2016 Ram 3500 Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 29 engine complaints for the 2016 Ram 3500, making up 22% of that model year's 134 total complaints. The most common pattern is a 2-5 second throttle delay from a dead stop; a related water pump recall (17V562000) also exists for engine compartment fires.
- Engine complaints
- 29
- 22% of 134
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 18,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners describe a delay of roughly 2 to 5 seconds between pressing the accelerator from a dead stop and the truck actually moving, described as a "dead pedal."
- Some drivers say this throttle lag gets worse the longer they own the truck and call it dangerous when merging or pulling into traffic.
- Several owners report an abnormal exhaust odor entering the cabin through the firewall while driving at various speeds.
- One complaint tied the engine to a water pump failure covered under NHTSA recall 17V562000, which warns that an engine compartment fire can occur without warning.
- A few owners note the throttle delay problem started from the day they got the truck, regardless of mileage.
When 2016 Ram 3500 engine complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 4, 2016, latest May 8, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2016 Ram 3500
- NHTSA 17V562000Sep 12, 2017Engine443,874 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2017 RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines that have Concentric-brand water pumps without a vent hole. These water pumps may leak coolant.
Risk: The leaking water pump can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pumps, 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 T51.
Engine complaints by 3500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2016 Ram 3500 have?
- NHTSA lists 29 engine complaints for the 2016 Ram 3500, which is 22% of the 134 total complaints filed for that model year.
- What is the most common engine problem reported?
- Owners most often describe a throttle delay of about 2 to 5 seconds when accelerating from a stop, sometimes calling it a "dead pedal."
- Is there an engine-related recall for the 2016 Ram 3500?
- Yes. Recall 17V562000 covers Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel water pumps on 2013-2017 Ram 2500/3,500 trucks that can fail and cause an engine compartment fire; it is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.
- At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine complaint group is 18,500 miles.
- How does the 2016 model compare to other Ram 3500 years for engine complaints?
- The 2016 Ram 3500's 29 engine complaints and 22% share are close to 2014 (45 complaints, 22%) and 2019 (30 complaints, 22%), and lower than 2018's 125 complaints at 16% share.