Ram Promaster City Best and Worst Years (2015–2022)
The 2015 and 2016 Ram Promaster City are the years to avoid, with complaint index scores of 100 and 86, the highest in the lineup. The 2021 model year is the best choice, scoring just 14 on the complaint index with only 5 complaints reported.
- Model years
- 8
- 2015–2022
- NHTSA complaints
- 100
- Recall campaigns
- 9
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 3
- Top problem area
- Engine
Promaster City Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Ram Promaster City problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Avoid | 100 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Transmission & Powertrain | 24 | — |
| 2016 | Avoid | 86 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Electrical System | 24 | — |
| 2017 | Caution | 57 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 3 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2018 | Good | 43 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2019 | Caution | 71 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 24 | — |
| 2020 | No verdict | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Structure & Body | 24 | — |
| 2021 | Best | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2022 | No verdict | 29 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Engine | 24 | — |
Promaster City years to avoid: what went wrong
2015 Ram Promaster City Index 100 · 27 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2015 Promaster City tops the complaint index at 100, the worst of any year. Transmission & Powertrain issues dominate, making up 56% of complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 37,800. Owners reported vehicles rolling forward unexpectedly while parked, engine surging or stalling, and electrical faults including battery acid leaking onto the transmission cover and draining fluid. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this year, including one for a trailer tow light control module and one for incorrect tire placard information. Electrical System complaints also ran high at 44% of the year's total.
2016 Ram Promaster City Index 86 · 25 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2016 model ranks second-worst with a complaint index of 86. Electrical System problems lead at 40% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 57,226.5, followed by Engine issues at 36%. Owners described speedometers that would not illuminate, transmissions getting stuck in 8th gear requiring a stop-and-shift workaround, and stability control units failing during driving. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for 2016, shared with the 2015 model year, covering the trailer tow light module, tire placards, and fire extinguishers.
Most common Ram Promaster City problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Engine40 (40%)
- Electrical System36 (36%)
- Transmission & Powertrain25 (25%)
- Other10 (10%)
- Brakes4 (4%)
- Structure & Body4 (4%)
- Fuel System3 (3%)
- Seat Belts3 (3%)
- Steering3 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (3%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Ram Promaster City should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2015 and 2016 model years rank worst, with complaint index scores of 100 and 86, the highest in the model's history.
- What is the best year for the Ram Promaster City?
- The 2021 Ram Promaster City is rated best, with a complaint index of just 14 and only 5 complaints filed with NHTSA.
- Is the 2015 Ram Promaster City reliable?
- The 2015 model has the highest complaint index (100) of any Promaster City year and 27 total complaints, with Transmission & Powertrain issues making up 56% of them at a median mileage of 37,800.
- What are the most common problems with the Ram Promaster City?
- Across all years, Engine issues account for 40% of complaints, Electrical System issues for 36%, and Transmission & Powertrain issues for 25%, based on 100 total complaints and 9 recall campaigns.
- Are 2017 and 2019 Promaster City models safe to buy?
- Both are rated Caution rather than Avoid or Good. The 2017 has a complaint index of 57 and the 2019 has an index of 71, each below the worst years but above the best-rated 2021.