2016 Ram 1500

large pickup / Crew cab pickup

2016 Ram 1500 Crew cab pickup

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention
Not available

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2015-18 models built after July 2015

Tested vehicle: 2015 Ram 1500 SLT Lone Star Crew Cab 2wd

The Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab was redesigned for the 2009 model year. The make name "Dodge" was officially changed to "Ram" beginning with the 2013 model year.

Beginning with 2015 models built after July 2015, structural changes were made to alter front wheel movement during small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s movement was reasonably well controlled. The dummy’s face remained in contact with the frontal airbag, but its head still rolled around the left side as the steering column moved 13 cm to the right, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was not maintained well.

The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but rolled around the left side as the steering column moved to the right, allowing the head to approach the intruding A-pillar.

Extensive intrusion of the door hinge pillar and instrument panel contributed to a high risk of injury to the left lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1544
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 39
Footrest (cm) 40
Left toepan (cm) 37
Brake pedal (cm) 30
Parking brake (cm) 40
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 6
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 27
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 39
Upper dash (cm) 34
Lower instrument panel (cm) 27

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1544
Head
HIC-15 139
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 4.6
Right 1.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 6
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 2
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 1.33
Right 0.59
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 146
Right 114

How the driver-side small overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 ST Crew Cab 2wd

The Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab was redesigned for the 2009 model year. Frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Chrysler as part of frontal crash test verification. The make name "Dodge" was officially changed to "Ram" beginning with the 2013 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF0815
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 11
Left (cm) 9
Center (cm) 7
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) -1
Right (cm) -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) -3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF0815
Head
HIC-15 131
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 42
Maximum Nij 0.47
Chest maximum compression (mm) 36
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 3.3
Femur force - right (kN) 0.4
Knee displacement - left (mm) 2
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.29
Maximum tibia index - right 0.26
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.0
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 66
Right 95

How the moderate overlap front test is conducted

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Ram 1500 ST Crew Cab 2wd

The Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab was redesigned for the 2009 model year. Beginning with 2009 models manufactured after September 2008, the front door trim panels were modified to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes.

Beginning with 2012 models manufactured after January 2012, side airbags designed to protect drivers' and front passengers' torsos were added to the side curtain airbags previously included. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

The make name "Dodge" was officially changed to "Ram" beginning with the 2013 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
The side curtain airbag deployed on the wrong side of the dummy's head, before the head had begun to move outward toward the rear passenger door. As a result, the head was hit by the pillar behind the door. This pillar is required by federal standard to provide some protection for occupants' heads. (The window glass, which remained intact during the crash, and the unpadded steel window frame were pulled away from the occupant compartment and did not hit the dummy's head.)

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

The side curtain airbag deployed on the wrong side of the rear passenger dummy's head, and smeared greasepaint shows where the head was hit by the dislodged roof trim. The head was also hit by the pillar behind the rear door.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES1601
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -14.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1601
Head HIC-15 102
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 24
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 44
Average deflection (mm) 38
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.64
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.65
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.8
Combined force (kN) 2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 28
A-P moment (Nm) 24

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1601
Head HIC-15 181
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.9
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 16
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 39
Average deflection (mm) 28
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.75
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.62
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.2
Combined force (kN) 2.4
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 70
A-P moment (Nm) -69

How the side crash test is conducted

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 ST Crew Cab 2wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight 5,186 lbs
Peak force 15,412 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio 2.97

How the roof strength test is conducted

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power cloth seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power cloth seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 61
Distance below top of head (mm) 37
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 8.6
Head contact time (ms) 74
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 21
Max neck tension (N) 527

How the head restraint & seat test is conducted
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Tradesmen trim
  • Express trim
  • Lone Star trim
  • Big Horn trim
  • Tradesmen HFE trim
  • Outdoorsman trim
  • SLT trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual left and gradual right curves and inadequate on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Tradesmen trim
  • Express trim
  • Lone Star trim
  • Big Horn trim
  • Tradesmen HFE trim
  • Outdoorsman trim
  • SLT trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 77.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 55.2 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 48.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 48.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.5 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 40.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 144.6 m
Straightaway left edge 136.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 68.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 50.3 m

Trim level(s)

  • Sport trim equipped with Convience Group package
  • Laramie trim equipped with Convience Group package
  • Laramie Longhorn trim equipped with Convience Group package
  • Limited trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Excessive glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual left curve and inadequate on the sharp left and both right curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Sport trim equipped with Convience Group package
  • Laramie trim equipped with Convience Group package
  • Laramie Longhorn trim equipped with Convience Group package
  • Limited trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 102.5 m 82.3%
Straightaway left edge 63.2 m 82.3%
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.7 m 77.5%
250m radius left curve, left edge 48.5 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.4 m 111.3%
150m radius left curve, left edge 38.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 144.8 m
Straightaway left edge 128.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 61.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 65.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 46.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • Sport trim
  • Laramie trim
  • Rebel trim
  • Laramie Longhorn trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination Excessive glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual left curve and inadequate on the sharp left and both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Sport trim
  • Laramie trim
  • Rebel trim
  • Laramie Longhorn trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 102.5 m 82.3%
Straightaway left edge 63.2 m 82.3%
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.7 m 77.5%
250m radius left curve, left edge 48.5 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.4 m 111.3%
150m radius left curve, left edge 38.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 144.8 m
Straightaway left edge 128.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 61.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 65.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 46.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.9 m

How headlights are evaluated

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2014-18 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim ST Crew Cab
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim ST Crew Cab
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
G Good
A Acceptable
M Marginal
P Poor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 26
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Tether anchor
Location Back wall
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Back wall
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 10
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 24
Clearance angle (degrees) 77
Tether anchor
Location Back wall
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No

How child seat anchors are evaluated