Ram Promaster Best and Worst Years (2014–2025)
Ram Promaster years 2021, 2022, and 2023 rank worst, with complaint index scores of 91, 82, and 100 out of 639 total complaints and 42 recall campaigns. 2016, 2024, and 2025 rank best, with complaint index scores of 9, 18, and 0.
- Model years
- 12
- 2014–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 639
- Recall campaigns
- 42
- Crashes reported
- 18
- Fires reported
- 15
- Top problem area
- Engine
Promaster 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 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Caution | 73 | 71 | 4 | 1 | 12 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2015 | Good | 36 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 12 | Engine | — | — |
| 2016 | Best | 9 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 14 | Engine | — | — |
| 2017 | Good | 45 | 57 | 2 | 3 | 10 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2018 | Good | 27 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 10 | Engine | — | — |
| 2019 | Caution | 55 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 9 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2020 | Caution | 64 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 5 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | — | — |
| 2021 | Avoid | 91 | 110 | 1 | 3 | 8 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | — | — |
| 2022 | Avoid | 82 | 64 | 1 | 1 | 8 | Steering | — | — |
| 2023 | Avoid | 100 | 88 | 0 | 5 | 5 | Steering | — | — |
| 2024 | Best | 18 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2025 | Best | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Engine | — | — |
Promaster years to avoid: what went wrong
2023 Ram Promaster Index 100 · 88 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2023 Promaster has the highest complaint index in the lineup at 100, ranking worst overall. Steering complaints dominate at 37 (42%) with a median 36,500 miles, followed by Electrical System (25, 28%) and Engine (25, 28%) complaints around 31,500-35,000 miles. Owners report engine compartment fires, some linked to recall 25V720000 for a defective cooling fan module, with one complaint noting the part was unavailable for repair. Fires were reported 5 times this year, the highest of any Promaster year. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for 2023.
2023 steering problems →2023 electrical system problems →2023 engine problems →
2021 Ram Promaster Index 91 · 110 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2021 Promaster has a complaint index of 91 out of 639 total complaints, ranking 2nd worst. Owners report Collision Avoidance & Camera issues (24 complaints, 22%) including rearview camera failures tied to recall 25V552000, plus Electrical System problems (20 complaints, 18%) at a median 14,272 miles, including a battery fire in a towed unit. Engine complaints (14, 13%) occurred at a median 64,000 miles, some involving burning odors and smoke from under the hood. A separate recall, 25V720000, addresses radiator fan overheating on 2018-2026 models. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this year, none marked do-not-drive.
2021 collision avoidance & cameras problems →2021 electrical system problems →
2022 Ram Promaster Index 82 · 64 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2022 Promaster ranks 3rd worst with a complaint index of 82. Steering issues lead at 19 complaints (30%) at a median 26,602 miles, tied with Engine complaints (16, 25%) at the same mileage. Collision Avoidance & Camera complaints (16, 25%) occurred at a median 11,000 miles, including phantom braking reports. Electrical System issues (14, 22%) surfaced later, at a median 68,974 miles. One sample complaint describes an engine fire during a highway stop. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns, including a security gateway software update for the rearview camera.
2022 steering problems →2022 engine problems →2022 collision avoidance & cameras problems →
Most common Ram Promaster problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Engine180 (28%)
- Electrical System161 (25%)
- Transmission & Powertrain108 (17%)
- Other90 (14%)
- Steering78 (12%)
- Brakes68 (11%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras63 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires40 (6%)
- Structure & Body33 (5%)
- Fuel System23 (4%)
Frequently asked questions
- Which Ram Promaster years should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Ram Promaster rank worst, with complaint index scores of 91, 82, and 100 respectively. The 2023 model year has the highest score in the entire lineup.
- What are the best Ram Promaster years?
- The 2016, 2024, and 2025 model years rank best, with complaint index scores of 9, 18, and 0 out of the lineup covering 2014-2025.
- What is the biggest problem area for the Ram Promaster?
- Across all years, Engine issues account for 180 complaints (28% share), followed by Electrical System problems at 161 complaints (25%) and Transmission & Powertrain issues at 108 complaints (17%).
- Does the Ram Promaster have a lot of recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 42 recall campaigns across the 2014-2025 Promaster lineup, though none are marked do-not-drive.
- Is the 2023 Ram Promaster reliable?
- The 2023 Promaster has the highest complaint index (100) of any Promaster year and reports 5 fires, the most of any year, with Steering complaints (37, 42% share) as the top problem area.