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2016 RAM 2500

6.4L V8 Hemi Gas•4WD•AUTOMATIC•gas
5-Year Cost of Ownership
$44,266 maintenance + known platform issues
~$8,853/yr · 740¢/mile equivalent · $37,703 maintenance + $5,863 expected platform issues
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6.7L I6 Cummins Diesel
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2016 Ram 2500 platform is generally solid, but the 6.7L Cummins sees catastrophic piston failures from defective castings (2013-2018 engines), while both gas and diesel variants suffer from transmission cooler line failures and mount issues that can strand you if ignored.

Cummins 6.7L Piston Cracking and Spun Rod Bearings

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden catastrophic knock, often at highway speed under load, Metal shavings in oil, dropping oil pressure, White or blue smoke on cold start progressing to constant, Coolant in oil or oil in coolant if piston cracks through to water jacket
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or replacement. Defective piston castings (poor quality control 2013-2018) crack at the wrist pin boss or bowl rim, then take out bearings. If caught early with oil analysis, you might get away with pistons and bearings (35-45 hours labor). Most need short block or full rebuild (50-70 hours). Some owners go straight to reman long block.
Estimated cost: $8,000-18,000

Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure at Crimped Fittings

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddle under truck, usually passenger side near radiator, Sudden loss of all gears, neutral only, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Low fluid warning if equipped, or just slipping/no movement
Fix: The factory crimped steel lines corrode at the cooler and radiator connections, then blow out under pressure. You'll lose 12+ quarts in minutes. Replace with updated lines or aftermarket braided setup (3-4 hours), then flush cooler, drop pan, and refill. If you drove it empty, expect transmission rebuild (18-25 hours).
Estimated cost: $400-800 (lines only), $3,500-5,500 (if transmission damaged)

Transmission Mount Failure (Rear Crossmember Mount)

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse to Drive, Vibration at 1,500-2,000 RPM, especially under load, Driveline shudder on acceleration, Visible separation or tearing of rubber isolator
Fix: The rear transmission mount tears from torque cycling, letting the tailhousing drop and misalign the driveline. Replacement is straightforward—support transmission, unbolt crossmember, swap mount (1.5-2 hours). Inspect driveshaft and u-joints while you're under there.
Estimated cost: $250-450

Airbag Side Curtain Inflator Rupture (Recall-Related)

Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Airbag warning light, In a collision, metal fragments propelled into cabin instead of proper deployment, No symptoms until deployment event
Fix: This is a Takata-style defect. If your VIN shows open recall (check NHTSA), get it done—free at dealer. They replace the side curtain inflators (2-3 hours dealer time). Do NOT ignore this; people have died from inflator shrapnel.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall)

Steering Drag Link and Tie Rod End Wear

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Steering wander, constant correction needed on highway, Clunk over bumps felt through steering wheel, Play in wheel when wiggling at 12 and 6 o'clock with wheels on ground, Uneven or accelerated tire wear on front axle
Fix: Heavy-duty trucks eat tie rods and drag link ends, especially if oversized tires or plow duty. Inspect annually—if there's vertical play at the ball joint, replace. Drag link end is 1 hour, tie rod ends are 1.5-2 hours, alignment required after (1 hour). Do both sides at once to save alignment cost.
Estimated cost: $400-700

Fuel Filter Housing Leak (Cummins 6.7L)

Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Diesel fuel odor in cab or outside truck, Visible fuel weeping at filter canister base, Hard start or extended crank after sitting overnight, Loss of prime, sucking air
Fix: The filter head o-rings and housing gasket deteriorate, especially in cold climates. Replace filter assembly with updated Mopar part or aftermarket (like AirDog adapter) during regular fuel filter service. Takes 0.5-1 hour if you're just doing seals, 1.5 hours if upgrading to billet housing.
Estimated cost: $150-400

Exhaust Brake Solenoid Failure (Cummins 6.7L)

Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light, code P2262 (turbo boost control), Loss of exhaust brake function, Slight drop in turbo boost under load, Hissing or air leak sound from turbo area
Fix: The solenoid that actuates the variable geometry turbo for exhaust braking sticks or fails. It's on the passenger side of the turbo. Replace solenoid and clean the VGT actuator (1.5-2 hours). If the actuator itself is seized, add another hour and $200 in parts.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Owner tips
  • Cummins owners: send oil samples to Blackstone Labs every 7,500 miles to catch piston failures early—aluminum and bearing material spike before the knock starts.
  • Inspect transmission cooler lines annually, especially if you see any rust; replace preemptively at 80k miles if original lines.
  • Use OEM fuel filters on the Cummins (Fleetguard FS53000); cheap filters let water through and kill injectors ($4,000 mistake).
  • If towing heavy or plowing, upgrade steering with Carli or Thuren tie rods—OEM parts won't last 50k under abuse.
Buy the Cummins if you need towing capacity and can stomach a potential $10k engine rebuild—just avoid 2013-2016 build dates if possible, or budget for preventive piston replacement; the 6.4L Hemi is thirsty but bulletproof if you stay on top of the trans cooler lines.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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