2016 RAM 1500 buying guide

A data-driven checklist for buying a used 2016 RAM 1500, built from 1,514 owner complaints, 16 recall campaigns, 604 service bulletins and federal safety records — not opinions.

Know before you buy

16 recall campaigns affect this model year. Check each one and confirm the repairs were done — recall work is free at any authorized dealer.
Main problem areas: steering (303), engine (291), service brakes (227), power train (200), fuel/propulsion system (188).
Symptoms owners describe: check engine light (99), stalling (89), loss of power (88), steering problems (67), hesitation / surging (32), vibration / shaking (27). Test-drive with these in mind.
Reported incident mileage: among 730 complaints with a usable odometer reading, half were filed between 30,475 and 88,750 miles (median 53,400). This describes when owners reported problems — it does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop one.
4 federal investigations have named this model year — read what they cover.
Crash-test rating: 4/5 stars overall from NHTSA. Full safety record.
Fuel economy: 15–23 MPG combined (EPA; engines: 5.7L 8-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3L 6-cyl).

When problems get reported

Reported incident mileage among 730 complaints with usable odometer readings.

under 20k		123
20–40k		122
40–60k		154
60–80k		111
80–100k		85
100–150k		95
150k+		40

Before you hand over money

Run the VIN through our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact build.
Check open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall that was never fixed is a free repair you can claim.
Get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the problem areas listed above.

This guide is generated from official NHTSA, EPA and FARS records. Complaints are unverified owner reports and raw counts are not adjusted for sales volume.