2016 Ram 3500 Complaints

STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS — Filed 08/12/2026

Pursuant to a manufacturer-issued safety recall (V06) on a steering assembly component, the manufacturer's remedy permanently damaged an otherwise functioning, adjustable steering component and created a financial barrier to basic vehicle maintenance. The component, post remedy, now would have to be replaced in order to allow adjustment to put the vehicle steering system into correct alignment. Driving a vehicle without proper front end alignment can cause premature tire wear contributing to tire failure and/or pulling to the right or left contributing to a possible accident condition. The manufacturer is refusing to pay for the replacement parts/repairs that, but for the recall remedy, would be necessary.

STEERING — Filed 05/14/2026

The contact owns a 2016 RAM 3500. The contact stated that when he took his vehicle to be aligned, he was advised that the vehicle was not able to be aligned, due to a previous recall repair where the drag link was welded unless the drag link was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of this issue. The failure mileage was approximately 55,526.

STEERING — Filed 04/30/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated that when taking the vehicle to the dealer for recall repair for a drag link failure, from a previous owner, the vehicle was misaligned and the vehicle was unable to be serviced and could not be properly aligned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was unavailable.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — Filed 04/01/2026

The contact owns a 2016 RAM 3500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle lost power and did not accelerate as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that her husband hooked the vehicle up to a handheld diagnostic machine where codes: P003A, P006a, P0046 populated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,500.

STEERING — Filed 06/13/2024

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering rack fractured, and the contact was no longer able to maneuver the vehicle. The contact strapped the steering wheel into place to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering rack needed to be replaced; however, the cause of the failure was not known. The vehicle was not repaired. Another dealer was contacted and confirmed that the steering rack needed to be replaced and assisted the contact with finding the parts to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 275,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 11/14/2025

Took vehicle to dealership for repair of heater. Once the repair was complete the dealership called to say the heater was fixed but the airbag light is now on. Once doing more testing they called back to say my steering wheel airbag harness either shorted or was crushed during the heater repair The part is no longer available and no remedy was available. I just have to take my car back compromised I refused the vehicle back and requested management get involved.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 09/14/2025

I have a complaint that needs to be addressed. On Sept. 11 2025 I had a fire in the cab of my 2016 Ram 3500 truck while it was sitting in my drive way. It was not even running. The fire was not very big and it could have been repaired. So I called FCA and opened a case with them. They informed me that I needed to bring my truck into the closest dealership so that it could be inspected. So I then called and set up and appt for Sept. 12, 2025. I had my truck towed to the dealership and upon arrival my husband who took the truck was told to take it off the trailer. So they took it off the trailer. They informed me that a woman went to the truck, opened the door and stated “ well that’s a gonna be a total loss,” closed the door and had told them to move it to the fence line. She then stated that there was nothing that y’all could do for us and that it would cost me $350.00 to be diagnosed. At this time she already knew that I had an open case with FCA and that I was told to take it in. Upon walking to the truck when my husband opened the door and it had caught fire again. So he went and told some employees in the service dept and they ran out to the truck and disconnected the batteries. Then we were told that we needed to take it off the lot if we weren’t going to pay. So they reconnected the batteries and we put the truck back on the trailer and brought it home. The next day my truck was completely engulfed in flames along with my husbands welder which is used for our business. I called FCA back on Monday and spoke with my case manager/inspector and let them know about the two fires after the first and he stated he would be going to inspect the following day. He then asked if the truck was at the dealership and if the batteries had been disconnected by your employees. I stated no the truck is here at my home and the batteries were reconnected so that we could tow it out of the dealership since that’s what we were told to do. I have told the dealership and no response

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 09/11/2025

On Sept. 11, 2025 my truck parked in my drive way. It was parked there all night. When I opened the doors to get in smoke and flames started coming out. The center console was on fire. The next day on Sept. 12, 2025 while at the dealership to have the truck inspected it caught fire again further burning the center console, the passenger seat and the roof. The dealership told us there is nothing they could do so we had to have the truck towed back to my home. Sunday night on Sept. 14,2025, I heard a loud pop noise and when I walked outside the entire cab of the truck was engulfed in flames. We had to call the fire department and they had to come put the fire out. Each of the incidences started spontaneously when the truck was just sitting parked.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/22/2025

