2016 Ram 1500 Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA logged 202 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, 13% of all complaints for the year, tied to 34 crashes and 15 injuries. The dominant pattern involves the rotary shifter appearing to leave park unexpectedly, and four related recalls exist.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 202
- 13% of 1,541
- Crashes reported
- 34
- Fires reported
- 5
- Injuries reported
- 15
- Median mileage
- 32,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 4
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners report the vehicle rolling or moving on its own after the rotary shifter is placed in park, sometimes rolling backward into garages, walls, or other vehicles.
- Several complaints describe the truck shifting from park to reverse or drive with no driver input, occurring shortly after the engine was left running and the driver exited.
- Some incidents happened at very low mileage, including cases reported at 1,000, 2,500, and 3,045 miles, suggesting the issue could appear early in ownership.
- One complaint describes the shift knob switching gears without contact while driving, sending the truck moving unexpectedly across a road.
- At least one owner reported being dragged while trying to re-enter a vehicle that began rolling backward independently.
- The median mileage at failure across this problem area is 32,000 miles.
When 2016 Ram 1500 transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 2, 2016, latest Aug 23, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Ram 1500
- NHTSA 17V821000Dec 20, 2017Transmission & Powertrain1,482,874 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
Risk: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.
- NHTSA 17V198000Mar 23, 2017Transmission & Powertrain30 vehicles
Power train:driveline:differential unit
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 1500 trucks. The differential pin retaining screw may come loose while driving, potentially causing the differential to break or lock up.
Risk: A broken or locked up differential may result in a loss of motive power and possibly a loss of vehicle control. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the differential retaining pin, free of charge. The recall began April 24, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T20.
- NHTSA 16V301000May 16, 2016Transmission & Powertrain64 vehicles
Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016 RAM 1500 trucks manufactured February 19, 2016, to March 3, 2016. The front halfshafts may have been incorrectly manufactured causing them to fracture without warning.
Risk: A fractured halfshaft may damage underbody components and create road debris, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front halfshafts, free of charge. The recall began on July 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S32.
- NHTSA 15V661000Oct 15, 2015Transmission & Powertrain61,859 vehicles
Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured June 17, 2015, to September 28, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been built with rear axles that were incorrectly heat treated.
Risk: If the rear axle shaft was not properly heated treated, it may fracture and a wheel separation could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the axle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 23, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R59.
Transmission & Powertrain 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 transmission complaints does the 2016 Ram 1500 have?
- NHTSA lists 202 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Ram 1500, which is 13% of the 1,541 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a transmission or powertrain recall for the 2016 Ram 1500?
- Yes. NHTSA lists four related recalls covering the 2016 Ram 1500, including campaigns for the differential retaining pin, front halfshafts, rear axle heat treatment, and a BTSI-related software and inspection recall.
- What is the main transmission problem reported on the 2016 Ram 1500?
- The most common pattern is the vehicle appearing to roll or shift out of park on its own, sometimes while the driver was outside the vehicle, leading to crashes.
- Has the shift-out-of-park issue caused injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area shows 15 injuries and 34 crashes across the 202 complaints filed for the 2016 Ram 1500.
- At what mileage do these transmission problems typically occur?
- The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2016 Ram 1500 is 32,000 miles, though some incidents were reported under 5,000 miles.