RoadVitals

2016 RAM 3500 Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest May 8, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 133 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 RAM 3500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 8, 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.

NHTSA ID
11736634
Incident
Apr 1, 2026
Mileage
74,500 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 28, 2022

My 2016 dodge ram 3500 mega cab had a light come on the dash at about 89000 miles I drove it to the dealership, I told the dealership I thought it was something electrical. A couple of times my truck has went into limp mode, when this happens to you the truck will only take off in 4th gear and stays in 4th gear. If I pulled over when this would happen and turned the truck all the way off and then back on it take the light of the dash and shift properly. So the dealership calls me to let me know what they have found he says he has bad news and more bad news which was my transmission was going out and then they didn't have a transmission and had no idea when they would. They already welded up nut on the steering shaft instead of replacing it. I didnt buy a 3500 pickup because i wanted a light duty truck.

NHTSA ID
11454470
Incident
Dec 28, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 12, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed, while attempting to shift into gear, the gear shifter handle fractured. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was contacted, and the part was replaced by the contact. The vehicle was later serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V821000 (Power Train). The contact indicated that an addendum card was to be given as part of the recall repair with instructions to drivers on how to shift gears when the brake pedal was depressed however, the card was not given. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer would supply the card. The failure mileage was 55,390.

NHTSA ID
11428864
Incident
Aug 1, 2021
Mileage
55,390 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 3, 2021

TRUCK IS BURNING THROUGH A QUART AND HALF OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES IT APPEARS, BUT THERE ARE NO LEAKS UNDER THE VEHICLE OR ON THE OIL PAN. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TURBO SEALS. THE TRUCK GIVE NO WARNING THAT THE OIL IS LOW WHILE DRIVING. WHEN LOW IT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE DIPSTICK AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
11414946
Incident
Apr 5, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 17, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER DETACHED WHILE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V495000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN) AT TACOMA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (4101 S. TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, WA 98409) HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS FAILED TO FIX OR PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,799.

NHTSA ID
11355555
Incident
Sep 6, 2020
Mileage
20,799 mi
Body & structureEngineInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Apr 10, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN), 18V486000 (STRUCTURE, LATCHES, LOCKS, LINKAGES) AND 19V021000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11195388
Incident
Mar 13, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 11, 2018

WE HAVE SEVERAL RAM 3500 VEHICLES. ALL THE REAREND FAIL WAY BEYOND THE TIME THAT THEY SHOULD BE IN SERVICE. THESE UNITS FAIL WITH LESS THAN 200,000 MILES AND SHOULD GO WELL BEYOND THAT MILEAGE. I FEEL THESE UNITS HAVE A ON GOING ISSUES THAT THE MFG KNOWS ABOUT BUT FAILS TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUES. THESE SAME ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED IN OUR 2012, 2014 AND 2016 MODELS. THIS IS ALL A SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THESE REAR ENDS COME APART WHILE TOWING A LOAD.

NHTSA ID
11101226
Incident
Jun 6, 2018
Mileage
191,791 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 18, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE DEALER (DON FRANKLIN SOMERSET CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM NISSAN, 1147 S HIGHWAY 27, SOMERSET, KY 42501, (606) 678-8178) SCHEDULED THE RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED FOR THE APPOINTMENT, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11088808
Incident
Apr 2, 2018
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 2, 2018

MY TRUCK, WITH THE AISIN TRANSMISSION AND SINGLE REAR WHEEL, HAS A HORRIBLE THROTTLE DELAY. PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION OR IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS TERRIFYING, BECAUSE IF THE DELAY KICKS IN, I CAN PUT THE PEDAL DOWN AND THE TRUCK WILL LITERALLY NOT REACT FOR 3-5 SECONDS. THIS IS ALSO TRUE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ON THE HIGHWAY, AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, ETC. IT'S LIKE THE THROTTLE PEDAL DOESN'T KNOW YOU'RE PUSHING IT FOR QUITE A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN AND ONLY THEN IT WILL REACT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND I'VE HAD QUITE A FEW SITUATIONS WHERE I'VE BEEN PULLING OUT ACROSS TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN, THINKING I HAD PLENTY OF TIME IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, ONLY FOR MY TRUCK TO BE DEAD IN THE WATER. NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, NOTHING. I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. RAM WILL NOT HELP, AND STATES THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT THERE. I ASSURE YOU IT IS, AND BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FORUM POSTS I SEE OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, IT'S DEFINITELY OUT THERE. I WISH I COULD GET OUT OF THIS TRUCK BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE SUCH A HUGE LOSS ON IT. IT'S EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND STRESSFUL TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
11075765
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
42,000 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 16, 2018