The parking brake issue per recall was supposedly done based on information from safetycar. Vehicle can not be shut off unless in park. I'm assuming a safety feature. A few times when I attempted to shut off,even though clearly in park. Truck wouldn't do so. I shifted back into gear and then back into park with foot on brake as required. Unless I have a horse trailer hooked up, I usually don't engage parking brake if on relatively flat surface. Last week I came out to find my truck still in park had rolled forward and got caught on a large boulder before potentially rolling all the way down into a creek and pond. The boulder did do undercarriage damage mostly to brackets for bumper and spoiler. When I got in truck IT WAS STILL IN PARK. Truck started without me stepping on brake as required. Then after it started,I couldn't put it into gear. Was like shifter was locked. I tried to shut it off it wouldn't shutoff until I applied brake. I started it again with foot on brake and then I was able to shift into reverse and drive. Something is definitely wrong with the park on truck. It rolls forward now a few inches when parked and shut off in park. It will start sometimes without foot on brake and sometimes not. Since it rolled and hit rock steering feels weird. Prior to vehicle rolling and the bogus drag link fix, I have gone through tires because you can't do a full alignment. Dealership claims there's no new fix. They just won't do it right. Just like park brake issue it's not fixed right. Dealerships also claim they know nothing about a new issue and another fix. There are kids around horse farm truck coming out of gear,even though it said park,could have been a fatal accident. This truck has turned into a death trap waiting to happen and Stellantis and FCA won't acknowledge. I have to pay for a fix when it's their issue. THE 67A update has cost me over $12,000 already. THIS TRUCK SHOULD BE BOUGHT BACK BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. PARK BRAKE APPLIED ALWAYS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 05/01/2024

Odometer Fraud. The contact's husband owns a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated that her husband was recently interested in trading in the vehicle. While on Facebook Marketplace, a person interested in vehicle requested a Carfax report of the vehicle. Upon obtaining the Carfax report, the contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 167,000; however, the Carfax report discovered that back in 2022, the vehicle mileage was 370,000.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/16/2025

Def pump failed, I had to have it replaced before it degraded my travel speed to 5 mph. After spending $250 to Dodge dealer in Oxnard Service department for them to tell me exactly what it said on the truck code DEF pump needed replacing, I decided I didn't want to spend an extra $1000 for the dealer to fix it ($3900 they wanted for this job). On 11/16/22, I paid ($2865.81) to a reputable diesel mechanic to replace the pump. I was denied the reimbursement that was promised in the recall information. I need help with this! I pay $1200/ month for truck and insurance, but Ram can't reimburse me for a recall I paid out of pocket for, as promised. ABSOLUTE CROOKS! I want help with this. I see there are multiple other complaints of the same issue! HELP!

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 04/01/2025

I am writing to report an ongoing issue with my 2016 Ram 3500 (V6), related to Safety Recall V06 (NHTSA 19V-021) for the drag link, which was performed in 2020 before I purchased the vehicle two years ago. The recall "fix" involved welding the adjustable nuts on the steering linkage, rendering it non-adjustable. Since then, I have been unable to get a proper front-end alignment at any service shop. Multiple mechanics have refused to perform an alignment because the welded drag link cannot be adjusted, and they’ve stated it compromises the vehicle's steering integrity and tire wear. This is a significant safety concern. Without the ability to align the front end, the vehicle’s handling is affected, potentially leading to uneven tire wear, reduced control, or worse, a steering-related failure. I’ve contacted dealerships and Chrysler (FCA US LLC), but they insist the recall was completed and offer no further remedy, despite the fact that this weld does not allow for standard maintenance. New Ram 3500s off the assembly line come with adjustable drag links, not welded ones, which proves this was a poor fix for a safety issue. I urge the NHTSA to revisit this recall and require Chrysler to replace the defective drag link with a proper, adjustable component, rather than leaving owners like me with a substandard repair that hinders basic vehicle maintenance and safety. I purchased this truck in good faith, but this unresolved issue has made it a liability. Please investigate and address this matter before it leads to more serious consequences.

AIR BAGS — Filed 10/18/2022

The contact owned a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, he crashed into another vehicle waiting at a stop light. The driver-side air bag did not deploy upon impact. The other driver was taken to the hospital; however, the driver's whereabouts are unknown. The contact also sustained whiplash which he was treated for days after the accident. A police report was filed. Due to the damage, the contact's vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The contact went to the dealer and notified them about the air bag failure; they then referred him to the manufacturer. The contact filed a claim with the manufacturer and an investigator was assigned to look into the failure. The investigation determined that since the contact did not depress the brake pedal prior to the accident, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 242,000.

