2016 Ram 2500 Electrical System Problems
Owners filed 40 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Ram 2500, 16% of all 258 complaints that year. Median mileage at failure was 23,000. Two related recalls exist, including an ECM replacement campaign (15V592000) and a 2018 software-flash recall (18V332000).
- Electrical System complaints
- 40
- 16% of 258
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 23,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Engine and all electrical systems suddenly shut off while driving at speed, including loss of headlights, dashboard, and power steering/brakes assist.
- Vehicle stalls or hesitates during deceleration or acceleration, with reported delays of several seconds before power returns.
- Truck fails to restart after a stall, with the instrument panel staying dark for multiple key cycles before the engine catches.
- Dealers have diagnosed some shutdown events as failure of the power distribution module and wiring harness corrosion.
- Low-beam headlight bulbs burned out repeatedly and were replaced multiple times on the same vehicle.
- Battery failures and alternator replacements occurred, in one case with visible corrosion and cracking on the battery case.
When 2016 Ram 2500 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 22, 2015, latest Aug 31, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Ram 2500
- 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.
- NHTSA 15V592000Sep 23, 2015Electrical System41 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition:module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis and 4500/5500 Cab Chassis trucks manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 13, 2015 and equipped with a 6.7L Cummins Diesel engine. In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.
Risk: An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECM, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R52.
Electrical System complaints by 2500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical complaints does the 2016 Ram 2500 have?
- NHTSA lists 40 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Ram 2500, which is 16% of the 258 total complaints filed for that model year.
- At what mileage do these electrical problems usually happen?
- The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2016 Ram 2500 is 23,000 miles.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Ram 2500 electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 15V592000, reported in 2015, covers ECM replacement on 2016 Ram 2500 trucks built with the 6.7L Cummins diesel engine. A second recall, 18V332000 from 2018, covers a software flash for the engine/powertrain across several FCA models including the Ram 2500.
- Have the electrical issues caused crashes or fires?
- NHTSA data tied to this complaint area for the 2016 Ram 2500 shows 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries.
- How does 2016 compare to other Ram 2500 model years for electrical complaints?
- The 2016 Ram 2500's 16% share of complaints tied to the Electrical System is similar to 2015 (14%) and 2017 (18%), but far lower than 2025, where electrical complaints make up 63% of the total.