What 1,501 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ram 1500 Crew Cab

The contact owned a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact’s husband stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph, the steering wheel became inoperable and the vehicle unexpectedly veered to the left with no warning lights illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact’s husband collided with a car carrier vehicle. The contact’s husband suffered multiple injuries and was transported to a local emergency room. The contact 's husband suffered injuries included a contusion to the nose, a head injury, broken ribs, and damage to his lower teeth. The contact’s husband also had lower broken teeth that required surgical removal. The contact’s husband stated that the airbags did deploy during the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene and deemed totaled by the towing company. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The VIN and License plate were not available.

NHTSA ODI 11726661

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while in reverse (R) and moving at approximately 4 MPH, the steering wheel had frozen, and he was not able to turn the wheel. The contact stated that he had crashed into his other vehicle. The contact stated that the front end of the other vehicle was not damaged; however, the vehicle he was driving in had damage to the bumper and tailgate. The contact stated that the traction warning light had illuminated after the crash. The contact stated that his insurance company had the vehicle towed to a collision shop. The contact was advised by the collision shop that, before he could get the collision damage repaired, the power steering failure needed to be repaired. The contact stated that he had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering assist had failed, and he needed to take the vehicle to a dealer. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer, however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to an open NHTSA Action Number: RQ23003 (Steering). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 11704085

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 20–25 MPH, the steering became inoperable. The contact was unable to control the vehicle and crashed into the curb, and the passenger side tire popped. The driver continued to drive and parked. The contact changed the tire, and upon starting the vehicle, the tire and traction control warning lights illuminated.  The contact noticed the passenger side fender and rim were scraped from the cement. The contact stated that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V167000 (Steering). There were no reported injuries, airbag deployment, or police report filed. The contact called the local dealer, who scheduled an appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11626351

Turning left out of my neighborhood, the truck veered right instead. I lost control and ran up into a yard. Mechanic diagnosed rack and pinion. There is a recall but MOPAR States my VIN isn't affected. I beg to differ as we almost lost our lives.

NHTSA ODI 11575242

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at at 25 MPH, the steering wheel tightened without warning. The contact used excessive force to untighten the steering wheel; the power steering assist returned to normal operation. The contact replaced the ball joints, inner tie rods, and several other parts in the vehicle after the failure. A year after the initial failure, the contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the same failure occurred again without warning. Due to the failure, the contact hit a a curb and damaged the front end of the vehicle. The air bag did not deploy; the contact was not injured. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to his home where it remained in his possession. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V167000 (Steering); however, the manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 11539766

The Traction control flashed immediately before the wreck so my assumption is there was a traction lock malfunction. The road was wet due to rain. My husband was driving 55 mph when the truck's steering locked and we ended up in the right side ditch where we hit an electric power pole. My husband had several fractured ribs. My right lower arm was broken, required surgery and a week long stay in the hospital. They put a rod with screws into my arm. The truck was totally destroyed according to our insurance company.

NHTSA ODI 11537136

THIS 2016 3.0L ECO DIESEL IS A DEATH TRAP AFTER FCA REPROGRAMED THE SOFTWARE 2 MONTHS AGO. 2-4 SECOND HESITATION WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS. THE TRUCK JUST SITS THERE AND DOES NOT MOVE. IN TWO MONTHS I HAVE HAD 3 CLOSE CALLS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. EXTREMELY SCARY WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS AND A CAR IS COMING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT YOU AT 55 MPH AND YOU'RE SECONDS FROM GETTING T-BONED. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PEOPLE START DYING IN THIS DEATH TRAP. THE DIESEL HAD MANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY REPROGRAMED IT. SINCE NEW THE TRUCK HAS GONE INTO LIMP MODE 4 TIMES WHERE THE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE MOTOR SHUTS DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPG. LAST TIME I ALMOST GOT KILLED ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. YOU'RE STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 5-10 MPH TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN CARS ARE FLYING PAST YOU AT 70 MPH. THESE 3.0L DODGE ECO DIESELS ARE VERY, VERY, VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. AFTER THE REPROGRAMING FROM FCA THEY HAVE A VERY DANGEROUS TURBO LAG TIME. FCA HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE REPROGRAMING OF THE SOFTWARE MADE THEM WORSE AND MORE DANGEROUS. BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY DESIGNED THIS ECO DIESEL, IT IS PRONE TO CATCH FIRE. ON MY TRUCK I HAD A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND A HOLE MELTED THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. LUCKILY, THE TRUCK DID NOT BURST INTO FLAMES BUT IT WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS BEING REPAIRED. THIS TRUCK IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE TRUCK NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND IF FCA CAN'T FIX THEM, THEY NEED TO BUY THEM BACK AND GET THESE DEATH TRAPS OFF THE ROAD. SORRY, I CAN'T DESCRIBE JUST A SINGLE SPECIFIC INSTANCE, IT'S DANGEROUS EVERY TIME YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF FCA AND HAVE HIM TAKE MY TRUCK FOR A DRIVE WITH HIS FAMILY IN IT AND THEN GIVE HIS OPINION AS TO THE QUALITY OF THIS ENGINE. I DO NOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK AS IT'S A DEATH TRAP.

NHTSA ODI 11279101