I am reporting a transmission safety problem with my 2016 Ram 2500 Cummins that began shortly after FCA campaign U29 was performed. Before the recall work, the transmission and original solenoid were functioning normally. I had no transmission symptoms, warning lights, or transmission codes. The dealership performed U29 and replaced the transmission solenoid May 4-6, 2026. I picked the truck up May 6 at 149,091 miles. About 79 miles later, the check-engine light came on and transmission problems began. While driving, including on the interstate, the truck would suddenly jerk, the RPMs would rise quickly, and the truck would lose speed. On several occasions, traffic behind me had to react quickly to avoid hitting me. The dealership told me the solenoid installed during the U29 repair was defective and replaced it with another solenoid. The same problems continued. The truck later developed code P0871, became undriveable, and was towed back June 1. The original transmission ultimately failed. The dealership then installed a Mopar remanufactured transmission. I picked it up June 13. Within roughly 600 miles, it developed substantially identical symptoms and failure patterns, including P0870 and P0871, limp mode, and another major transmission failure. It was towed back June 24. The dealership later found the overdrive clutch had disintegrated and metal was present in the transmission fluid. The failed remanufactured transmission is now being handled under its Mopar warranty, and the dealership is looking to install a third transmission without identifying a clear reason for the repeated failures. I am concerned the same problem could happen again and believe the U29 repair, replacement parts, or another related transmission problem should be investigated.
2016 Ram 2500 transmission problems
64 complaints (25% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 26,000. 7 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 64
- of this car's complaints
- 25%
- typical mileage
- 26,000
- crashes
- 7
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Ram 2500 transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Ram 2500 transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
- Risk
- Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.
Recall number 17V821000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks.The subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shift lever.The failures of the BTSI described in the VOQs occurred on vehicles that had all previously been repaired under recall 17V‑821 or 18V‑100.Both recalls address a potential condition which can cause the BTSI locking pin to become stuck allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without depressing the brake pedal and/or without having a key in the ignition.Shifting the transmission out of Park when not having the brake pedal depressed can result in a vehicle rollaway. ODI is opening this Recall Query (RQ) to review the effectiveness of the 17V‑821 and 18V‑100 recall remedies, understand the root cause of additional vehicle rollaway incidents, and identify any other possible root cause that may affect the performance of the BTSI system. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
RQ25003
What 2016 Ram 2500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
On August 25, 2026, my 2016 Ram 2500 was parked on private property. The driver states that she placed the automatic transmission in PARK before exiting the vehicle. After she exited, the unoccupied vehicle unexpectedly began rolling and struck a tree, causing vehicle damage. No one was injured. There were no known warning lights or messages indicating a problem before the incident. The cause has not yet been determined and the vehicle has not yet been inspected for this incident. The vehicle is available for inspection. This vehicle is equipped with a steering-column-mounted automatic transmission shifter. I am concerned that the incident may involve the transmission/shift interlock/Park system. I am aware of the federal safety agency Recall 17V‑821 (FCA T79), involving unintended rollaway in certain Ram trucks, as well as the federal safety agency Recall Query RQ25003 concerning reported BTSI failures in vehicles including Ram 2500 models. the federal safety agency VIN lookup currently shows zero unrepaired recalls for this vehicle; however, I do not yet know whether the prior T79 recall repair was performed on this specific vehicle or when it was performed. I did call the dealership and they said possibly 0ctober 3, 2018. I am submitting this complaint because the vehicle rolled after the driver reports placing the transmission in PARK and exiting the vehicle.
Grid heater nut/bolt detached and entered engine, causing catastrophic internal failure and total engine loss while driving.
Got into my truck after letting it warm up and the shifter broke out of the handle. It’s a known problem cause the design is flawed by putting so much pressure on the part. So in the end it breaks and then you can’t get your vehicle out of park or whatever gear it broke in. I was charged 718.00 for it to get fixed when I think this should be a recall or tsb.
