When accelerating from a dead stop the engine has a 3 to 4 second lag. Normal response resumes after the initial lag. This condition has been consistant throughout 2016. Truck was purchased new. Present mileage is 4500.
2016 RAM 3500 powertrain problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A used 2016 RAM 3500 buyer should be aware of consistent owner complaints about dangerous 2–5 second accelerator delays from stops, mechanical gear shift failures tied to recall 17V821000, and multiple transmission/drivetrain issues that dealers struggle to diagnose or repair. Several owners report RAM has refused to acknowledge or fix the throttle lag despite widespread forum reports.
The 2016 RAM 3500 powertrain shows a clear pattern of electronic throttle response delays and transmission issues across this complaint cluster. Most frequent is the dangerous 2–5 second lag between pressing the accelerator pedal and actual engine/drivetrain response, reported from as early as 4,500 miles and worsening over time. Owners describe this as a "dead pedal" that creates serious safety hazards during intersection pullouts, passing, and emergency acceleration, yet RAM dealers and the manufacturer have consistently stated the problem does not exist.
Mechanical failures include gear shift lever fractures (linked to recall 17V821000), brake shift interlock failure allowing unintended rollout from Park, and transmission limp-mode operation restricting vehicles to 4th gear only. One transmission was confirmed going out at 89,000 miles; dealers reported parts unavailable. A fleet operator reports rear axle failures below 200,000 miles across multiple model years (2012, 2014, 2016).
Additional powertrain complaints include excessive oil consumption (1.5 quarts per 1,000 miles, suspected turbo seal), transmission restart issues after heavy towing with booming rear noise, and transmission failure to engage. Owners uniformly report dealers unable to diagnose or replicate electronic throttle issues and RAM offering no solutions despite multiple owner service visits.
Same RAM 3500 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Throttle response delay / Electronic throttle lag
Delayed response between accelerator pedal depression and engine/drivetrain acceleration, ranging 2–5 seconds from full stop or low-speed situations. Owners report this occurs from new on many units and worsens with mileage. Highway speeds show less severity. Not attributed to turbo lag on diesel units.
When: Evident from new (as low as 4,500 miles); worsens with higher mileage; most pronounced in city/low-speed driving and at traffic lights
Symptoms owners cite: 2–5 second delay between accelerator pedal depression and vehicle acceleration; Feels like dead pedal; Dangerous in intersection pullouts, passing, emergency acceleration; No correlation between pedal travel and acceleration response; Problem improves at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose or replicate; RAM has offered no solution. Owners and dealers suggest engine or drivetrain reprogramming may be needed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: RAM states problem does not exist; dealers have no answer. Owners report no recalls or TSBs address this issue.
Transmission limp mode / failure to shift properly
Transmission enters limp mode, restricting operation to 4th gear only. Check engine light appears. Power cycles (shut off and restart) temporarily restore normal shift function. At least one case reported transmission going out around 89,000 miles.
When: Reported around 89,000 miles; can occur intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Transmission stuck in 4th gear only; Loss of proper downshift capability; Normal function restored after power cycle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership confirmed transmission failure; parts unavailable at time of report. Transmission replacement required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall or TSB mentioned for this failure mode.
Gear shift selector mechanical failure / lever fracture
Gear shift handle/lever fractures or detaches when driver attempts to shift, particularly when brake pedal is depressed during shift engagement. Related to NHTSA Campaign 17V821000 (Power Train).
When: Reported at 55,390 miles; also around 20,799 miles on previously recalled unit
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shifter handle fractures when shifting; Gear shifter detaches while shifting out of park; Occurs with brake pedal depressed during shift
Repairs/costs cited: Gear shifter lever replaced by dealer. Owner paid out-of-pocket initially; later covered under recall 17V821000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V821000 (Power Train) applies. Recall included instruction card on proper shifting procedure with brake pedal depressed, though card was not always provided to owners. Prior repairs under 16V495000 and 17V821000 failed to prevent recurrence in one case.
Brake shift interlock failure
Brake shift interlock mechanism fails, allowing transmission to shift out of Park without brake pedal engagement. Vehicle begins rolling unintended; one case resulted in vehicle collision with fence and driver injury.
When: Reported at 66,180 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shift moves from Park to Drive position without driver input; Vehicle rolls forward unintended; Failure recurred after initial dealer visit
Repairs/costs cited: Brake shift interlock identified as failed component; replacement was required but not completed at time of report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified; no specific recall or TSB mentioned. Dealer initially attributed to driver error and could not duplicate, then correctly diagnosed interlock failure.
Rear axle/differential premature wear and failure
Fleet owner reports multiple 2012, 2014, and 2016 RAM 3500 units experiencing rear axle failure with less than 200,000 miles, well before expected service life. Safety concern if rear axle fails while towing.
When: Less than 200,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear axle failure; Premature wear
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair notes provided; fleet owner indicates ongoing pattern across model years.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall documented for this issue; manufacturer has not addressed despite owner belief that MFG is aware.
Transmission failure to engage / not going into gear
Transmission fails to engage into gear, leaving vehicle immobile. Owner reports multiple service visits for this problem alongside turbo issues.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission does not go into gear; Vehicle unable to move
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports two shop visits for this condition but provides no detail on repair outcome.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall or TSB mentioned; owner references unresolved transmission and water pump recalls.
Vehicle rolling out of Park without driver action
Parked vehicle with transmission in Park shifts into gear and rolls without driver input. One case involved loaded truck on incline; vehicle slipped out of Park and rolled backward.
When: Reported; one case at unspecified mileage with 1,400 lb load in bed
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward from Park position; No driver action to shift or accelerate; Witnessed by multiple passengers
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall or TSB mentioned.
Excessive oil consumption / turbo seal issue
Engine consumes approximately 1.5 quarts of oil per 1,000 miles with no visible leaks. Owner suspects turbo seal failure. No low-oil warning provided to driver; level does not register on dipstick when low.
When: Ongoing consumption pattern reported
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid oil consumption: 1.5 quarts per 1,000 miles; No visible external leaks; No low-oil dashboard warning; Oil level not visible on dipstick when low
Repairs/costs cited: Suspected turbo seal failure; no repair performed or costs cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall or TSB mentioned.
Transmission restart/no-start and loud rear booming sound
After extended towing (5 hours with fifth wheel trailer), vehicle fails to restart immediately despite being in Park. Later, loud booming sound from rear occurs before drivetrain failure. Software update applied to transmission control module but failure persists.
When: First reported at 10,000 miles, after heavy towing
Symptoms owners cite: Failure to restart immediately after shutdown; Loud booming sound from rear of vehicle; Vehicle unable to drive forward after booming sound; Persists after TCM software update
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic transmission control module software update performed but did not resolve the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall or TSB mentioned. Manufacturer notified by owner.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 RAM 3500?
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 3500?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 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 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 8,500 and 66,180 miles, with the median around 42,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,500; a quarter make it past 66,180. 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/3500.
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.