Ram Promaster years to avoid (and the best years)
628 NHTSA owner complaints and 44 recalls across 11 model years, 2014 to 2024. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 628complaints
- 44recalls
- 18reported crashes
- 15reported fires
- 3reported injuries
Which Ram Promaster years should you avoid?
No Ram Promaster model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Ram Promaster year has 60 complaints on file. The busiest year is the 2021 (109).
What are the best Ram Promaster years?
The Ram Promaster years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2016 (32), 2018 (37) and 2020 (42). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 0.2× | 6 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 85 | 1.4× | 5 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2022 | 64 | 1.1× | 8 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2021 | 109 | 1.8× | 8 | 1 | 0 | Some concerns to check | Backup camera |
| 2020 | 42 | 0.7× | 5 | 3 | 2 | Few red flags | Backup camera |
| 2019 | 60 | 1.0× | 9 | 2 | 0 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2018 | 37 | 0.6× | 10 | 4 | 0 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2017 | 57 | 0.9× | 10 | 2 | 0 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2016 | 32 | 0.5× | 15 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2015 | 60 | 1.0× | 13 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2014 | 71 | 1.2× | 13 | 4 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 313 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain86 (27%)
- Electrical & infotainment77 (25%)
- Steering, suspension & tires73 (23%)
- Other systems28 (9%)
- Brakes22 (7%)
Recalls (44)
Steering · 26V621000 · Sep 2026 · model year 2024
A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V876000 · Dec 2025 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Engine · 25V720000 · Oct 2025 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Electrical circuits that overheat increase the risk of a fire.
Electrical system · 25V665000 · Oct 2025 · model year 2024
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V552000 · Aug 2025 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021
A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V330000 · May 2025 · model years 2022, 2024
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V436000 · Jun 2024 · model years 2022, 2023
A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 24V416000 · Jun 2024 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
A missing side door beam may not provide adequate occupant protection in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Incorrect seating capacity information can result in an improperly loaded vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Safety · 24V290000 · Apr 2024 · model year 2021
Driving with an inoperative electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 24V197000 · Mar 2024 · model years 2021, 2022
An inoperative left turn signal may not notify other drivers of a turning vehicle, and an inoperative left taillight can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 24V129000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2022, 2023
A malfunctioning seat belt warning system can result in improper seat belt use, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Transmission · 23V301000 · Apr 2023 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021
A partially engaged park pawl can result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Safety · 22V947000 · Dec 2022 · model year 2022
An inoperative rearview camera can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 21V699000 · Sep 2021 · model year 2021
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Transmission · 20V582000 · Oct 2020 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
The driver may be unaware of the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 20V374000 · Jun 2020 · model year 2020
In the event of a crash, if the diffuser detaches from the inflator during air bag deployment, the air bag may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Seat belts · 20V250000 · May 2020 · model year 2019
An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Seat belts · 20V222000 · Apr 2020 · model year 2019
An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Transmission · 20V036000 · Jan 2020 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
The driver may be unaware of the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 19V818000 · Nov 2019 · model years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
An overheated fan motor increases the risk of a fire.
Safety · 19V428000 · Jun 2019 · model year 2018
The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 19V333000 · Apr 2019 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Safety · 19V313000 · Apr 2019 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Safety · 19V229000 · Mar 2019 · model year 2016
In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Safety · 19V332000 · Mar 2019 · model years 2016, 2017, 2018
In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Electrical system · 18V524000 · Aug 2018 · model year 2018
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 17V824000 · Dec 2017 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Safety · 17V786000 · Dec 2017 · model years 2016, 2017
In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Airbags · 17V712000 · Nov 2017 · model year 2018
A fractured sensor could affect the deployment of the standard supplemental side airbags during certain side impact crashes, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 17V273000 · Apr 2017 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
The incorrect information may change how close the occupants position themselves to the air bags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Airbags · 16V910000 · Dec 2016 · model year 2017
If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Transmission · 16V529000 · Jul 2016 · model year 2015
If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Transmission · 16V461000 · Jun 2016 · model year 2016
If the transmission loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 16V253000 · Apr 2016 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016
Trailer brake lights that are inoperative can increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 16E039000 · Apr 2016 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016
Trailer brake lights that are inoperative can increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 16V202000 · Apr 2016 · model years 2015, 2016
An unintended shift into neutral will prevent the vehicle from being moved. Additionally, if the driver turns off the engine, the driver will be unable to restart the engine. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 16V076000 · Feb 2016 · model year 2016
Operating the vehicle with the ESC off may increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 15V799000 · Nov 2015 · model year 2015
An intermittent loss of contact can result in a vehicle stall and/or a partial or complete loss of the air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and/or instrument panel cluster. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Airbags · 15V223000 · Apr 2015 · model year 2015
In the event of a crash, side air bag inflatable curtains that do not deploy properly may increase the risk of vehicle occupant injury.
Tires · 14V633000 · Oct 2014 · model year 2014
If the TPMS light illuminates because the sensors cannot be located, it could mask an actual low tire pressure condition, possibly resulting in tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 14V533000 · Sep 2014 · model year 2014
If the vehicle is struck from behind, the head restraint may not properly limit the seat occupant's head movement rearward, increasing the risk of injury.
Exterior lighting · 14V294000 · Jun 2014 · model year 2014
This water intrusion may affect the vehicle's running and disable the air bags, stop lamps, turn signals, backup lights and/or door locks, increasing the risk of a crash, as well as injury to the occupants if the air bags do not deploy.
Brakes · 14V034000 · Feb 2014 · model year 2014
Brake fluid leakage would result in a reduction of brake performance, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 14V032000 · Feb 2014 · model year 2014
A stuck accelerator pedal can result in uncontrolled acceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.