2016 RAM 1500 Steering Problems
Owners have filed 312 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2016 RAM 1500, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 70,667 miles. The words owners use most often: “electric power” (14% of reports).
- 312steering complaints
- 70,667median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $3,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%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.
- Electric power: mentioned in 44 of 312 complaints (14%)
- Difficult turn: mentioned in 26 of 312 complaints (8%)
- Steering rack: mentioned in 25 of 312 complaints (8%)
- Wheel became: mentioned in 22 of 312 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2016 RAM 1500 at $3,600, and half of them between $3,100 and $4,050.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2020–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 103 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 312 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
RAM 1500 steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 1500 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2025 1500 | 22 | 6% | 3,400 |
| 2024 1500 | 6 | 8% | — |
| 2023 1500 | 18 | 9% | 88,000 |
| 2022 1500 | 40 | 6% | 44,500 |
| 2021 1500 | 50 | 7% | 38,000 |
| 2020 1500 | 65 | 10% | 62,250 |
| 2019 1500 | 340 | 23% | 19,000 |
| 2018 1500 | 88 | 13% | 74,913 |
| 2017 1500 | 228 | 26% | 65,000 |
| 2016 1500 | 312 | 20% | 70,667 |
| 2015 1500 | 342 | 23% | 76,381 |
| 2014 1500 | 505 | 28% | 83,000 |
| 2013 1500 | 640 | 50% | 92,000 |
| 2009 1500 | 3 | 8% | 58,505 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Electric power steering failure
Driving down residential street and steering got stiff . Not safe at all . Message on screen power steering service. 2 mechanics said to would need to replace complete electric power steering gear assembly.
Rack and pinion has failed after 10 years. Luckily it went out a my wife was getting home. I've had a mechanic verify that it has failed completely and I am in the process of getting a new one.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 RAM 1500s have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 312 owner complaints about steering for the 2016 RAM 1500 (20% 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 steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 70,667 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2016 RAM 1500?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,600 (half paid between $3,100 and $4,050), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2016 RAM 1500?
The most frequent phrase is “electric power”, in 44 of 312 complaints, followed by “difficult turn” (26).
Other 2016 RAM 1500 problems
See all 2016 RAM 1500 problems or steering problems across all 1500 years.