Home · 2016 Ram Promaster (passenger Double Seat) · Complaints

What 69 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ram Promaster (passenger Double Seat)

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (69)Crash / fire / injury (1)Engine (23)Electrical system (19)Transmission & drivetrain (19)Lights (9)Brakes (5)Speed control (5)Engine & cooling (3)Body & structure (2)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (2)Equipment (2)

19 of 69 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

Jun 10, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2016 Ram Promaster City. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission pump. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 11593525

Sep 28, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

We have owned this vehicle for 4 years. We are now on our 3rd time having the transmission replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11547079

Apr 24, 2021Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlLane Departure

I'VE ONLY BEEN TAKING IT TO THE RAM DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED IN MAY STILL HAVE NOT GOT IT FIXED RIGHT ONE MINUTE I COULD BE DOING 40 AND THEN I NEXEN YOU KNOW THE RPMS ARE UP TO 7 IN THE DROP DOWN IN A JERK SO HARD TO GET INTO GEAR ALMOST BREAKS MY FREAKING NECK THEN I WILL SHIFT IN I GET UP TO 65 ANYTHING OVER 65 IT STARTS JERKIN AND THEN DROPS BACK DOWN AND I CAN'T GET BACK STARTED AGAIN I HAD TO PULL OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LET EVERYTHING COOL LOB DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME ALREADY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM THE SPEED CONTROL HIM SENSOR I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE I CAN DO I AM TAKING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY DON'T IN A LIGHT TO KNOW WHY THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THEIR PROPERLY

NHTSA ODI 11413689

Apr 3, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2018 RAM PROMASTER 3500 WAS HAVING PROBLEM WHEN I PUT IN REVERSE, IT WAS JERKING AND I HAD TO PUSH EXTRA GAS TO REVERSE IT. I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY SAID YES IT HAS PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSION AND I HAD TO LEAVE MY VAN TO FIX IT. THEY TOOK 4-5 DAYS, BUT DIDN'T FOUND EXACT CAUSE AND THEY JUST FLUSH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY TOLD ME "IF YOU FACE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN PLEASE COME BACK WE WILL HELP YOU EVEN WHEN WARRANTY EXPIRE". ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS HAVING AGAIN SAME ISSUE AND EVEN MORE THING, IT WAS JERKING WHILE I AM DRIVING ALSO AND REVERSING WAS SAME LIKE BEFORE. I TOOK IT AGAIN TO SAME DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOW MY PROBLEM IS MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED BUT I AM HAVING SAME PROBLEMS. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT WHEN I HAD WARRANTY. IT SOUNDS LIKE MY LOSS EVEN I HAD WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11406215

Nov 13, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

"NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED." THE AMERICAN AUTOMAKER HAS ANNOUNCED THAT CERTAIN 2011-2013 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL GET WARRANTY EXTENSIONS BECAUSE THE LEFT CYLINDER HEADS MIGHT CRACK. CHRYSLER WILL EXTEND THE ENGINE WARRANTY ON THE LEFT-SIDE CYLINDER HEAD TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES AND THE REMAINING ENGINE COMPONENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE COVERED BY THE STANDARD FIVE-YEAR, 100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER, ROUGHLY 7,500 ENGINES WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE AND WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN 2012. (THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT CLEARLY STILL HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED EVEN FOR 2018-2019 MODELS.) FCA REJECTS THIS AS IN MY QUESTION TO THEM CONCERNING THIS EXACT MATTER. RE: CASE # [XXX] THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING FCA CUSTOMER CARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERN. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS YOUR SATISFACTION. MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN BRINGING THIS MATTER TO US. UPON THOROUGH REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION, WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN DENIED. -THE BASIC WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED ON MARCH 8, 2019. AND POWERTRAIN WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED ( EXPIRED ODOMETER ) AT 92,077 MILES. -NO RELATED RECALL FOR THIS REPAIR. AS MUCH AS QUALITY SERVICE IS OUR CONCERN, PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN GUIDELINES AND QUALIFICATIONS THAT WE NEED TO MEET IN ORDER TO GRANT YOUR REQUEST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UTMOST UNDERSTANDING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED BUSINESS WITH US, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU REACHING OUT TO US TODAY. SINCERELY, [XXX], FCA REIMBURSEMENT SPECIALIST. THE REPAIR COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SO I AM SURE THEY DON'T WANT TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY BUT THEY ARE. THE CUSTOMER DID NOT BUILD THE ENGINE BUT THE CUSTOMER IS LEFT TO PICK UP THE PIECES. #NOT ALONE MELSON V. FCA US LLC FILED: MARCH 27, 2020 CASE# [XXX] FCA US LLC MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11374525

