2016 Ram 1500 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

291Engine complaints

19.4%Of all 1,502 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STEERING300 · 20%

ENGINE291 · 19.4%

SERVICE BRAKES221 · 14.7%

POWER TRAIN199 · 13.2%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM187 · 12.5%

Share of the 1,502 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Ram 1500 overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS FLICKER ALMOST LIKE AS IF YOU WERE FLASHING YOUR LIGHTS AT SOMEONE IN FRONT OF YOU, THIS…”NHTSA complaint 11058421 — filed 01/04/2018

“I HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND AN ABRUPT DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING OUT OF MY DEVELOPMENT. THE SERVICE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 11014098 — filed 08/10/2017

“WHEN I GET BELOW 1/4 OF A TANK I HAVE A FUEL SENSOR FAILURE EVERY TIME THAT TROWS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT”NHTSA complaint 11002882 — filed 07/03/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Ram 1500 have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Ram 1500: 291 of 1,502 complaints on file (19.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Ram 1500 have in total?

1,502 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 90 involved a crash, 35 involved a fire, 72 reported injuries, and 5 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.