Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated while approaching a traffic light and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal to the floor and turned off the vehicle and the vehicle stopped. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the engine was still revving at full throttle. The contact turned off the vehicle for a second time. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the message "Service ABS" remained displayed with the check engine and traction control warning lights remaining illuminated. Additionally, while attempting to stop the vehicle, the stopping distance was extended, and the cruise control was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The local dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the ABS module was on backorder and unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 115,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS system module failure warning light illuminated. The brakes, traction control, and power steering failed, and the speedometer ceased to display on the instrument panel. The electronic throttle control warning light also illuminated, causing the vehicle to fail to shift out of park. After turning off the vehicle for several hours, the contact was able to restart the vehicle and shift out of park. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with ABS module failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 47 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact stated that the "Service Electronic Throttle Immediately" message was displayed. The contact stated that she continued to depress the brake pedal until the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was then cautiously driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the throttle body was gunky and needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the ABS message had remained displayed, and the cruise control was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the ABS module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the ABS module was on backorder and unavailable. The failure mileage was 92,000.
Engine speed surged while pulling into parking space. Bringing to dealer to have checked. No warning, or codes given. $1500 in damages to my vehicle and probably the same to the parked car in front of me. Worried about my safety now with this sudden acceleration.
2016 Ram 1500 4x4 5.7 Hemi....ABS, Traction Control, BRAKE lights are all on. Had the DTS codes scanned and told the ABS Module is Bad (Internal Failure) as well as the HCU unit. Happened with approx. 24,000 miles but out of 36 month warranty. Well documented issue with these vehicles yet FCA will not recall nor help with repair. To make matters worse, the ABS module (part #68295368AC) is not currently available at all and there is no ETA either. Says part is discontinued on many Mopar parts websites. I, like who knows how many hundreds of others, are driving around with no ABS, Traction Control and also cruise control is automatically disabled. Also, the other day my Speedometer stopped working and I also lost power steering. This is a MAJOR safety issue and should have at least been covered by the powertrain warranty so at least I would not be liable for the approx $1800+ repair cost. …
Same issue as NHTSA is investigating on RAM 2500 is occuring on RAM1500 frequently. ABS computer failure. Warning lights on for ABS, ESC and parking brake. My RAM dealer found defective ABS computer and told me its on back order. My issue popped up in August and apparantly back order is until at least/earliest March of 2024. This is based on multiple comments found on internet from others with same issue. If comments are true, backorder is not for procuring parts but for engineering to advise a solution. Clearly RAM is aware of the issue yet has not issued a recall or offered any solution. According to nhtsa own site there are multiple reports of this type failure on RAM 1500s. …
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Failed ABS Module....yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Without a functioning ABS Module, the vehicle has no Anti-Lock brakes or Traction control...in addition to no functioning cruise control and some 4WD features. The main concern is obviously the absence of ABS and Traction Control, which can cause loss of vehicle control. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes, the vehicle has been inspected/confirmed by the dealer. The replacement part is unavailable / has been on backorder for several months. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - No...only the dealer has inspected it. …
The first sign of a problem was when my touch screen radio would randomly shut off and then turn back on again. As it would get hotter it would happen more often. Then the turn signals would have trouble flickering. The check engine light would show up and I've tried getting that figured out. When I was driving it would tell me "service transmission continue in D. Do not shift or turn engine off until you reach a desired location. You may not be able to shift again until serviced" with a blinking exclamation point. It would occasionally also say "service shifter" and sometimes when I would start it, it shuts off immediately. The worse part of all is when I was driving it doesn't automatically shift gears so I have to pull over and shut the truck off to be able to shift at the speel limit speed. …
Acceleration complaints in other 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2016 Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 111 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2016 Ram 1500, 7% of the model year's 1,554 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Ram 1500 acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2016 Ram 1500, though it has 16 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Ram 1500 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury and 1 death to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.