WHEELS — Filed 11/17/2022

The Government Owned Vehicle (GOV) was traveling North on 31E in Nashville, when truck shuttered then truck passenger side wheel fell off. Tire/wheel pinned to truck and caught fire. Drive pulled truck off to side of roadway and called 911.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 04/07/2022

Vehicle caught fire shortly after initiating OEM remote start. video is available

STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS — Filed 12/28/2018

DECEMBER 28, 2018 WAS APPROACHING A ROUNDABOUT TRAFFIC ISLAND WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT THE TRUCK WHEN OUT OF CONTROL AND BOUNCED OFF CURB AND OVER CENTER ISLAND ONE OVER CONCRETE PLANTING BOX UNDER CONSTRUCTION.BLEW PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND DAMAGING WHEEL,FRONT DIFFERENTIAL TRAINING ARM, DRAG LINK JAM NUT COMPLETELY LOSSE AND CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO 90 DEGREES LEFT.CLOSE TO HOME USEDFRIENS FLAT BED TRAILER TO TAKE HOME. NEWER TRUCK DID NOT WANT TO BRAND TITLE WITH INSURANCE CLAIM. IT TOOK TWO MONTHS TO SAVE MONEY AS A REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $2300. THE MECHANIC SAID THE DRAG LINK WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE. GOT TRUCK REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY 30DAYS LATER A RECALL FOR THE DRAG LINK DEFECT. I FEEL LUCKY FOR NOT BEING KILLED. LUCKY I WAS GOING 25MPH.

STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/11/2019

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY TRAILER LOADED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE. IT CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HITTING THE FREEWAY MEDIAN WALL. UNKNOWN AS TO THE COMPONENT, I AM STILL WAITING FOR A REPORT.*DT PHOTOS ATTACHED *JB

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/26/2019

I HAD A BRAKE FAULT IN MY 2016 RAM 3500 ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WHILE PULLING INTO A 150FT LONG DRIVEWAY ABOUT 8INCH OF SNOW IN 4 LO I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 10MPH OR SOJUST TO KEEP MOMENTUM INTO THE DRIVEWAY AS THE SNOW PLOW HAD BLOCKED THE DRIVEWAY WITH A LITTLE SNOW. I LET OFF THE GAS PEDDLE AT ABOUT 100FT LEFT OF THE DRIVEWAY ROLLED FOR ABOUT 10-20 FT THEB STARTED TO TRY RO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDDLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO MOVE OR GET ANY BRAKING POWER TAPPED THE BRAKES A COUPLE STILL NOTHING. I THEN STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE (I WEIGHT 240LBS) TO TRY TO GET SOME BRAKING POWER AT ALL AT THIS POINT AND I AM GETTING CLOSE TO THE HOME. AT ABOUT 5FT AND ABOUT 5MPH BE4 THE HOME THE BRAKE PEDDLE FINALLY DEPLETED AND GAVE ME BRAKING POWER BUT BY THIS TIME IT WAS TOO LATE WENT INTO THE HOME AND WRECKED MY NEW TRUCK. I GREW UP HERE AND DRIVING IN THE SNOW! HAVE NEVER FELT A VEHICLE DO THIS, I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER AND DRIVE FOR WORK HAVE NO ACCIDENTS ON MY RECORD AND NOW THIS! MY WIFE HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM IN IT WAS WELL ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE WITH MY TWO KIDS BOTHER IN LAW AND MOTHER IN LAW IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM IN MY NEW TRUCK AND DODGE WONT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OR ACTION.

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/11/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 RAM 3500. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT AT HIS JOB, HE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER DUE TO FOGGY CONDITIONS. THE BARRIER HAD NO BRIGHT PAINT OR REFLECTORS AND WAS NOT VISIBLE THROUGH THE FOG. THE MOTOR TORE THROUGH THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BRUISED LEG AND A SEPARATED SHOULDER. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEADACHE AND HEAD PAINS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIVE STAR JEEP, RAM, DODGE, CHRYSLER (3068 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210, (478) 287-1907), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,125. *DT*JB *DT*JB *DT*JB

WHEELS — Filed 06/04/2017

I BOUGHT 2017 RAM 3500 IN JANUARY 2017 AS A NEW CAR. AFTER 1300 ML I BOUGHT AFTER MARKET WHEELS AND TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE. THEY DID INSTALLED THEM AND CHECKED THEM AFTER. CAR DROW ALMOST FOUR THOUSAND ML DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL. LAST WEEKEND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT 80 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY. NO SINGLE SINE THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WHITH A CAR BEFORE THE INCIDENT, ALL EIGHT STUDS WERE BROKE OFF WHITHIN A SPLIT SECOND, TIRE WAS LOST. I NOTIFIED DEALER AND A TIRE COMPANY AND WHEEL MANUFACTUR ABOUT THIS INCIDENT TO INVESTIGATE . EACH COMPANY BLAMES OTHERS. I'M PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT PROBLEM DEFECTED STUDS OR WHEEL. I ASKED DISCOUNT TIRE AND CAR MANUFACTUR TO INVESTIGATE, NOTHING DONE YET.

