2016 Ram 1500 engine problems
354 of the 1,545 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 1500 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 120 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls. 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 engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 354 reports a crash · 27 a fire · 8 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 3 · 2017: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 104 · 2020: 62 · 2021: 34 · 2022: 33 · 2023: 32 · 2024: 28 · 2025: 25 · 2026: 18
Half of the 225 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 44,000 and 105,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,545 complaints in all about the 2016 Ram 1500, 18 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 “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 1500 engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
When starting my vehicle I noticed a ticking sound. After idling a couple minutes the ticking would get quieter. Recently I can still hear the ticking while driving. I've heard it could be the manifold bolts getting sheered off or it can be the purge solenoid. To me it sounds like a lifter ticking
Coolant bipass valve stuck in one position and costs 8 $800 to fix. This was a recall on previous years and clearly hadn't been fixed. Should be under recall
Check engine light popped on with 20,400 miles on 2016 vehicle while driving straight about 40 MPH on a city road. Dealership read the code as 'coolant bypass valve stuck'. Dirt and debris was found in the connector. Was cleaned and lubricated
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. When the contact started the vehicle, the fuel gauge went to empty and the fuel sensor and engine warning indicators flashed. The contact made several calls, but was unable to schedule a diagnostic appointment with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 50,550
The truck was put into park with the key in the ignition and the engine running. It was parked in a restaurant parking lot. Then around five minutes later, it went into reverse and began rolling backwards. It seemed to accelerate. I had to jump in and slam on the brake to stop it.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 23V411000 HighJun 8, 2023 · 80,629 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
- 20V475000 HighAug 13, 2020 · 58,016 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ram 1500 and 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
- 19V757000 CriticalOct 24, 2019 · 107,980 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic Pickup trucks equipped with 3.0L Eco Diesel engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.
120 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 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
P0335 P0456 P1D73 P2299 P241D P0340 P0344 P06DD
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- steering problems 311 complaints
- fuel system problems 281 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 202 complaints
- electrical problems 192 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Ram 1500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 354 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (23% of everything owners filed about it), and 120 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls 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 engine on the 2016 Ram 1500?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 23V411000, 20V475000, 19V757000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 65,000 miles; half of them between 44,000 and 105,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.