2016 RAM 1500 Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2016 RAM 1500, 12% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 32,666 miles. The words owners use most often: “abs module” (18% of reports).
- 192electrical system complaints
- 32,666median miles at failure
- 10mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- ABS module: mentioned in 34 of 192 complaints (18%)
- Traction control: mentioned in 26 of 192 complaints (14%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 78 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 192 complaints, 10 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 3 an injury.
RAM 1500 electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 1500 | 49 | 49% | 42,500 |
| 2025 1500 | 188 | 52% | 5,000 |
| 2024 1500 | 28 | 37% | 10,000 |
| 2023 1500 | 69 | 34% | 13,909 |
| 2022 1500 | 197 | 32% | 40,500 |
| 2021 1500 | 197 | 29% | 43,535 |
| 2020 1500 | 164 | 26% | 30,000 |
| 2019 1500 | 382 | 26% | 18,000 |
| 2018 1500 | 159 | 24% | 20,712 |
| 2017 1500 | 109 | 12% | 23,000 |
| 2016 1500 | 192 | 12% | 32,666 |
| 2015 1500 | 159 | 11% | 45,900 |
| 2014 1500 | 246 | 14% | 49,439 |
| 2013 1500 | 227 | 18% | 37,100 |
| 2009 1500 | 6 | 16% | 79,300 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:software; vehicle speed control:cruise control; electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The ABS warning light,electronic stability/traction control warning light, and red Brake warning light are illuminated simultaneously on the instrument cluster. The combination of these warning lights concerns me because it appears to indicate a failure or malfunction involving the…
ABS control module has failed and the vehicle cannot shift into gear and will not move. Dealership verified failure and the part is on 2 to 3 year back order. Part also apparently cannot be repaired by a 3rd party due to the chips no longer being manufactured. Only way to repair and make the…
âService ABS Systemâ, âService Electronic Braking Systemâ and Traction Control warnings keep randomly occurring. Replacement ABS module is unavailable for this extremely widespread issue. Has anyone discussed a class action lawsuit for this issue? Iâve never had more problems with a…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 RAM 1500s have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 192 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2016 RAM 1500 (12% of the 1,549 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 RAM 1500 electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 32,666 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2016 RAM 1500?
The most frequent phrase is “abs module”, in 34 of 192 complaints, followed by “traction control” (26).
Other 2016 RAM 1500 problems
- Steering problems (312)
- Engine problems (291)
- Service Brakes problems (245)
- Power Train problems (202)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (191)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (111)
- Fuel System, Diesel problems (81)
- Suspension problems (68)
See all 2016 RAM 1500 problems or electrical system problems across all 1500 years.