Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ram 2500. While traveling various speeds, the 4 wheel drive lever would shift independently and the "4 wheel drive shift in progress" warning message would illuminate. The contact took the vehicle to several Dodge dealers, including athens Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (4145 atlanta hwy, athens, ga 30606), gwinnett Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (5054 ga-78, stone mountain, ga…
2016 RAM 2500 powertrain problems
severe 56 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
56
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
6crashes
1fire
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 56 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 RAM 2500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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
Owners have filed 56 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 11 model years of RAM 2500 in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report the 2016 Ram 2500 powertrain experiences multiple critical failures. Shift lever brackets fracture at 4,500 to 25,000 miles, trapping vehicles in Park. Transmission park engagement fails, causing vehicles to roll while parked—some crashed into trees or adjacent vehicles, one incident resulted in a pinned occupant with six broken ribs and organ damage.
Throttle response delay (the "dead pedal") is pervasive: 1–4 second lags when reapplying throttle, particularly during merging and lane changes. Dealers acknowledge this as unfixed design behavior, though owners report it causes near-collisions and safety concerns.
Shift solenoids fail, locking transmissions into 4th gear or causing involuntary downshifts to first gear at highway speed, with engine RPM spiking dangerously. One owner's transmission caught fire climbing a hill. Four-wheel-drive systems engage or disengage spontaneously, with transfer case repairs failing to prevent recurrence.
Brake transmission shift interlock malfunctions allow shifting without pressing the brake. Check Engine lights persist despite multiple dealer visits and component replacements. NHTSA Campaign 17V821000 (powertrain) and related campaigns exist but are incomplete—parts remain unavailable at dealers months or years after recall issuance, leaving owners stranded with unrepaired safety defects.
Same RAM 2500 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Shift Lever/Bracket Failure
Shift lever bracket fractures at the point where the shift rod inserts, rendering the vehicle unable to shift out of Park. Owners report the shift lever going limp, losing resistance, or snapping off completely. One owner cited Mopar part number 68470756AA.
When: Variable; reported from 4,500 miles to 25,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shift lever loses resistance and goes limp; Shift lever snaps off or bracket fractures; Vehicle trapped in Park, cannot be shifted; No warning lights prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Bracket replacement required (Mopar 68470756AA); one owner charged $718 for repair. Multiple dealers unable to diagnose or address recurring issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V821000 issued for Brake Transmission Shift Interlock issues; parts unavailable at multiple dealers.
Unintended Reverse or Forward Motion While Parked
Vehicle shifts out of Park and rolls backward or forward while parked, with the transmission engaged in Reverse or Drive. Occurs with engine running, key in ignition, or sometimes with key removed. Multiple incidents resulted in crashes and injuries.
When: Various mileages: 23,000 to 75,000 miles; some incidents within weeks of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward or forward unexpectedly while in Park; Transmission disengages from Park without driver input; Vehicle accelerates in Reverse when driver shifted to Reverse; Accelerates forward when driver shifted to Reverse; Vehicle continues to roll even with brakes applied in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: One incident involved transmission replacement; another required repair of brake transmission shift interlock solenoid. Many incidents not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V821000 (Brake Transmission Shift Interlock); however, owners report recall repairs failed to prevent recurrence. Parts unavailable for recall remedy at multiple dealers.
Parking Pawl/Transmission Park Engagement Failure
Vehicle rolls or drifts when placed in Park, particularly on inclines. Parking pawl may not fully engage, or slips intermittently. Some owners report gear indicator displays incorrect gear while vehicle physically rolls.
When: 31,000 to 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls downhill or on slight inclines while in Park; Brake required to hold vehicle stationary; Gear selector stuck and will not move smoothly; Gear indicator displays wrong gear while vehicle rolls; Vehicle rolls even after restarting
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers ran brake interlock tests and found no problems; no repairs completed. One incident involved vehicle crashing into trees.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 17V821000 issued; however, recall repairs failed to prevent failures in multiple reported cases.
Throttle Response Delay (Dead Pedal)
Significant 1–4 second delay in throttle response, particularly when quickly releasing and reapplying the accelerator pedal. Occurs during lane changes, merging, and normal acceleration. Described by owners and dealers as a known, unfixed issue related to electronic throttle programming.
When: Occurs from early ownership; reported at 4,500 miles and throughout vehicle life
Symptoms owners cite: 1–4 second delay in throttle response; Delay most pronounced when transitioning off and on throttle quickly; More severe with air conditioning on; Check Engine and Throttle Position Sensor warning lights may illuminate; Vehicle may surge unpredictably after delay
Codes mentioned: P0870 (Transmission Fluid Pressure)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers state this is normal behavior; one dealer acknowledged 'Dodge dropped the ball on this one.' Replacements of throttle components and wiring harness clips attempted but do not resolve the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer feedback indicates this is treated as normal operation; no official recall or TSB addressing the delay.
Transmission Shift Solenoid Failure
Shift solenoid fails, causing transmission to lock into one gear (typically 4th), lose power, or shift involuntarily to low gears. One owner reports a solenoid replaced under recall (campaign U30 for 68RFE) was itself faulty and caused clutch pack debris.