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/13/2017

I WAS TRAVELING W/B ON I-78 APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH(IN A SNOW STORM),AND I WAS TRYING TO PASS A TRACTOR -TRAILER.WHEN I WAS ABOUT 150FT FROM HIS TRAILER, THEIR TRACTOR PROCEEDED TO JACK-KNIFE IN FRONT OF ME.HE THEN CAME TO REST ALONG THE JERSEY BARRIER WALL(TRACTOR FACING EAST BOUND IN WEST BOUND LANES AND TRAILER FACING NORTH/SOUTH ACROSS INTERSTATE) , AND I WENT INTO A SKID AND HIT THEIR FRONT END AT ABOUT 35MPH. UPON IMPACT I PUSHED HIM OFF THE WALL AND SPUN HIM IN A 100 DEGREE ROTATION,SO HE WAS FACING W/B OFF THE SHOULDER AND THE TRAILER WAS PARTIALLY IN THE RIGHT LANE OF THE W/B LANES. I CAME TO REST AFTER IMPACT ABOUT 200 FEET AWAY FROM IMPACT AREA. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL. I ALSO HAD MY TRAILER ATTACHED(GOOSENECK) W 8 MOTORCYCLES INSIDE TOTAL WEIGHT(14K) ADDING INERTIA FORCE AND SPEED. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK AND TRAILER,I WAS SURPRISED THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF I COULD SEE THE RADIUS ARM(SUSPENSION PIECE THAT HOLDS THE AXLE TO THE FRAME)ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS BENT .THE SLEEVE FOR MY GOOSENECK TRAILER WAS BENT ROUGHLY 3/4-1" ( THE SLEEVE IS 4" DIAMETER TUBE AND 1/4" THICK).I DID NOT SEE THE DAMAGE OF THEIR VEHICLE BUT WAS TOLD IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE.THIS ALL TOOK PLACE AT NIGHT 10:45PM ROUGHLY AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO WALK AROUND DUE TO IT BEING ON THE INTERSTATE AND SNOWING .I AM GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON DRY PAVEMENT OR I HIT THE CENTER OF THE TRAILER, BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE MORE SEVERE. I AM JUST VERY SURPRISED AGAIN THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED WITH THE AMOUNT OF FORCE ON IMPACT BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND TRAILER HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLES.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 06/25/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INDEPEDENTLY SHIFTED FROM THE PARK POSITION TO THE DRIVE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. THE DRIVER WAS DRAGGED UNTIL THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS ON THE BODY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DRIVER'S ERROR AND UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,180.

AIR BAGS — Filed 11/15/2016

RAN INTO THE REAR END OF 18 WHEELER DEAD STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 - 45 MPH . MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY YET THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF TRUCK WAS BASHED IN AND PROBABLY TOTALED.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 05/25/2016

ON MAY 25 WE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WHILE BACKING OUR NEW 2016 5TH WHEEL TRAILER INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. THIS INCLUDED BACKING DOWN OUR HILL AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. THE ROAD WE LIVE ON IS A PRIVATE ROAD. AFTER THE INCIDENT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER RETAINING CLIP WAS EITHER NOT INSTALLED OR WAS MISSING CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO COME APART FROM THE "BRAKE" BOOSTER ARM WHICH RESULTED IN OUR INABILITY TO OPERATE THE BRAKES OF OUR PICKUP OR 2016 TRAILER. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED OVER $18000 IN DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER AND OUR PROPERTY. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILE WHO INVESTIGATED. THEY REPORTED THAT UPON "REVIEW THE INSPECTION REPORT ..."," WE ARE NOT LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING RESPONSIBILITY. THERFORE WE MUST RESPECTFULLY DECLINE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS INCIDENT." AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 2.5 WEEKS BUT MOST OF ALL ARE SHOCKED AT THEIR RESPONSE. WE HAVE NOTED THAT CHRYSLER HAD RECALLED OVER 24,000 VEHICLES INCLUDING RAM TRUCKS BETWEEN 2010 AND 2013 FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SPUR SOME ACTION ON THIS ISSUE.

AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/15/2016

INVOLVED IN A FRONT END, AND DRIVER SIDE COLLISION AT A SPEED OVER 50MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE ALSO CAUGHT FIRE, THERE WAS A MINI EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING, ABOUT THIS MATTER.