Incident Report – Gear Shift Failure Date of Incident: 11/10/2025 Vehicle: 2016 Ram 2500 Pickup Truck VIN [XXX] Mileage: [Insert Mileage] Location: [Insert Location of Incident] Description of Incident While attempting to shift the vehicle from Park (P) into Drive (D), the shift lever suddenly went limp and lost all resistance. Upon applying slight additional pressure to engage the transmission, the shift lever snapped off completely. The gear shift bracket—the component securing the shift rod—fractured in half at the point where the shift rod inserts into the bracket. This mechanical failure rendered the vehicle inoperable and unable to be shifted out of Park. No warning lights or prior symptoms were observed before the failure. The broken part was visually inspected and confirmed to be the shifting lever bracket, consistent with Mopar part number 68470756AA. Immediate Actions Taken The vehicle was safely secured to prevent unintended movement. Engine was turned off and keys removed. Visual inspection confirmed that the shift lever bracket had broken at the rod insertion point. Tow service was arranged for transport to a repair facility. Photographs of the damaged bracket and shifter assembly were taken for documentation. Assessment This incident represents a critical component failure of the gear shift mechanism, resulting in sudden loss of control over transmission operation. The break occurred under normal shifting force, indicating a possible material or design defect in the bracket assembly. Recommended Actions File a warranty or recall inquiry with Ram/Stellantis regarding potential defects in part 68470756AA. Replace the damaged bracket with a verified OEM replacement. Inspect surrounding linkage and cable components for stress damage or misalignment. Retain the failed part for potential recall or manufacturer investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I previously had recall 17V‑821 work completed. This recall was for The Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) locking pin may become stuck in the open position. I have the same issue now and see that the federal safety agency is investigating failed recall fixes. I have taken this to the dealer and an independent shop and am now trying to figure out how to get this repaired.
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the shift solenoid change message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a recall repair. Upon retrieving the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift and had no power. The vehicle was diagnosed with a faulty shift solenoid. The replacement parts were on backorder. The local dealer later informed the contact that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a complaint. The manufacturer declined to cover the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 238,000.
Transmission gear selector lever can be moved from park to reverse, neutral, and drive without having the brake pedal depressed. This is the way the transmission gear selector currently operates. This is not a one-time incident. I bought this vehicle recently and noticed this transmission gear selector lever issue about a month ago.
It is the Water pump We have the Concentric brand with out a vent hole picture attached ( which is the one under recall but doesn’t come up on our vin) Yes A Mechanic No No
I have a 2016 Ram 2500 Power Wagon that i have turned into a show truck. The truck has never been off-road or in the mud, it is driven to and from the shows. Last [XXX] as i was driving to Hickory, NC for a car show on Saturday August 31st my truck instantly lost power and turned on the engine light. The transmission felt like it was stuck in second or third gear, so i pulled over and scanned the PCM to see what the DTC code and it came back as P0870. Went online to research the code and see what it had to say about it and it stated to clear the code to see if it comes back on which i didn't. The light has not returned as of yet but when the truck hits overdrive it has a high pitch squeal coming from it meaning the transmission. I brought it in to my local dealership on Wednesday September 4th to have it looked at they performed DIAG and CVI inspection to find the transmission is starting to fail internally recommend replacing the transmission. Now want me to pay out of pocket for a new transmission even though i have max care warranty on the truck when i bought it new. i don't have $6000.00 to pay for a new transmission that's on back order. If it comes down to it and i have to get my neighbor to help me get the transmission out of this truck cause I'm [XXX] then i will rebuild it my [XXX] thing myself before i pay them $6000.00. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Questions about the 2016 Ram 2500 transmission
Does the 2016 Ram 2500 have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 64 complaints about the transmission of the 2016 Ram 2500, 25% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2016 Ram 2500 transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 26,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Ram 2500 transmission?
Yes, 1 recall: 17V821000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ram 2500 have bad transmission?
The Ram 2500 model years with the most transmission complaints are 2018 (75 complaints), 2016 (64 complaints) and 2014 (62 complaints).
Other 2016 Ram 2500 problems
Engine 57Steering 43Electrical 38Brakes 35Acceleration 17Body 13Airbags 12Fuel system 12Suspension 12Driver assistance 6Seat belts 6Tires 6Lights 5Wheels 5Locks 3Seats 1Visibility 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2016 Ram 2500?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history