2016 Ram 1500 transmission and drivetrain problems

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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Ram 1500 transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

Recalls filed under this heading

• 17V821000 High
  Dec 20, 2017 · 1,482,874 vehicles
• Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
• 17V198000 High
  Mar 23, 2017 · 30 vehicles
• Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 1500 trucks. The differential pin retaining screw may come loose while driving, potentially causing the differential to break or lock up.
• 16V301000 High
  May 16, 2016 · 64 vehicles
• Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016 RAM 1500 trucks manufactured February 19, 2016, to March 3, 2016. The front halfshafts may have been incorrectly manufactured causing them to fracture without warning.
• 15V661000 High
  Oct 15, 2015 · 61,859 vehicles
• Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured June 17, 2015, to September 28, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been built with rear axles that were incorrectly heat treated.

NHTSA investigations

• RQ25003 Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure
  opened Jul 3, 2025 · open
• The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks. The subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shif…
• PE16014 Vehicle Rollaway
  opened Dec 16, 2016 · closed Jan 25, 2024
• Basis – On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-014 to investigate 43 vehicle rollaway incidents with operators alleging they had shifted to Park and then exited the vehicle prior to the rollway incidents.  These complaints involved multiple Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) model and model year vehicles that share a common electronic rotary…

72 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

• S2621000003 REV. A Service bulletin
  Mar 9, 2026
• The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95. Transmissions may exhibit the following diagnostic codes: P07E4, P1DB2, P0716, P1B14, P0733, P1D90, P1DB7, P1B13.

The 1 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 P0731 P2610 C140E P0366

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.

• engine problems 354 complaints
• steering problems 311 complaints
• fuel system problems 281 complaints
• electrical problems 192 complaints