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2016 Ram 5500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 17 owner complaints about the 2016 Ram 5500, most often about the power train. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-824 the manufacturer reports only 44% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls7Lowest repair rate 44%Owner complaints174 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage77kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 15, 2026. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2016 Ram 5500 has problems

17 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train61
Wheels62
Steering30
Suspension30
Electrical system20
Structure10
Engine10
Service brakes10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

7 recalls

2016 Ram 5500 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

75%repaired · 2019 Q4

Electrical system: software

Recall 18V-332 · May 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles · 3,629,629 repaired

Risk. If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

44%repaired · 2019 Q2

Equipment

Recall 17V-824 · Dec 21, 2017 · 61,791 vehicles · 27,012 repaired

Risk. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

58%repaired · 2019 Q4

Lever and linkage: column shift

Recall 17V-821 · Dec 20, 2017 · 1,482,874 vehicles · 860,137 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 3 more recalls
80%repaired · 2019 Q4

Engine: diesel

Recall 17V-562 · Sep 12, 2017 · 443,874 vehicles · 355,950 repaired

Risk. The leaking water pump can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

87%repaired · 2017 Q4

Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)

Recall 16V-495 · Jul 1, 2016 · 889 vehicles · 770 repaired

Risk. If the main output shaft fractures, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ram.

Best & worst years

2016 vs. every other 5500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 5500 median. How we score

'08'09'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2016 Ram 5500, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Front Driveshaft FailurePE19017 · closed Oct 22, 2023
    No recall
  2. Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) FailureRQ25003 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What 5500 owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle…
Complaint 11670776 · Jul 2, 2025 · 156 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AN VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT…
Complaint 11395691 · Feb 11, 2021 · 175,000 miles
OUR TRANSFER CASE FAILED (BLOW APART) CAUSING A FIRE. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO OUR DEALER AND FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS DODGE HAS NOT ALLOWED THE REPAIR TO PROCEED OR PROVIDED US WITH CONTACT INFORMATION OR A PATH FORWARD. WE HAVE NO TRUCK OR PLAN FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A…
Complaint 11269389 · Oct 18, 2019 · 82,000 miles

Own a 2016 5500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.