2016 Ram 1500 electrical problems
192 of the 1,545 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 1500 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 146 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database10 of the 192 reports a crash · 7 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 12 · 2017: 14 · 2018: 15 · 2019: 24 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 39 · 2026: 25
Half of the 77 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 14,000 and 55,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,545 complaints in all about the 2016 Ram 1500, 25 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 1500 electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. While parked outside the house, the vehicle caught fire. The fire department extinguished the flames. A report was not filed. The vehicle had not yet been towed to the junk yard. The manufacturer was notified and a claim was filed. The failure mileage was unknown.
When driving at night the headlights flicker. Does it in low beam and high beam. Has done it with AC on and off. Has done this with heat on and off. I AM concerned that with the issue the headlights will go completely out while driving. This can cause a life and death issue. It does it at highway speeds as well as city speed.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic was unable to produce a fault code.
Our company leased this vehicle from bayside chrysler jeep dodge on 4/21/2016 as part of an eight vehicle fleet. On 6/30/2016, the vehicle operator reported that the engine would not start. The vehicle was towed to the bayside dealership. The mechanics determined that the battery failed and replaced it.
Our company leased this vehicle from bayside chrysler jeep dodge on 4/22/2016 as part of an eight vehicle fleet. On 6/24/2016, the vehicle operator was not able to start the vehicle and it was towed to the bayside dealership.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 18V332000 CriticalMay 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
146 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- S1623000028 Rev. K Service bulletinJun 12, 2026
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- S1623000028 REV. I Service bulletinMay 29, 2026
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- S1408000384 REV. J Service bulletinMar 4, 2026
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
- S1408000384 REV. I Service bulletinFeb 14, 2026
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS Related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
The 4 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P203E P0456 P1D73 P0463 P062A P0731 P2610 P0441
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Ram 1500 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Ram 1500
Source: the same files- engine problems 354 complaints
- steering problems 311 complaints
- fuel system problems 281 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 202 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Ram 1500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 192 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (12% of everything owners filed about it), and 146 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Ram 1500?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 18V332000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 33,332 miles; half of them between 14,000 and 55,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.