Sep 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrainWheels

LAST OCT./NOV. I HAD TO HAVE THE LEFT AXLE CV JOINT REPLACED IN MY RAM PROMASTER CITY WHILE IN ARIZONA. YESTERDAY THE LOCAL DEALER INFORMED ME THAT ALL THREE PARTS OF THIS AXLE NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED. BOTH TIMES THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER DID THE WORK. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED I WAS AWAY FROM HOME TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS

NHTSA ODI 11354231

Jun 20, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

DEALER CLAIMS THEY CAN NOT PERFORM RECALL BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329849

May 18, 2020Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainEquipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 19V818000 (EQUIPMENT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 20V036000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE

NHTSA ODI 11324964

Mar 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2016 RAM PROMASTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V818000 (EQUIPMENT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 20V036000(POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS WERE CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11318324

Sep 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

2016 RAM PROMASTER 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A HARD SHIFT ISSUE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JOLT FORWARD AS IF IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11254915

Jun 27, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTOFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, SERVICE HILL ASSIST, ABS, AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE TRANSMISSION MESSAGES COINCIDED WITH ISSUE. VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO 'LIMP' MODE WHILE ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11223079

Jun 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrainCrash

THE BOLTS TO THE TRANSMISSION/MOTOR MOUNT BROKE. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION DROPPED ALMOST HITTING THE GROUND.

NHTSA ODI 11219489

Jul 4, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

COOLING FAN AND RELAY BLEW AT 46000 MILES. COOLING FAN BEARINGS WENT AND SEIZED, COOLING FAN RELAY NO GOOD. DEALER WOULD NOT WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS OVER 36000 MILES. FROM WHAT I READ ON FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VAN AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT, YET THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED ANY. I FIRST DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WEREN'T MUCH HELP, I WEEK LATER THE FAN SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE CAME ON PUSHING A CODE FOR THE FAN 2 CONTROL SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11109543

Jun 6, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE AND COOLANT CHECK, AND I BEGAN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE FAN BEGAN TO RATTLE AGAINST THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I STOPPED USING THE AIR CONDITIONER AND IT SOUNDED AS IF THE FAN WAS STRUGGLING TO STAY ON. NEXT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND THE TEMPERATURE ON THE THERMOSTAT WENT TO THE MAX AND OVERHEATED. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN MY CAR ON AND OFF TO RESTART THE FAN AND COOL THE ENGINE. I USE MY VAN DAILY FOR WORK, AND MAINTAIN IT EVERY TWO MONTHS. I FEEL THE THE POWER TRAIN ON THE 2016 RAM PROMASTER 1500 SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11100220

Mar 23, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

COOLING FAN FAILURE, COOLING FAN DOES NOT OPERATE AFTER VEHICLES WATER TEMP GETS HIGH, VEHICLE WILL OVERHEAT IF STATIONARY IE SITTING IN TRAFFIC 38,000 MILES WHEN PROBLEM STARTED REPLACE COOLING FAN RELAY ONCE ALREADY PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED

NHTSA ODI 11081022

Sep 1, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

FLY WHEEL. 55600 MILES AND THE FLY WHEEL CRACKED , HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. NOT SURE HOW IT HAPPENED, NOTICED THE RATTLING OF FLY WHEEL TO IT TO SERVICE AND HAD IT REPLACE

NHTSA ODI 11021028

Mar 25, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

CAR GET STUCK IN 8TH GEAR. I TRIED TO SHIFT MANUALLY, CAR SHOWS GEAR CHANGE BUT IT IS STILL IN 8TH GEAR. HAVE TO STOP, PUT NEUTRAL AND SHIFT REVERSE THEN THE GEARS GET UNLOCK AND TRANSMISSION STARTS SHIFTING. GOOD FOR 20 MILES, THEN SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. CAR HAS 10550 MILES, BOUGHT IT WITH 6,500.

NHTSA ODI 10968495

Aug 24, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V202000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10898312

Jul 6, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER CITY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V202000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10883127

Working with the data? Download all 69 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Ram Promaster (passenger Double Seat) verdict →