When: 23,000 to 72,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission locks into 4th gear; Vehicle enters limp mode; Loss of power and inability to shift; Involuntary downshift to 1st gear at highway speed; Check Engine light illuminates; High-pitched squeal from transmission in overdrive
Codes mentioned: P0870 (Transmission Fluid Pressure)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required, often at owner expense ($6,000+). One owner had faulty recall solenoid replaced, which then caused clutch pack failure requiring transmission rebuild. Parts often on backorder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Previous FCA campaign (U30) addressed solenoid pack for 68RFE; however, replacement solenoids have been reported as defective. NHTSA Campaign 20V036000 issued for Powertrain but parts unavailable.
Uncontrolled Transmission Downshift or Upshift
Transmission shifts gears involuntarily during highway driving, sometimes under load or towing. Downshifts to low gears cause engine RPM to spike dangerously. Upshifts or shifts into wrong gears occur without driver input.
When: 36,000 to 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Involuntary downshift to 1st or 4th gear at highway speed; Engine RPM spikes to red line; Vehicle jerks violently during shift; Unable to shift out of locked gear; Loss of control on highway or while towing; Transmission overheats; exhaust fire reported
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required; torque converter damage also reported. U-joint failure caused transmission cracking in one incident. Repairs often not covered under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers diagnose but do not provide warranty coverage. No official recall for involuntary downshifts.
Transfer Case / 4WD Shift Failure
4WD lever shifts independently while driving; 4WD engages or disengages without driver input. Multiple replacement attempts of transfer case control module and axle locker actuator fail to resolve recurring issue.
When: 4,000 to 12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: 4WD lever shifts on its own while driving; '4 Wheel Drive Shift in Progress' warning illuminates; Loud grinding or mechanical clunk from drivetrain; Steering wheel vibration and feedback; 'Service 4WD' light illuminates intermittently; 4WD will not disengage; requires stop and restart cycle
Repairs/costs cited: Transfer case control module replaced; axle locker actuator replaced; electrical harness replaced. Issue recurs within days of repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers and manufacturer have not resolved recurring issue; FCA offered buyback in at least one case.
Brake Transmission Shift Interlock Malfunction
Vehicle can be shifted out of Park without depressing brake pedal, or cannot be shifted at all due to stuck interlock solenoid. Gear selector may move through all positions without brake input.
When: 12,000 to 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Gear selector can move from Park to Reverse, Neutral, Drive without brakes; Gear selector stuck and will not move; Brake transmission shift interlock solenoid stuck; Vehicle unable to shift out of Park after stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Brake transmission shift interlock solenoid replacement; wiring harness replacement. One owner paid out of pocket despite 'max care warranty.'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V821000 issued; however, multiple owners report recall repairs failed or parts remained unavailable.
Check Engine Light / Torque Converter Issues
Check Engine light illuminates persistently or intermittently, often with torque converter-related codes. Issue recurs even after multiple dealer visits and component replacements.
When: Early ownership (4,500 miles) through 103,311 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminates continuously or intermittently; Vehicle loses acceleration when light is on; Torque converter control out of range; Valve body replaced but issue persists; Light clears if vehicle left overnight but returns
Codes mentioned: P0870 (Transmission Fluid Pressure), P0421 (O2 Sensor Circuit Low)
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle components replaced; throttle wiring harness clip bent and replaced; valve body replaced. One dealer kept vehicle 6 weeks and issue recurred within 1 mile of pickup. Parts often on backorder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers provide multiple visits and replacements without lasting resolution; manufacturer opened case but did not follow up in one instance.
Engine Stalling Without Warning
Engine stalls while driving or immediately after startup, with no warning lights or diagnostic codes. Vehicle may restart and run normally, or require multiple restart attempts.
When: Very early ownership; one vehicle purchased and experienced stalling the next day at 26,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning or check engine light; Air noise from air box or passenger side engine area; Vehicle restarts and drives normally after stall; Clutch master cylinder loss of pressure
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch master cylinder failure requires replacement; air box noise reported but not diagnosed. One owner ended up on sidewalk after stall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer involvement reported.
Driveline Component Failure (U-Joint, Serpentine Belt, Tension Pulley)
U-joint fails and cracks transmission; serpentine belt failure; tension pulley fractures and snaps. Failures occur suddenly and cause secondary damage.
When: 24,000 to 73,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud explosion and violent shake from center of truck; Transmission fluid pouring from transmission pan; Abnormal clicking noise from engine; Violent vibration makes mirrors hard to see through; Transmission overheats and catches fire
Repairs/costs cited: U-joint failure required transmission and drive shaft replacement; tension pulley fracture damaged water pump and wiring harness. Transmission rebuilt with cooler line and cooler repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer involvement in repair or warranty coverage reported.
Synthesized from 56 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Able to shift into drive without pressing the brake. Put the truck back in park to see if it was just the one time but it continued to be able to shift out of park without pressing the brake. We have not had this occur previously or we have just always been pressing the brake.
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2016 RAM 2500?
It's a meaningful issue. 56 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 12,000 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 26,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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.