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2016 Ram 3500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2016 Ram 3500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).
Does the 2016 Ram 3500 have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 41 of 123 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under engine (21). For comparison, the 2015 scores 41% and the 2017 scores 17%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Ram 3500 years
Of the 10 Ram 3500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2022 (74%), the best the 2018 (5%). By volume, the 2016 drew 134 complaints (41 drivetrain), against 136 for the 2015 and 312 for the 2017.
Ram 3500 years to avoid and best years →
2013 3500 problems · 2014 3500 problems · 2015 3500 problems · 2016 · 2017 3500 problems · 2018 3500 problems · 2019 3500 problems · 2020 3500 problems · 2021 3500 problems · 2022 3500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Ram 3500
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Ram 3500 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 41 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Ram 3500 engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2016 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission…
Risk: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2017 RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines that have Concentric-brand water pumps without a vent hole. These water pumps may leak coolant.
Risk: The leaking water pump can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pumps, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ram 3500 trucks manufactured July 24, 2015, through January 7, 2016, and 2016 Ram 4500/5500 trucks manufactured July 24, 2015, through October 8, 2015. The transfer case may have been manufactured with a misshapen main output shaft, creating voids that may cause a shaft fracture.
Risk: If the main output shaft fractures, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the driver may be unable to place the vehicle in PARK, increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transfer case, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis and 4500/5500 Cab Chassis trucks manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 13, 2015 and equipped with a 6.7L Cummins Diesel engine. In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.
Risk: An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECM, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall…
12 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Ram 3500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Ram 3500 have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 41 of 123 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Ram 3500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Ram 3500 is steering: 29 of 134 complaints (22%) name it, followed by wheels (21) and engine (21). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 33% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Ram 3500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Ram 3500 years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Ram 3500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2016 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 in total: 17V821000 (power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift), 17V562000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel), 16V495000 (power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ram 3500 years are better?
Among the Ram 3500 years we track, the 2018 (5%) and the 2017 (17%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ram-3500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.