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Electrical systemPart report

2016 Ram 1500 Electrical system Problems

Complaints
193about this part
Share
12%of 1,554 total for the year
Median mileage
32,666miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 193 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 Ram 1500, 12% of the 1,554 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 32,666 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“On September 29, 2025, my vehicle overheated. Smoke was coming from the interior vents as well as from under the hood. I pulled over shortly after and had my vehicle towed to a repair shop. I got an estimate for radiator repair. That did not fix the issue, so more repair was needed related to a heating and evaporator core. I have attached the invoices for those repairs. I just wanted to note this for my records.”

NHTSA complaint #11717159, filed 2026-02, 130,524 miles

“I was driving on the highway, lost power, throttle control error comes on, truck went into limp mode, there are smokes out the back of the truck. I took the next exit to get off the highway. Turn into gas station and engine got cut off. When I pop the hood, saw fire from the top of the engine. I pour my drinks with ice, few water bottles, and my friends drink.”

NHTSA complaint #11245932, filed 2019-08, 79,000 miles

“I keep having problems with the electrical system in the truck. The plugin areas for electronic devices in the rear passenger keeps burning out fuses. I am also having issues with my cruise control button on the steering wheel acting like it has a short turning itself on and off. This happens when I am driving the vehicle or in the drive way as well.”

NHTSA complaint #11097024, filed 2018-05, 39,000 miles

“While driving home, I noticed some noise that ounde like a turbo noise and loos of power. I pulled over immediately shut off engine and poped hood. Looke up and smoke from engine. Opened hood and saw small fire on rear passenger side of engine by turbo housing. Soon the truck was totally engulfed by flames.”

NHTSA complaint #11307203, filed 2020-02, 42,000 miles

“My truck has under 20,000 miles, and I have had an electrical fire underneath my drivers seat, that caused the whole truck to fill with smoke. Less than 2 weeks later, my passenger side front window fell off the track and into the door, during a heavy snowstorm, throwing slush, and snow into my passenger's face. *”

NHTSA complaint #11063531, filed 2018-01, 19,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20265049%
202519152%
20242836%
20236934%
202219932%
202119829%
202016426%
201938226%
201815924%
201711012%
201619312%
201515911%
201424614%
201322718%
2009616%

Other parts of the 2016 Ram 1500

Steering
314 complaintsEngine
291 complaintsBrakes
282 complaintsFuel system
281 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
202 complaintsOther or unknown
127 complaintsVehicle speed control
111 complaintsSuspension
68 complaintsEngine cooling
63 complaintsAir bags
49 complaintsBody and structure
36 complaintsForward collision avoidance
21 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Ram 1500

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology