YearToAvoid

2016 Ram 1500 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 283 brake complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, 18% of all complaints for the year, with 10 crashes and 2 fires linked to the brake system. Median mileage at failure is 71,000. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Brakes complaints
283
18% of 1,541
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
71,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Brake pedal travels to the floor with little or no stopping power, sometimes causing a crash.
  • ABS, traction control, and brake warning lights illuminate together, often followed by the ABS module failing and being unavailable as a replacement part.
  • Brakes lock up or activate randomly, even when the pedal has not been pressed hard.
  • Owners report the vehicle failing to stop when depressing the brake pedal at low speeds, resulting in rear-end collisions.
  • Some owners report smoke or fire originating near the wheel or brake compartment while driving on the highway.
  • Steering or traction control problems occur alongside brake warning lights, contributing to loss of vehicle control.

When 2016 Ram 1500 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 7, 2016, latest Sep 20, 2026.

2016 Ram 1500 brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter322016 Q12017 Q32018 Q42020 Q12022 Q12023 Q32024 Q42026 Q1
283 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q1 (32).

Brakes recalls for the 2016 Ram 1500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201393 (7%)
  2. 2014193 (11%)
  3. 2015156 (11%)
  4. 2016283 (18%)
  5. 2017100 (11%)
  6. 201850 (8%)
  7. 2019135 (9%)
  8. 202042 (7%)
  9. 202176 (11%)
  10. 202273 (12%)
  11. 202338 (19%)
  12. 202414 (19%)
  13. 202542 (12%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2016 Ram 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 283 brake-related complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, which is 18% of all 1,541 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2016 Ram 1500 brake problems?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this brake issue on the 2016 Ram 1500.
At what mileage do 2016 Ram 1500 brake problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 71,000 miles.
Are 2016 Ram 1500 brake problems dangerous?
NHTSA data links 10 crashes and 2 fires to brake complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, with owners reporting ABS failure and loss of stopping power.
How does 2016 compare to other Ram 1500 model years for brake complaints?
The 2016 model year's brake complaints make up 18% of its total complaints, higher than most other years listed, which range from 7% to 19%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.