2016 Ram 1500 steering problems
311 of the 1,545 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 1500 name the steering (NHTSA’s “Steering” heading — the steering column, rack, pump and power assist). 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 steering
Source: NHTSA complaint database6 of the 311 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 18 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 24 · 2023: 54 · 2024: 77 · 2025: 64 · 2026: 30
Half of the 103 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the steering problem between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,545 complaints in all about the 2016 Ram 1500, 30 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 “Steering” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 1500 steering problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the steering. 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. The contact stated that the power steering malfunctioned especially while making left turns. When the vehicle accelerated, the power steering indicator illuminated. When the vehicle was cold started, the power steering would not work at all.
While executing a left hand turn power steering cut out completely. No power assist at all for about a sec or so. Half ways through the turn the power steering restored itself. It happened a second time within a few minutes of the first occurrence while executing a right hand turn.
Power steering failure, power steering fails while making a turn, this posses a major safety concern and could lead to an accident
While turning from a stop or slow rate of speed loss of power steering, power steering warning comes on instrument cluster while this problem is present, this cause a hard steering issue and at a very sudden rate when making a turn and could lead to a crash
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the steering wheel was overreacting from any bumps in the road, making driving difficult. The failure recurred after the vehicle was retrieved from the dealer, along with a clunking noise when the steering wheel was turned.
What is on file about the steering
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 16V167000 HighMar 23, 2016 · 440 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2015, to September 13, 2015. Contamination on the Electric Power Steering (EPS) control circuit board may cause a short and result in the loss of power steering assist.
NHTSA investigation
- RQ23003 Intermittent/Comp Loss of Power Steeringopened Aug 4, 2023 · open
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 380 reports from consumers alleging an intermittent or complete loss of power steering assistance in certain 2013-2016 Ram 1500. The failure allegations occur at various speeds with limited detectability to the driver. On March 23, 2016 Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) conducted recall campaign 16V-167 to address a possible contamination of the …
Trouble codes named on this system
C2128 C2217
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
- 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 steering problems common on the 2016 Ram 1500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 311 owner complaints naming the steering on this model year (20% 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 steering on the 2016 Ram 1500?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 16V167000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do steering problems show up on the 2016 Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 70,667 miles; half of them between 50,000 and 100,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Steering" heading cover?
The steering column, rack, pump and power assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.