2016 Ram 2500 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 253 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Ram 2500 overview page.
What owners report
“WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 62AND 80MPH THE TRUCK DEVELOPS A SHACK THROUGH THE WHOLE TRUCK THAT MAKE IT HARD TO SEE OUT OF MIRRORS AND IS…”NHTSA complaint 11130258 — filed 09/18/2018
“DRIVING 73 MPH AND LOUD 'EXPLOSION' AND VIOLENT SHAKE CAME FROM CENTER OF TRUCK. CLOSE TO LITHIA DODGE IN BRYAN TX. PULLED IN TO SEE…”NHTSA complaint 11129779 — filed 09/16/2018
“FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE 4WD SHIFT IN PROGRESS MESSAGE COMING ON AT RANDOM TIMES. I…”NHTSA complaint 11124563 — filed 09/05/2018
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 2500 have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Ram 2500: 62 of 253 complaints on file (24.5%). 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 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.
