2016 Ram 1500 · symptom sheet
Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong
- 25owner reports
- 50,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
190 of the 1,544 complaints on this car are about the fuel and propulsion. 25 of those describe fuel tank problems.
Tick what matches of 25 reports
Fuel tank problems on other 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This group mixes an annoyance with a hazard. On the annoying side, the pump at the gas station keeps clicking off before the tank is full, or the fuel gauge jumps around and reads wrong. On the hazardous side, owners smell gas in or around the car or see fuel dripping underneath. Some say it only happens right after filling up.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the fuel sender/sensor (17 reports) and the fuel pump module (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the fuel and propulsion covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 44,500 and 65,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Fuel pump leaking. Gasoline leaked in garage. I park in a garage and the smell of gasoline extremely strong. Water heater located in garage. Fuel pump replaced on 8/27/2022. No warning lamps or messages.”
Filed Aug 27, 2022
“While driving, gas gauge dropped to "E", despite having nearly a full tank of gas. Gas light began flashing, check engine light came on, and a "fuel sensor fail" message displayed on the panel. After much research, this seems to be an ongoing problem with Ram 1500 models from 2014-2017.”
Filed Mar 11, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 25 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 278 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 235 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 138 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 97 reports
- Diesel fuel system or injector problems 80 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 68 reports
- Fuel pump failure 50 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 48 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 44 reports
- Rolls away in Park or will not shift out of Park 37 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 36 reports
- Vehicle fire 35 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 31 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 29 reports
- Delay or no response when I press the gas 27 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 26 reports