2016 Ram 1500 Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
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
“IN SLOWING DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 2-3MPH THE TRANSMISSION "JUMPS" BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. IT MATTERS NOT IF THE ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM. FEELS…”NHTSA complaint 11065035 — filed 01/26/2018
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500 ECO DIESEL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CONTACT EXITED WHILE IN PARK AND…”NHTSA complaint 11061581 — filed 01/10/2018
“HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 16000 MILES BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU STOPPED OR TOOK OFF FROM A RED LIGHT IT FELT LIKE YOU WERE GETTING…”NHTSA complaint 11058423 — filed 01/04/2018
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Ram 1500 have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Ram 1500: 199 of 1,502 complaints on file (13.2%). 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 power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
