2016 Ram 2500 engine problems
60 of the 258 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 2500 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 86 manufacturer bulletins, 2 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 database0 of the 60 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 2 · 2016: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 4
Half of the 24 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 2,000 and 27,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
258 complaints in all about the 2016 Ram 2500, 4 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 2500 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.
I feel I my complain is on par with so many others with a newer Ram diesel. The dead pedal. I have nearly been hit more than 5 times now on several....several occasions due to no immediate acceleration at a light crossing an intersection, or going on the highway, switching lanes and trying to accelerate again.
Dead accelerator pedal. If driving with steady pedal and let up on accelerator pedal and then step back on the accurate, the truck doesn't move/no response for 5-10 seconds, then the truck speeds off. Happens numerous times.
This truck has excessive torque management. It can also be described as dead pedal. If you press the accelerator pedal you can expect a serious delay before any power is transmitted to the wheels and this problem is magnified if you have just applied throttle, let off and immediately need the vehicle to accelerate such as when merging or…
Driving on interstate 10 in traffic I went to accelerate to change lanes and my 2016 2500 the engine made a loud pop and lost all engine power. And didn't regain engine power for 3 seconds. It has done it several time since. It is a very scary feeling when your driving in heavy traffic.
Numerous times the diesel has stuttered and acted like it was going to die. This has happened several times. Was taken to sealer and was told there is nothing wrong with it. It is making weird noises while shifting and is now throwing a CEL with the code P0421
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 17V562000 HighSep 12, 2017 · 443,874 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2017 RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines that have Concentric-brand water pumps without a vent hole. These water pumps may leak coolant.
- 15V592000 HighSep 23, 2015 · 41 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis and 4500/5500 Cab Chassis trucks manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 13, 2015 and equipped with a 6.7L Cummins Diesel engine. In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.
86 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 9100923 Service bulletinSep 21, 2026
- AIR CLEANER - NONE Instruction to Dealers while ordering the PN# 68137142AD. 1. If the Air Cleaner Assembly is functional and only the MAF Sensor has failed, the dealer should order and replace only the MAF Sensor(68002441AC). 2. If the Air Cleaner Assembly has failed and the MAF Sensor remains functional, the dealer should order the new Air Cleaner Assembly PN(68137142AD) and reuse the existing M
- 112906 Service bulletinJun 17, 2026
- BEARING - CRANKSHAFT THRUST and KIT
- 112906 Service bulletinJun 17, 2026
- BEARING - CRANKSHAFT THRUST and KIT
The 3 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
P0218 P0868 P205E U110E P0421 P207F P2281 P0335
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Ram 2500 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Ram 2500
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 64 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Ram 2500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 60 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (23% of everything owners filed about it), and 86 manufacturer bulletins, 2 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 2500?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 17V562000, 15V592000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Ram 2500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 5,600 miles; half of them between 2,000 and 27,000. 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.