2016 Ram 2500 — 5.7L

The 2016 Ram 2500 sits at a transitional point in this generation's federal record, with 254 complaints and 14 recalls — a modest uptick in complaints from 2015's 211, but still well below the surge that follows in 2017 (671) and 2018 (2,493). Recall activity, which peaked at 16 in both 2013 and 2014, had begun a gradual decline, and 2016's 14 recalls continue that downward trajectory alongside 12 in 2017 and 10 in 2018, suggesting the most pressing safety actions from earlier in the generation had largely been addressed by this point. TSB volume also peaked in 2015 at 519 before settling to 462 in 2016, indicating the manufacturer's technical service response was stabilizing. The top complaint areas for 2016 — Power Train (36), Steering (32), Engine (19), and Service Brakes (18) — are consistent with heavy-duty truck usage patterns, and the 14 crash and 3 fire complaints are proportionate to the complaint volume rather than signaling a systemic outlier. The data does not specify root causes for these complaints, so no definitive failure mode can be attributed. Overall, the 2016 model year represents a relatively stable midpoint in the generation before the dramatic complaint escalation seen in 2017–2018, making it a reasonable used purchase — provided a pre-purchase inspection focuses on the powertrain and steering systems highlighted in the federal record.