How many electrical system complaints does the 2016 Ram 1500 have?

NHTSA lists 199 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, which is 13% of the 1,541 total complaints filed for that model year.

Are there fires linked to the 2016 Ram 1500 electrical system?

Yes. Owners reported 7 fires and 11 crashes tied to Electrical System complaints, along with 4 injuries.

At what mileage do 2016 Ram 1500 electrical problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 32,000 miles.

Is there a recall for the 2016 Ram 1500 electrical system?

There is one related recall, campaign 18V332000, covering electrical system software issues; it is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall, and it spans several 2014-2018 Chrysler/Ram/Jeep/Dodge models.

Does the electrical problem rate change in other Ram 1500 model years?

Yes. The share of complaints tied to Electrical System issues ranges from 12% in 2015 up to 56% in 2025, compared to 13% for the 2016 model year.

2016 Ram 1500 Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 199 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, 13% of that year's 1,541 total complaints. Owners reported 11 crashes, 7 fires, and 4 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 32,000. A related recall (18V332000) covers electrical system software on other model-year trucks in the lineup.

Electrical System complaints: 199; 13% of 1,541
Crashes reported: 11
Fires reported: 7
Injuries reported: 4
Median mileage: 32,000 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

Owners describe engine fires starting near the turbo housing or engine compartment, sometimes producing heavy smoke before flames spread.
Several owners report the truck rolling away in reverse or forward after being placed in park with the engine running, leading to collisions or injuries.
Some drivers experienced headlights flickering or shutting off for 30-60 second stretches at night, raising crash risk.
Owners report sudden loss of power or throttle control error messages that put the truck into limp mode, sometimes followed by smoke or fire.
One owner reported an unexpected engine speed surge while parking, causing a collision with no warning lights or codes.

When 2016 Ram 1500 electrical complaints were filed

First complaint May 12, 2016, latest Sep 10, 2026.

199 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q1 (11).

Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Ram 1500

NHTSA 18V332000May 17, 2018Electrical System4,815,661 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Electrical System complaints by 1500 model year

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

2013240 (19%)
2014267 (15%)
2015179 (12%)
2016199 (13%)
2017116 (13%)
2018165 (25%)
2019390 (26%)
2020169 (27%)
2021205 (30%)
2022197 (32%)
202379 (39%)
202429 (39%)
2025197 (56%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2016 Ram 1500 have?: NHTSA lists 199 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, which is 13% of the 1,541 total complaints filed for that model year.
Are there fires linked to the 2016 Ram 1500 electrical system?: Yes. Owners reported 7 fires and 11 crashes tied to Electrical System complaints, along with 4 injuries.
At what mileage do 2016 Ram 1500 electrical problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 32,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Ram 1500 electrical system?: There is one related recall, campaign 18V332000, covering electrical system software issues; it is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall, and it spans several 2014-2018 Chrysler/Ram/Jeep/Dodge models.
Does the electrical problem rate change in other Ram 1500 model years?: Yes. The share of complaints tied to Electrical System issues ranges from 12% in 2015 up to 56% in 2025, compared to 13% for the 2016 model year.