What 56 owners told NHTSA about the 2022 Ram Promaster

On 11/2022 my company purchased a 2023 Dodge Promaster Work Van from a dealership brand new. In March 2023 one of my employees was driving the vehicle and there was an electrical issue which caused the breaks to not respond, and we rear ended a car which then hit the car in front of them. We were only going around 10-20 MPH as we were coming to a red light and could not stop. We requested an investigation into the source of the issue as it should not be out fault that a brand new car's breaks failed. Chrysler corporate sent someone to look at the van. They concluded that after market LEDs were installed in the back of the van improperly, and it caused a short in the electrical system which caused the breaks to fail. Chrysler Corporate said it was not their issue and closed the case. After looking at pictures from before we ever even looked at the van I saw that the LEDs were already there. The dealership admitted in email that the LEDs were in the van before we even took it off the lot. I told my insurance company this, but they did not pursue it leaving the liability on us. My insurance then dropped us as a customer. The dealership stated in email they fixed the LED lights and everything works once again. We take the van and begin using it again. Fast forward to March 2024, a different worker is driving the same van and they are again coming to a red light. The breaks fail once again. This time the breaks were going to the ground and not slowing the van down at all. My worker hits another car and then turns off and hits a fence so he does not hit anyone else in the road. This time I send my van to my local certified Chrysler dealership to have it sit there as I will initiate an inspection once again. After another month or so they finally inspect it around April 20th. This time after the inspection finishes, but does not give me a reason just meta data. You can see we used the breaks, but the speed did not slow down. This van has been a nightmare.

NHTSA ODI 11614386

On November 3, 2023 I was driving the van on the NYS Thruway. I had stopped at a rest area to use the facilities. When I returned to the van about 5 minutes later the vehicle was smoking profusely and objects were falling out of the engine area. By the time i got to the van there were flames coming out of the engine area and the entire front of the van was engulfed in flames. Luckily someone had called the fire department and the flames were extinguished quickly. In the meantime I had removed 2 Alpacas from the rear of the van with the help of witnesses. There were no warning signs of an issue with the engine. No warning lights and not burning odor. So, yes, I feel the I, my alpacas, and others safety were put at risk. I am so thankful that the fire started while I was stopped at the rest area and not while driving on the thruway and avoided a real tragedy. The van is a total loss.The incident has been reported to insurance and currently under investigation and are waiting a final report.

NHTSA ODI 11558177