YearToAvoid

2016 Ram Promaster City Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#2 most-complained of 8 Promaster City years

The 2016 Ram Promaster City has a Complaint Index of 86 and ranks 2nd-worst of 8 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. NHTSA logged 25 complaints and 3 recalls, led by electrical system issues (40% share) and engine problems (36% share).

Complaints
25
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 28 hwy

Top 2016 Ram Promaster City problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System10 (40%)
  2. Engine9 (36%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain7 (28%)
  4. Other3 (12%)
  5. Brakes2 (8%)
  6. Seat Belts1 (4%)
  7. Structure & Body1 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Cooling fans and relays fail, causing the engine to overheat while idling or sitting in traffic.
  • Vehicles stall and lose electrical power while driving, sometimes repeatedly after a recall repair was performed.
  • The speedometer fails to illuminate, making it unreadable at various speeds.
  • Transmissions get stuck in 8th gear and require shifting to neutral and reverse to unlock.
  • The accelerator pedal has broken off at its base while driving at highway speed.
2016 Ram Promaster City complaints: complaints filed per month4Jul 2016Jun 2017Jul 2018Jan 2019Jun 2019Jun 2020Dec 2022Jun 2024
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2016 to Jun 2024; peak Dec 2016 (4).

2016 Ram Promaster City recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V824000Dec 21, 2017Other61,791 vehicles

    Equipment

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

    Risk: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.

  2. NHTSA 17V601000Sep 26, 2017Other11,288 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 RAM ProMaster City vehicles. These vehicles have incorrect information on the tire placard including incorrect vehicle capacity weight, total number of occupants, tire pressure and/or "None" designation for the spare tire size when a full size spare tire is present. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: The incorrect tire placard can cause the operator to exceed the vehicle's weight capacity, or inflate the tires to an incorrect pressure, affecting vehicle handling, which can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incorrect tire placard with a corrected one, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T62.

  3. NHTSA 16V253000Apr 28, 2016Electrical System6,422 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 RAM ProMaster vehicles manufactured July 24, 2015, to February 15, 2016, and 2015-2016 ProMaster City vehicles manufactured August 15, 2014, to February 1, 2016. The Trailer Tow Lighting Control Module may have a software error on the affected vehicles and can prevent illumination of the trailer brake lights during brake actuation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

    Risk: Trailer brake lights that are inoperative can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Trailer Tow Light Control Module, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S22.

2016 Ram Promaster City fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Promaster City years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020152016201720182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid10027324
2016Avoid8625324
2017Caution5719324
2018Good4316224

All Ram Promaster City years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Ram Promaster City a good year to avoid?
Yes, relative to other Promaster City years. It has a Complaint Index of 86 and ranks 2nd-worst out of 8 model years tracked, with an Avoid verdict.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Ram Promaster City?
Electrical system issues are the top problem area, accounting for 40% of complaints, followed by engine issues at 36%.
Does the 2016 Ram Promaster City have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 model year, covering fire extinguisher replacement, an incorrect tire placard, and an electrical trailer tow light control module.
At what mileage do problems typically show up on the 2016 Promaster City?
The median mileage at failure across all reported complaints is 37,000 miles, though electrical system failures median at 57,226.5 miles and engine failures at 30,000 miles.
How does the 2016 Promaster City compare to other years?
The 2016 has a Complaint Index of 86, worse than 2017 (57), 2018 (43), 2019 (71), and 2021 (14, rated Best), but slightly better than 2015 (100, also rated Avoid).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.