2016 Ram 1500 Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  6645%
• 25k–50k
  3423%
• 50k–75k
  2920%
• 75k–100k
  139%
• 100k–150k
  32%
• 150k+
  21%

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 that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V821000 (Power Train) performed however, the repair did not correct the failure. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, the vehicle rolled away and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the towing suddenly failed. The contact was able to drive off the exit. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact stated that the week before, while idling at a stop light, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact cleared the code before restarting the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a tone wheel failure. The failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V475000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact learned that the vehicle was included in a recall in 2019, and the fix included updating the powertrain control module software. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the repair was no longer covered under recall. …

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the rear wheel seized, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop. The contact discovered that the vehicle failed to drive forward while in drive(D). The contact stated that after switching to 4WD, the vehicle was driven off the road and was later towed to the residence. The contact stated that while examining the vehicle, the contact determined that the rear differential had failed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V198000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 81,127.

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to be started, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact stated that the gear shifter had seized in park. In addition, the check engine and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with ABS control module failure. The contact was informed that the ABS control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were no longer manufactured to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

The contact owns a 2016 RAM 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS, traction control, and several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the failure was persistent. Additionally, while attempting to shift into drive(D), the gear shifter failed to shift into drive(D) as intended. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was common. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 96,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the vehicle changed gear independently and started reversing towards the road. The contact stated he jumped into the vehicle and shifted the gear to drive and then turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the drive indicator warning light blinked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer informed the contact that the OBD reader did not retrieve a fault code. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 16,400.

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the ABS, TPMS, trailer brake control unit, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the part to repair the vehicle was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

There is an open recall for certain vin#'s 20v-475 that happened to my vehicle and according to message boards a lot of other vehicles that have the failure of the tone wheel to the exact way the recall is listed but for some reason the vin does't fall under the recall. My vehicle had a complete shut down without warning or noises while driving at highway speeds on a windy narrow parkway with minimal shoulder. If I wasn't driving in the right lane at the time my situation could've been even more dangerous than it already was. I don't understand how a part that that is used in all ecodiesel engines from 2014-2018 and has a known failure is supposedly only affecting a small percentage of engines when they all have the same part. I have searched message board after message board and have found a lot of listings of this part failure all on vin's that for some reason aren't on the recall. …

Traveling at hwy speeds the vehicle lurched as if the brakes were suddenly slammed on then removed. Speed was reduced to 60 mph, no sounds or vibrations noticed so began accelerating back to hwy speeds. RPM kept building but speed was not increasing as normal. Within a few seconds loud banging under the vehicle was heard and half the drive shaft came out the back flipping end over end down the hwy. The shaft struck the grill of a jeep following me but no damage was seen upon inspection. The truck came to a relatively calm stop on the side of the road. Both halves of the drive shaft were recovered, one from the middle of the road, the other about 20 yards into the ditch. Rear diff was spilling fluid. All casings and covers seemed to be intact. Towed to Dealer, inspected and they said best they figure is the axle seized up, destroyed the diff, and shaft. …

Was pulling in to a parking lot when the vehicle made a warning sound and then displayed "Check Engine" and "Service Shifter" messages on dash. The truck then would not shift in to any other gear but drive. it displayed that it was in park but stayed in gear and almost caused me to drive in to a pedestrian. The shift lights on the dash for the gears (P, N,R, D) all flashed randomly as if there was an electrical issue. Eventually I was able to set the brake, turn off the truck, restart it, and it finally changed gears. I took the vehicle to the dealer the next business day and they told me looking at the codes, that the shift module needs to be replaced. From what I have read online in forums this is an EXTREMELY common safety issue affecting the shifting/drivability of the vehicle. Per dealer, this is not related to the recall affecting the shifter on the vehicle. …

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Transmission complaints in other 1500 years