 | — |
| 2016 (this page) | AVOID | 1,503 | 602 | 17 | — |
| 2017 1500 | CAUTION | 886 | 470 | 13 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ram 1500 years to avoid.
Nearby 1500 years with a better rating: 2018.
Know what to pay for the right 2016 Ram 1500 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2016 Ram 1500 reliable?
2016 Ram 1500: AVOID — 1,503 owner complaints (3.08 per 1,000 sold), 1.7× the 1500 median year. CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 2.06, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.46.
What are the most common 2016 Ram 1500 problems?
The 2016 Ram 1500 has 1,503 NHTSA owner complaints and 602 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ram 1500 have?
17 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016 Ram 1500, most recently 25V010000 (Jan 16, 2025, air bags); 23V411000 (Jun 8, 2023, engine & cooling); 22V406000 (Jun 9, 2022, fuel system, diesel). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2016 Ram 1500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2016 Ram 1500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the per-1,000 rate divides complaints by published U.S. 2016 calendar-year sales; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. The live complaint feed was unavailable at render, so the complaint count is the verdict engine’s stored count. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.