2016 Ram 1500 Steering Problems
NHTSA lists 310 steering complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, about 20% of all complaints filed for the year, with 6 crashes and 3 injuries reported. A related recall (16V167000) covers EPS control-board contamination, but many owners with the same symptoms report their VIN was excluded.
- Steering complaints
- 310
- 20% of 1,541
- Crashes reported
- 6
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 70,667 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical steering symptoms owners report
- Steering wheel suddenly locks, tightens, or becomes inoperable at low speeds, sometimes forcing the vehicle off the road or into a crash.
- Vehicle unexpectedly veers or jerks to one side without warning while turning or driving straight.
- Owners diagnose a shorted power steering control module, the same failure described in recall 16V167000, yet NHTSA/MOPAR tells them their VIN is not covered.
- Intermittent popping or vibration is felt in the steering column when turning left or right.
- Steering wheel becomes difficult to maneuver during low-speed turns, with dealers unable to duplicate the fault.
- Steering overreacts to road bumps, traced to the lower steering column shaft.
When 2016 Ram 1500 steering complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 30, 2017, latest Sep 24, 2026.
Steering recalls for the 2016 Ram 1500
- NHTSA 16V167000Mar 23, 2016Steering440 vehicles
Steering:electric power assist system
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2015, to September 13, 2015. Contamination on the Electric Power Steering (EPS) control circuit board may cause a short and result in the loss of power steering assist.
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS unit, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on May 16, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S19.
Steering complaints by 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many steering complaints does the 2016 Ram 1500 have?
- NHTSA lists 310 steering complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, which is 20% of the 1,541 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a steering recall for the 2016 Ram 1500?
- Yes, recall 16V167000 covers contamination on the Electric Power Steering control circuit board for 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks built between January 22, 2015 and September 13, 2015; the remedy is a free EPS unit replacement.
- Do all 2016 Ram 1500 owners with steering failure qualify for the recall?
- Not according to the complaints: several owners report the same EPS control-module failure described in the recall but were told their VIN was not included in campaign 16V167000.
- At what mileage do steering problems typically show up on the 2016 Ram 1500?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for steering complaints on the 2016 Ram 1500 is 70,667 miles.
- Have steering failures caused crashes or injuries on the 2016 Ram 1500?
- NHTSA data tied to these steering complaints shows 6 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries reported.