RAM 5500 problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 16 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Above-average reliability for the segment. Few systemic issues on file.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.6/10 — above the segment average
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.
Top trouble spots 3 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Truck starts swaying from side to side at highway speeds (62-72mph) steering is non-responsive when trying to correct the sway and then steering will catch immediately and the swaying gets worse. Have to slow to 40 MPH to regain cntrol of the vehicle. Very dangerous when others…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ram 5500. On several occasions, while the vehicle was parked, it rolled away. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be parked with the parking brake engaged to prevent it from moving. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The…
Our transfer case failed (blow apart) causing a fire . We had the truck towed to our dealer and for the last three weeks Dodge has not allowed the repair to proceed or provided us with contact information or a path forward. We have no truck or plan for it to be fixed. The…
Was driving 65 MPH in cruise control, on the highway, in motion when I felt a vibration for maybe 10 seconds, dash lights came on within a couple seconds of vibration starting, pulled over to the side of the highway, truck would not go into park. Someone had to bring a truck and…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
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 →
Common questions
Is the 2016 RAM 5500 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 RAM 5500 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2016 RAM 5500?
On the NHTSA data, the 2016 RAM 5500 does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.6/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 RAM 5500?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 6 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 101,531 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 101,531 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my RAM 5500 has open recalls?
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.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 RAM 5500?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 16 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, 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.