2016 Ram 1500 fuel system problems
281 of the 1,545 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 1500 name the fuel system (NHTSA’s “Fuel/Propulsion System” heading — fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation. 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 fuel system
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 281 reports a crash · 5 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 5 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 48 · 2020: 25 · 2021: 16 · 2022: 26 · 2023: 77 · 2024: 35 · 2025: 24 · 2026: 17
Half of the 133 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the fuel system problem between 45,000 and 106,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,545 complaints in all about the 2016 Ram 1500, 17 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 “Fuel/Propulsion System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 1500 fuel system problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the fuel system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Hello, I called my dealership and asked them about my fuel sensor, check engine light has been on. Sometimes when I fill up my tank it goes away. That being said. I have searched the I gerber to find out it is a common problem with our Ram trucks. Deslership will not cover now the power train warranty. This should be a recall.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. While driving 45 MPH, the fuel gauge went from full to empty. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and all the electrical features shut down.
I AM a 2016 Ram 1500 crew cab. If I use the vst gas nozzles they get stuck in the filler neck. It takes about 10-15 mins to get it unstuck. I have taken it to antioch dodge and they say there is no issue. I also had a video and they refuse to look at it. I AM very disappointed that nobody will look into this
I was backing a pontoon boat while in 4WD low in soft mulch, I then stopped and switched back to 2WD. Once the electronic shifting was complete, the fuel sensor fail message appeared in the instrument cluster, the low fuel warning and the check engine light both illuminated. The fuel (gas) tank was about 3/4 full when this occurred.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. While adding fuel to the vehicle, the fuel pump nozzle became stuck in the fuel tank filler tube. The contact had to remove the nozzle from the fuel tank by twisting and pulling with force each time the fuel tank was filled in order to release the fuel pump nozzle. The vehicle was not repaired.
What is on file about the fuel system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 22V406000 HighJun 9, 2022 · 138,645 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.
NHTSA investigation
- EA23001 High pressure fuel pump failureopened Mar 17, 2023 · open
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect alle…
Trouble codes named on this system
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
- transmission and drivetrain problems 202 complaints
- electrical problems 192 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre fuel system problems common on the 2016 Ram 1500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 281 owner complaints naming the fuel system on this model year (18% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation 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 fuel system on the 2016 Ram 1500?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 22V406000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do fuel system problems show up on the 2016 Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 66,000 miles; half of them between 45,000 and 106,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Fuel/Propulsion System" heading cover?
Fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.