Problems · by component
2016 Ram 1500 engine problems
291 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 1500 cite engine, 19% of all 1,554 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
291
19% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
24
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2016 RAM 1500 The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, occupied with her husband in the vehicle they could hear a knocking and shatter noise coming from the engine. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the failure, and they informed her they will give her cash value for the vehicle and they can run a report until warranty in cancel. The approximate failure mileage was 161,292.”
“The vehicle was driving down the highway at highway speed when it began to shut down. This put myself & other drivers at serious risk as I had to navigate several lanes of traffic with a dead vehicle. When I took it to the dealer, the dealer stated that the vehicle crankshaft position magnetic tone sensor had broken off and was no longer sending the tones to the crank shaft position sensor. The vehicle has a 66A recall on it where it mentions a 73A recall which states for certain vehicles the tone wheel can be replaced. But for some reason our vehicle and vin number is not included. The 66A recall makes a statement about having a software update but we were never given an information about this recall prior to having this issue.”
“While driving my 2016 RAM 1500 Eco diesel, the vehicle suddenly lost power and would not accelerate beyond 40 mph. The malfunction occurred while driving under normal road conditions and created a safety concern because the truck was unable to maintain normal traffic speed. Prior to failure, a warning light appeared on the dashboard related to emissions/exhaust system. The truck entered into a reduce power/limp mode and became difficult to operate in traffic. The truck has been at the Folsom Lake Dodge dealership since March 22, 2026 awaiting a replacement part related to a recall/manufacturer issue. I was informed the part may be available around May 22, 2026.”
“My 2016 RAM 1500 has had an issue with the Anti-lock Brakes since August 2025 that is under the manufacturer extended warranty. I am the original owner. The ABS module and other sensors have been replaced and the problem persist. In the last few weeks, the traction control light energizes intermittently (flashes) and the engine loses power-does not stall out, but does not accelerate. The light goes out and normal operations resume. A few seconds after the light extinguishes, the Service Anti-Lock Brake warning comes on. If I have my family in the truck and enter a highway and loose power, I could be at fault for causing a wreck and injury my family. As a professional engineer, I would like to have this concern investigated before someone loses their life or cause injury to someone. The local dealership replaced the part after 4 months on back order but the problem did not go away. They then replaced other parts and the problem persists. Another ABS module is on order with a 6 month backlog. I feel unsafe but need my truck for work and family! How do I get this evaluated properly as the dealer does think it is happening!”
“Within 24 hours of buying the vehicle back in February, the truck has not run red Lightning bulbs, electronic throttle control system Lights all started coming on that system was replaced by a certified mechanic. The system then did it again, literally, 1 day later. Now I'm not certain about the new part, which has been discontinued. It's some sort of pigtail off of that. And again the wiring pigtail or whatever it is called. I am uncertain is defective in has been discontinued. I'm into the truck for over $10000, including the purchase price. It has not run 1 day since But after the incident, my mechanic did the car fax on it. The odometer had been rolled back over 100000 miles or replaced whatever the situation, the car facts did not match up with the actual truck information that was sold to me contacted the individual and sold me the truck. He has ghost meat, will not return. Calls will not give me back. The money will not even answer my calls. Any longer longer only through the national highway transportation safety association did I find out that this could be defective parts possibly covered by the manufacturer. So again , i'm not sure where I stand on…”
“I own a 2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, VIN [XXX] . The vehicle has been in and out of Rydell Jeep & Ram dealership over 3 times in the last few months for fuel pump issues. It has been at the dealership for over a month total (in and out). Each time I have had to pay for towing and rental cars. I have not been reimbursed for any rental or towing costs. On April 11, 2026, immediately after picking up the truck from the dealership (where it had just been serviced for a previous fuel pump issue), the vehicle suddenly lost all power while I was driving on the freeway and would not restart. It was towed back to Rydell. On April 23, 2026 at 9:30 AM, Bruce (service advisor) and Mike (mechanic) at Rydell verbally admitted to me that their original diagnosis was wrong. They had initially said a gear inside the engine that turns the CP4 fuel pump had come loose or failed. They now admit that diagnosis was incorrect, but they refuse to provide that admission in writing. They are now trying to charge me for the repair. I believe the actual root cause is that the CP4 high-pressure fuel pump seized internally. That seizure would have placed extreme resistance on the engine's drive…”
Showing 6 of 291 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.