2016 Ram 2500 Engine Problems

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

53Engine complaints

20.9%Of all 253 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

POWER TRAIN62 · 24.5%

ENGINE53 · 20.9%

STEERING41 · 16.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM35 · 13.8%

SERVICE BRAKES34 · 13.4%

Share of the 253 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Ram 2500 overview page.

What owners report

“INTERMITTENT DIESEL EXHAUST ENTERS VEHICLE WHEN USING HEATER. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING, ENGINE TEMPERATURE NORMAL, DIESEL EXHAUST WILL ENTER THROUGH HEATER VENTS. IT STOPS IF…”NHTSA complaint 11165652 — filed 01/03/2019

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REGENERATION PROCESS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXTREME…”NHTSA complaint 11128509 — filed 09/10/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V5612000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME…”NHTSA complaint 11128120 — filed 09/07/2018

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 2500 have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Ram 2500: 53 of 253 complaints on file (20.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Ram 2500 have in total?

253 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 14 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and 1 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.