2016 RAM 2500 Electrical Problems

To Whom It May Concern, I am requesting a no-cost replacement of the factory Uconnect 8.4 radio in my truck (VIN: [XXX]) due to daily safety-related failures that significantly affect the safe operation of my vehicle. Every day, the radio experiences a startup delay where the screen remains black and many center stack functions are unavailable. This delay often lasts 5–10 minutes before the system becomes operational. During normal driving, the radio also displays repeated “Vehicle Phone Requires Service” error messages, creating a constant distraction that takes my attention away from the road. When these issues occur, the factory backup camera is unavailable. Losing the backup camera eliminates an important safety feature intended to help prevent collisions with pedestrians, children, vehicles, and objects while reversing. Additionally, the factory navigation and GPS no longer function at all. These are not minor convenience issues—they are daily safety concerns. Safety-related features should work immediately every time the vehicle is started. A factory infotainment system that fails every day, disables the backup camera during startup, and repeatedly distracts the driver while the vehicle is in motion presents an unacceptable safety risk. Because these failures occur daily and involve factory-installed safety equipment, I believe Stellantis should replace the defective Uconnect radio at no cost. I respectfully request that this complaint be documented and that a no-cost replacement be authorized. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. [XXX] VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11750226

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

Electronic brake controller faulty

NHTSA ID

11735322

Incident

Jun 11, 2024

ABS FAILURE, WHICH TURNS OFF TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. This is a known issue for the HCU to fail. How is this not a recall on 2016 but it is on 17 and 18. Same parts.... have replace front hubs with new ABS sensors and rear ABS sensors, still on. It has to be the HCU or the module.

NHTSA ID

11707920

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

My ABS lights is on causing my cruise control to not be functioning. When I first start the vehicle, i get a message to "service electronic brake system." I have new brake pads with rotors and still have this message.

NHTSA ID

11590973

Incident

Feb 9, 2024

ABS system/ Traction control system/ 4wheel drive system/ cruise control. I had the ABS system repaired/replaced once this year already and now i need it done again. ABS failure makes the 4wheel drive system fail and it's winter time and i need 4 wheel drive for safety.

NHTSA ID

11558248

Incident

Nov 28, 2023

Abs/hcu failure causing erratic braking brakes locking up. Diagnosed idepentdant shop,not yet repaired. No inspection Abs warning

NHTSA ID

11540338

Incident

Aug 17, 2023

Driving truck and automatic changed to manual 4th gear - would not stay in automatic and would not go into any other manual gear at same time cruise stopped working along with the horn, seat belt light came on and would not go off , ESC light came on and did not go off, non of the steering wheel controls would work work , air bag light came in and would not go off , horn would not work at steering wheel but will when using key lock

NHTSA ID

11532525

Incident

Jul 15, 2023

6.7L Cummins diesel Known Grid heater bolt broke and could leave people stranded as it causes catastrophic engine failure and or damage leading up to $20 to $30K in engine repairs. Ram knows about this issue and is doing nothing about it. Mine broke and I caught it just before it destroyed my engine. the fix was a $1k kit. This bolt corrodes and and drops down into the intake in which destroys the #6 cylinder, piston, wall and valves. Ram is doing nothing to fix the problem and leaving people stranded who haul trailers and with the big repair bills.

NHTSA ID

11518672

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

The grid heater bolt that is on the bottom side of the grid heater. It fails and the bolt falls off and get sucked into the engine destroying the piston and cylinder causing an over 10,000$ expense.

NHTSA ID

11506481

Incident

Feb 9, 2023

This message is in regards to Static NHTSA Bulletin 09-005-22 / D- 22- 06 Dated March 16, 2022. The above listed warranty extension extends Ram 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel Model year 2015 to 150,000 miles or 15 years if code U010C is indicated on MIL. My truck meets all above criteria but is a model year 2016. However, there is no changes in mechanicals between the 2015 and 2016 model year. My truck, at 114,000 miles just indicated this issue and the estimated cost of repairs is over 2,000 dollars. Considering that this has already been a widespread notable issue with this truck and engine, my hopes is to include 2016 model years in this extension. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11505949

Incident

Feb 6, 2023

When vehicles comes to a stop or a slow roll. It makes a loud humming sound and cuts off in drive. The lights starts flickering ans The check engine flashes on at that time. Received a ecm code.I have to place in park and restart. Happens 70% of the time in drive and other times in reverse or park. Cruise control would not turn on. If on will not turn off with buttons

NHTSA ID

11505608

Incident

Feb 21, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while slowing down for traffic or traffic signals at approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle would stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The failure became constant and the vehicle had to be towed to a dealer. The contact had taken the vehicle to the same local dealer several times for the same failure. The dealer had diagnosed the failure and determined that the vehicle needed to have the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) bypassed to a new TIPM relay. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V530000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11476216

Incident

Dec 12, 2021

Mileage

125,000 mi

It seems that this is a common problem on these trucks the HCU for the antilock braking system and the ABS module has to be replaced the traction control light comes on the ABS light comes on and the cruise control does not work.

