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Ram 5500Model year report

2016 Ram 5500 Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
82,000miles, 15 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Ram 5500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2016 Ram 5500. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 6 complaints (35% of the total), followed by wheels (6) and steering (3). 15 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 82,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 313 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the column shift and 24 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Wheels complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “Our transfer case failed (blow apart) causing a fire . We had the truck towed to our dealer and for the last three weeks dodge has not allowed the repair to proceed or provided us with contact information or a path forward. We have no truck or plan for it to be fixed. The truck was being driven on a highway at about 50 MPH when the transfer case failed.”

NHTSA complaint #11269389, filed 2019-10, 82,000 miles

Wheels: “We have sent this in for recall repairs and Dodge either did not have the parts or said it would be weeks before they got the parts and we, as a company have had three dodge ram 5500's in the last week that have broken all the wheel studs off, snapped a single stud, or the the lug nuts have gotten loose even after torquing them to the newly recommended 129ft/lbs. We have 30 plus of these trucks and we are worried that if dodge does not get this fixed that there will be an injury.”

NHTSA complaint #11541453, filed 2023-08

Steering: “Truck starts swaying from side to side at highway speeds (62-72mph) steering is non-responsive when trying to correct the sway and then steering will catch immediately and the swaying gets worse. Have to slow to 40 MPH to regain cntrol of the vehicle. Very dangerous when others around you are driving 65-76 MPH. Happens when vehicle is in motion on the highway between 60-75 MPH. This vehicle had 2 miles on it when purchased. All tires had the recommended air pressure in them. Problem is intermittant. This has happened multiple times.”

NHTSA complaint #10808615, filed 2015-12, 91 miles

Suspension: “The contact owns a 2016 Ram 5500. The contact stated that the front driver's side wheel bearing fractured and detached from the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to texan dodge chrysler jeep Ram (18555 eastex fwy, humble, tx) where the failure was confirmed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 46,610.”

NHTSA complaint #11101984, filed 2018-06, 46,610 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 15 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 46,610 and 120,000 miles.

20%0–107%10–257%25–507%50–7520%75–10020%100–15020%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (15 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 82,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2015201720182019202120222023420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2016 Ram 5500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 313 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 313 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ram 5500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2022261,9734——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
2020825,0009———Not enough data
201912136,5009———Not enough data
20183980,0008——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20172185,0007———Falling
20161782,0007———Rising
20151379,0008———Not enough data
20141189,97110———Not enough data

All Ram 5500 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Ram 5500 have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2016 Ram 5500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Ram 5500 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 6 complaints (35% of the total), followed by wheels with 6.

Has the 2016 Ram 5500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Ram 5500 reported?

Among the 15 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 82,000 miles and the middle half falls between 46,610 and 120,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.