2016 Ram 2500 transmission and drivetrain problems
64 of the 258 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 2500 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 67 manufacturer bulletins, 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database7 of the 64 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 4 · 2017: 9 · 2018: 18 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 4
Half of the 40 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 10,000 and 36,000 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 2500 transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled 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.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 2500. While parked at home, the vehicle independently rolled away while engaged in park. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v821000 (power train); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v562000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable.
Owned this truck for less than a year bought with 6000 miles. Vehicle down shifts into a low gear while approaching a stop. This presents a safety issue on snow covered roads and everyday driving conditions. The truck has been in the dealership twice for this problem and it has not been fixed. The dealership says they fixed it?
I was driving back home after picking up my son, driving about 40 to 45 MPH when suddenly my truck started shaking and the speed dropped rapidly got 10 MPH pushing me and my son forward aggressively... We were fortunate the traffic behind was far from US..
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 2500. While accelerating from a traffic light, the vehicle failed to increase in speed when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Also, the check engine indicator was constantly illuminated. When the failure occurred, the contact had to restart the vehicle to resume normal operation.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 17V821000 HighDec 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.
NHTSA investigation
- RQ25003 Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failureopened 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…
67 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
P0218 P0868 P205E U110E P0421 P2281 P2610 P0456
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- engine problems 60 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Ram 2500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 64 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (25% of everything owners filed about it), and 67 manufacturer bulletins, 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Ram 2500?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 17V821000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Ram 2500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 26,000 miles; half of them between 10,000 and 36,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.