TOOK VEHICLE IN TO JOHN HIESTER IN LILLINGTON NC. THEY INFORM \S OF TWO LIFE TH THREATENING RECALLS THAT HAS NO FIX. WE ARE FEARFUL OF DRIVING DUE TO RECALLS. HOWVER WE LOVE OUR DODGE. PLEASE HELP. WE HAVE BYT TRU K IN SHOP TWICE FOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NOT GOING IN GEAR AND TURBO PROBLEMS. NOW RECALLS CONSTANT OF WATER PUMP AND TRANSMISSION WHICH WE HAD TO PAY FOR BEFORE

NHTSA ID
11073217
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 10, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. AFTER TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART AFTER BEING SHUT OFF AND IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LATER HEARD A LOUD BOOMING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE FAILING TO DRIVE FORWARD. A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED ON THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER (STAFFORD DODGE LOCATED IN FREDRICKSBURG, VIRGINIA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
11014255
Incident
Jun 6, 2017
Mileage
10,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Feb 28, 2017

BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON IT HAS A VIOLENT SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 62-72 MPH. THREE DIFFERENT RAM DEALERS AND RAM CUSTOMER SUPPORT TEAM STATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT'S OPERATING AS DESIGNED. POTENTIALLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SHAKE SEEMS TO MAKE THE TRUCK UNSTABLE AT TIMES. THIS IS OCCURRING SPECIFICALLY ON SMOOTH HIGHWAYS AND SEEMS TO BE EVEN WORSE AROUND CURVES. SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE AMONG LATE MODEL YEAR RAM HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SHOULD BE WORTH AN INVESTIGATION. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO TOW MY TRAVEL TRAILER WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE TRUCK AND I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DOING THAT WITH THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
10957508
Incident
Dec 29, 2016
Mileage
50 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 14, 2017

DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE. ALSO FUMES IN CAB.

NHTSA ID
10954473
Incident
Feb 6, 2017
Mileage
8,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 13, 2017

DAILY OCCURRENCE. WHILE DEAD STOPPED AT LIGHT OR IDLING ALONG AFTER LIFTING FOOT OFF OF BRAKE PEDAL, THEN SLOWLY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE IS A 2-4 SECOND DELAY BEFORE TRUCK STARTS TO ACCELERATE. FEELS LIKE A DEAD PEDAL. THIS HAS BECOME WORSE AS THE TRUCK ACCRUES MILES. WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, THE PEDAL RESPONSE IS SLOW TO RESPOND AND HAS CAUSED MANY ANXIOUS MOMENTS WITH VEHICLES BEARING DOWN ON MY REAR END. I PRESS THE PEDAL AND WAIT FOR ENGINE TO RESPOND. THE TRUCK IS A DIESEL AND IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE TURBO LAG. I HAD A 2007 DIESEL AND THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL. I FEEL THAT EVENTUALLY THIS WILL CAUSE OR LEAD ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OF SOME TYPE. EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE TRUCK I HAVE TO MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR THE LACK OF PEDAL RESPONSE, MOSTLY IN CITY, SLOW AND GO DRIVING. ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SUCH AN ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT RAM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS WITH SOME TYPE OF REPROGRAMMING FOR THE ENGINE, DRIVE-TRAIN OR BOTH. THIS TYPE OF PEDAL NON-RESPONSE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND QUITE DISTURBING. THE DEALERS HAVE NO ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10954371
Incident
Feb 13, 2017
Mileage
2,124 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 1, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10948871
Incident
Jun 25, 2016
Mileage
66,180 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 23, 2017

THERE IS AN EXTREME DELAY WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CORRELATION BETWEEN HOW FAR THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION. WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AND ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC OR PASSING A VEHICLE. THIS DELAY IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM. THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10947265
Incident
Dec 15, 2016
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 5, 2016

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP THE ENGINE HAS A 3 TO 4 SECOND LAG. NORMAL RESPONSE RESUMES AFTER THE INITIAL LAG. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN CONSISTANT THROUGHOUT 2016. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW. PRESENT MILEAGE IS 4500.

NHTSA ID
10930080
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
45 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 20, 2016

DEAD PEDAL. FROM A DEAD STOP IF YOU STAB THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE POWER IS APPLIED TO THE DRIVETRAIN. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND RAM SHOULD HAVE TO REPROGRAM THESE TRUCKS TO APPLY POWER WHEN CALLED FOR BY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAS OCCURED SINCE NEW

NHTSA ID
10917458
Incident
Oct 3, 2016
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 30, 2016

THE TRUCK WAS LOADED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,400 POUNDS OF HAY IN THE BED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE TOWARD THE REAR. IT WAS PLACED INTO PARK AS WITNESSED BY THE 2 PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AS THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR. A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS.

NHTSA ID
10852461
Incident
Mar 29, 2016
Mileage
8,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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