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The 2016 RAM 3500 has 133 NHTSA owner complaints and 16 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2016 RAM 3500 has 133 NHTSA owner complaints and 16 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 28 complaints, typically surfacing around 76,259 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 3500 | 114 | 18 |
| 2014 3500 | 202 | 17 |
| 2015 3500 | 136 | 16 |
| 2016 3500 (this page) | 133 | 16 |
| 2017 3500 | 303 | 13 |
| 2018 3500 | 781 | 11 |
| 2019 3500 | 134 | 14 |
Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: steering is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 76,259 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 16 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 4.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
When driving down road constantly make adjustments to right and or steering wheel being held to or around 1 or 2 o'clock position just to go straight. When steering to left steering wheel is tighter then when steering to right. Steering box needs replaced and or rebuilt. Truck…
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes were inoperable. The contact stated that after the vehicle was involved in an accident, the contact stated he immediately depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle however,…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19v021000 (steering). The contact took the vehicle to johnson Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (481 us-46, budd lake, nj 07828, (908) 850-8700) and was informed that they would be taking…
The Government Owned Vehicle (GOV) was traveling North on 31E in Nashville, when truck shuttered then truck passenger side wheel fell off. Tire/wheel pinned to truck and caught fire. Drive pulled truck off to side of roadway and called 911.
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. RQ25003 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 4.4 out of 10 based on 133 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 RAM 3500 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2016 RAM 3500 is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Steering: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 30,000–78,000 mi; Reliability score 4.4/10 — below the segment average; 16 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 28 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 76,259 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 4.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 133 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 76,259 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 28 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 76,259 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 76,259 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 133 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.