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Electrical systemPart report

2016 Ram 3500 Electrical system Problems

Complaints
10about this part
Share
7%of 134 total for the year
Median mileage
9,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 Ram 3500, 7% of the 134 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 9,000 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

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

“On 1/17/2017 I took my 2016 Ram 3500 into the selling dealer service department (dwayne lane's everett, wa) to check for the cause of a check trailer wiring visual and audible warning which had been present intermittently with brake pedal application since shortly after purchase of the vehicle (new). When present, the defect would occur if the vehicle was stationary or in motion, particularly in damp road conditions. …”

NHTSA complaint #10947244, filed 2017-01, 6,554 miles

“Odometer Fraud. The contact's husband owns a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated that her husband was recently interested in trading in the vehicle. While on Facebook Marketplace, a person interested in vehicle requested a Carfax report of the vehicle. Upon obtaining the Carfax report, the contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 167,000; however, the Carfax report discovered that back in 2022, the vehicle mileage was 370,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11660502, filed 2025-05, 370,000 miles

“The integrated trailer break controller does not stop a heavy trailer properly. Tests have shown that when the break is applied the controller only sends 7volts to the trailer breaks. Adjusting the gain to the maximum 10 setting has no affect. The dealer and chrysler say the system is working as it is programmed to. It is difficult to stop the truck and trailer in a reasonable distance. Chrysler needs to come up with a fix for this problem before some one is seriously hurt or killed.”

NHTSA complaint #10897168, filed 2016-08, 3,800 miles

“I have a complaint that needs to be addressed. On Sept. 11 2025 I had a fire in the cab of my 2016 Ram 3500 truck while it was sitting in my drive way. It was not even running. The fire was not very big and it could have been repaired. So I called FCA and opened a case with them. They informed me that I needed to bring my truck into the closest dealership so that it could be inspected. So I then called and set up and appt for Sept. 12, 2025. I had my truck towed to the dealership and upon arrival my husband who took the truck was told to take it off the trailer. …”

NHTSA complaint #11693412, filed 2025-10

“On Sept. 11, 2025 my truck parked in my drive way. It was parked there all night. When I opened the doors to get in smoke and flames started coming out. The center console was on fire. The next day on Sept. 12, 2025 while at the dealership to have the truck inspected it caught fire again further burning the center console, the passenger seat and the roof. The dealership told us there is nothing they could do so we had to have the truck towed back to my home. Sunday night on Sept. 14,2025, I heard a loud pop noise and when I walked outside the entire cab of the truck was engulfed in flames. …”

NHTSA complaint #11687435, filed 2025-09

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20261864%
20252865%
20241227%
2023318%
20222312%
20211727%
202098%
20192115%
201813717%
20173310%
2016107%
20151914%
20142512%
20131715%
2007350%

Other parts of the 2016 Ram 3500

Steering
29 complaints
Engine
21 complaints
Wheels
21 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
19 complaints
Other or unknown
16 complaints
Brakes
12 complaints
Suspension
10 complaints
Air bags
8 complaints
Fuel system
7 complaints
Vehicle speed control
7 complaints
Engine cooling
4 complaints
Tires
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Ram 3500

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