Should I buy a 2016 RAM 2500 with documented body problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented body issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2016 RAM 2500 body problems

severe Owners of the 2016 RAM 2500 have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,500

body complaints on the RAM 2500, by model year
Model year	body complaints
2014 2500	8
2015 2500	5
2016 2500 (this page)	10
2017 2500	5
2019 2500	22
2020 2500	7

1crash

When does it fail?

Of the 10 body complaints filed for the 2016 RAM 2500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.

0-25k

1 (100%)

25-50k

0 (0%)

50-75k

0 (0%)

75-100k

0 (0%)

100-125k

0 (0%)

125-150k

0 (0%)

150k+

0 (0%)

Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.

What stands out

Among the 7 model years of RAM 2500 in our records for body problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.

No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 18V486000 July 27, 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with a power locking tailgate and either a 5 foot, 7 inch or 6 foot, 4 inch bed

If the tailgate latch releases and the tailgate opens while driving, cargo may fall out, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began September 17, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U74.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin S1623000028 Rev. K Jun 2026

Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin S1623000028 REV.J Jun 2026

Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin S1623000028 REV.I May 2026

Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin S2623000032 Apr 2026

Squeak Or Squawk Noise Coming From Either Side Door Of The Vehicle, It Could Be Just One Door Or More. The Noise Can Be Present In Either The Upper Or The Lower Hinge.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin S1623000028 REV.H Apr 2026

Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

The 2016 Ram 2500 body complaints center on the tailgate latching mechanism. Owners describe the tailgate swinging open while driving, during acceleration, while towing trailers, and even while parked. Multiple owners report the tailgate opened repeatedly despite manually checking it was shut. When the tailgate drops, it strikes cargo, camper jacks, and trailers, denting and scratching the tailgate. Some owners express concern that cargo could fall out or strike occupants. One critical complaint: the tailgate continued falling open after the recall repair was completed.

One owner's truck jumped out of gear and rolled into a fence. The dealer performed a recall repair, but the manufacturer denied the body damage claim, stating they couldn't confirm the transmission defect caused the fence impact despite the known defect and repair being documented.

A second structural complaint involves the tailgate recall (NHTSA 18V486000) parts not being available at the dealer, causing delays. One owner notes the defect doesn't show up under their VIN despite experiencing it.

A rear window water leak was reported, with water accumulating inside the truck on roof, seats, and carpet while parked. One complaint mentions welded bolts on the drag link assembly creating problems during wheel alignment work.

Same RAM 2500 body reports on nearby years: 2019

Failure modes owners describe

Tailgate will not latch or falls open while driving

Tailgate latching mechanism fails to keep the tailgate secure. Owners report the tailgate falling open unexpectedly during acceleration, towing, or normal operation. Some incidents occur repeatedly despite owner attempts to manually secure it. Damage occurs when the open tailgate strikes cargo or trailers. One owner reports the defect persisted even after recall repair was performed.

When: During operation, often while accelerating or towing; one owner reported three incidents within one month, each occurring immediately after entering truck and during acceleration at speeds just under 30 mph

Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate falls or swings open while driving; Tailgate opens unexpectedly in park or while parked; Tailgate does not stay fully closed; Tailgate opens despite owner manually pulling/tugging to ensure closure; Defect persists after recall repair in at least one case

Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 18V486000 (Structure, Latches/Locks/Linkages)

Repairs/costs cited: One owner states tailgate latch needs to be fixed correctly. Another owner reports tailgate damage (dent above handle, plastic top cap damage, arc-shaped scratch) from striking cargo. Recall repair performed on some vehicles without resolving the issue.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 18V486000 (Structure, Latches/Locks/Linkages); Recall repair parts were not available from dealer Rairdon's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Monroe, WA at the time of complaint; Manufacturer (FCA) denied body damage repair claim citing inability to confirm defect caused the failure even after recall was performed and repair completed by dealer; One owner reports the tailgate recall does not show up with their VIN number despite the defect occurring on their truck

Transmission jumping out of gear

Transmission disengages from gear while vehicle is in operation, allowing the truck to roll uncontrolled. One owner's truck rolled into a fence as a result. A recall was issued and performed by dealer to address this defect.

When: During normal operation

Symptoms owners cite: Truck jumps out of gear; Vehicle rolls uncontrolled after transmission disengages

Codes mentioned: <UNKNOWN>

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced the part under recall

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall identified and performed; FCA Customer Support (1-800-992-1997) denied coverage for body damage (fence damage) resulting from the defect, claiming they cannot confirm the transmission defect caused the failure even though the recall had been performed

Rear window water leak

Rear window seal fails, allowing water to enter the truck bed area and cabin. Water accumulation occurs on roof, seats, and carpet while truck is stationary.

When: While truck is parked in driveway

Symptoms owners cite: Water leaks from rear window; Water collects on roof; Water pools on seats; Water accumulates in carpet

Drag link welded bolts interfere with wheel alignment service

Welded bolts on the drag link assembly prevent proper wheel alignment work. This complicates maintenance and repair procedures.

When: When attempting to perform wheel alignment service

Symptoms owners cite: Welded bolts prevent proper alignment tool installation or adjustment

Codes mentioned: <UNKNOWN>

Repairs/costs cited: Wheel alignment service becomes problematic due to welded bolt design

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to drag link safety recall

Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 2 most recent

body · filed 12/16/2021

The tailgate still falls open unexpectedly while driving after the tailgate recall repair was done.. The tailgate fell open and hit my camper power jack and dented the tailgate above the handle.. I'd like the tailgate latch to be fixed correctly and the dent fixed as well.. im afraid to haul anything in the back that could potentially fall or slide out due to this issue..

body · 11,400 mi · filed 11/21/2016

The tailgate on my 2016 Ram 2500 power wagon has fallen open three seperate times in the past month. After the first incident, I made sure it was fully shut by pulling/tugging on the tailgate. All three incidents occured immediately after entering the truck and while accelerating. The truck was moving just under 30mph.

Had body trouble with your 2016 RAM 2500? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the body problem on the 2016 RAM 2500?

It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.

At what mileage does the body typically fail?

Based on the 10 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 31,280 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to body?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover body issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/RAM/2500. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.