NHTSA ID

11452853

Incident

Feb 17, 2022

For the longest (approximately two years now), my backup camera would "go out" sometimes when I engage reverse, or it would show squiggly lines to where I can't use it. This happens quite often - especially when I need it. The truck is available for inspection upon request and I also have videos of the issue. For a truck of the height, I'm not able to see objects, animals or people when backing up from a stop. I took it too a dealer near me and they inspected the system and found nothing wrong. But the same problem persist. There are no warning lamps or lights when this happens. Pictures are attached for reference.

NHTSA ID

11435231

Incident

Oct 2, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,400.

NHTSA ID

11408350

Incident

Apr 13, 2021

Mileage

28,400 mi

ABS HCU COTROL MODULE IS OUT AND HAS BEEN OUT FOR YEARS TRUCK IS IN GOOD CONDITION NOW I HAVE NO TRACTION CONTROL OR CRUISE CONTROL

NHTSA ID

11402971

Incident

Mar 5, 2017

Mileage

23,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE YESTERDAY. TODAY I WAS DRIVING IT IS STALLED AS I WAS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC I RESTARTED IT IT DROVE FINE ANOTHER TWO MILES. AT WHICH TIME IS STALLED AGAIN WITH NO LIGHTS, NO INDICATIONS ON. SOUNDS LIKE SOME NOISE COMES FROM THE AIR BOX. SOME KIND OF AIR NOISE COMES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE WHEN IT HAPPENED

NHTSA ID

11337451

Incident

Jul 4, 2020

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL DOWN WHILE THE IGNITION WAS IN ACCESSORY MODE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED ON OCCASIONS TO START THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V021000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (GLENN POLK AUTOPLEX - CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM GLENN POLK AUTOPLEX - CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

11308250

Incident

Oct 10, 2019

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN PARK, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY H. MILLER CHRYSLER JEEP TUCSON (7800 E 22ND ST, TUCSON, AZ 85710 (520) 258-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V332000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,888.

NHTSA ID

11297401

Incident

Oct 9, 2019

Mileage

83,888 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND LOST BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN THE IGNITION TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS STILL ROLLING. THE CONTACT DROVE TO NATIONAL DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (2223 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546, (910) 347-3777) WHERE A CODE APPEARED THAT WAS UNRELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES FROM PAST REPAIRS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER'S SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID

11254445

Incident

Sep 4, 2019

Mileage

24,000 mi

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN TO MY INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BUT THE PLASTIC SCREWS BROKE AND THE DOOR ISN'T STURDY ANY MORE. I CALLED CUSTOMER CARE FOR RAM IF THIS CAN BE REPAIRED BUT THEY DIDN'T CARE. I SECOND GUESS USING THE HANDLE AND THEREFORE ALMOST FALL OUT OF MY TRUCK TO CLOSE MY DOOR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO USE TO CLOSE THE DRIVERS DOOR. ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS TRUCK IS THE BRAKES. IF YOU COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP YOU CAN FEEL THE TRUCK TRYING TO STOP AND YOU FEEL A WEIRD MOVEMENT ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND A FEW SECONDS LATER THE TRUCK STOPS. LASTLY THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL GLITCH IN MY TRUCK. THE NAV/ RADIO DISPLAY SOMETIMES BLACKS OUT DURING STARTING MY TRUCK. SOME TIMES ALSO AFTER STARTING MY TRUCK THE BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY IS SCRAMBLED IN REVERSE GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11142785

Incident

Jul 21, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 18V486000 (STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE CONTACT CALLED GLENDENNING MOTOR COMPANY AT 641-464-3241 (LOCATED AT 1100 E SOUTH ST, MT AYR, IA 50854) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILAABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V332000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS REPROGRAMMED. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATED OR DECELERATED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS REPROGRAMMED AGAIN. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,100. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN) AND VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR 18V486000 (STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES).

NHTSA ID

11121084

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

Mileage

11,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V332000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (LARRY H. MILLER DODGE RAM TUCSON, 4220 E 22ND ST, TUCSON, AZ 85711, (520)-395-9311) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11120638

Incident

May 23, 2018

2016 RAM DIESEL 2500 4WD HEAVY DUTY, 27,022 MILES/33 MONTHS. NOTICED SEVERE CORROSION ON BOTH 12V BATTERIES 'NEGATIVE' POSTS. AFTER REMOVING CONNECTIONS, FOUND MULTIPLE CRACKS ON THE BATTERY ITSELF WHERE THE NEGATIVE POSTS ARE INSTALLED. CRACKS ALLOWED BATTERY ACID AND FUMES TO ESCAPE (BOTH CORROSION HAZARD, BREATHING HAZARD, AND EXPLOSIVE FUME SITUATION). THESE ARE OEM BATTERIES, LEFT IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE SINCE PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11114427

Incident

Jul 29, 2018

Mileage

27,022 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WHITE MOTORS INC (175 OLD FARM RD, ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC 27870, (252)-537-6138) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. *TT

NHTSA ID

11109816

Incident

Mar 28, 2018

Mileage

57,000 mi