YearToAvoid

2017 Ram Promaster Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

45/100

#7 most-complained of 12 Promaster years

The 2017 Ram Promaster has 57 complaints, 10 recalls, and a complaint index of 45, ranking 7th worst out of 12 model years with a 'Good' verdict relative to other Promaster years. Electrical System and Engine issues each account for 42% of complaints.

Complaints
57
Recalls
10
Crashes / fires
2 / 3
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2017 Ram Promaster problems

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

  1. Electrical System24 (42%)
  2. Engine24 (42%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain14 (25%)
  4. Brakes6 (11%)
  5. Other6 (11%)
  6. Steering3 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
  9. Fuel System2 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report engine compartment fires that erupted suddenly, including one case with white smoke followed by flames after the vehicle had been parked or driven only a short distance.
  • Some owners describe the accelerator sticking at full throttle when shifting between reverse and drive, leading to a crash.
  • Electrical system complaints include dimly lit instrument panels that made the speedometer hard to read in daylight and a tire pressure monitoring system that stayed inoperable for months without a fix.
  • One owner reported a brake failure where the pedal would not engage, forcing a swerve into a ditch, along with ABS and traction control warnings.
  • A structure and body complaint noted the cabin lacks a passenger grab handle for entry, exit, or safety while traveling.
2017 Ram Promaster complaints: complaints filed per month8Feb 2017Feb 2018May 2019Feb 2020Sep 2020Jul 2021Feb 2023Mar 2025
88 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2017 to May 2026; peak Jun 2023 (8).

2017 Ram Promaster recalls

10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V582000Oct 15, 2020Transmission & Powertrain20 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift

    Prime-Time Specialty Vehicles (Prime-Time) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Paratransit vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines. The transmission shifter cable may separate and disconnect from the transmission, causing the vehicle to not perform shifts intended by the driver and the gear shift lever position not matching the actual transmission gear.

    Risk: The driver may be unaware of the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Prime-Time will notify owners instructing them to take their vehicles to Ram dealers for the necessary repairs, free of charge. Owners may contact Prime-Time customer service at 1-574-293-9191. Prime-Time's number for this recall is W00.

  2. NHTSA 20V036000Jan 23, 2020Transmission & Powertrain222,207 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram ProMaster vehicles equipped 3.6L engines. The transmission shifter cable may separate and disconnect from the transmission, causing the vehicle to not perform shifts intended by the driver and the gear shift lever position not matching the actual transmission gear.

    Risk: The driver may be unaware of the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission shift cable, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ram Trucks at 1-866-726-4636. Chrysler's number for this recall is W00.

  3. NHTSA 19V818000Nov 15, 2019Other99,128 vehicles

    Equipment:appliance:air conditioner

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ram ProMaster vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel or 3.6L gasoline engines and air conditioning (A/C). The engine cooling fan may seize which can cause the cooling fan motor to overheat.

    Risk: An overheated fan motor increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Chrysler will inform owners, and dealers will replace the engine cooling fan module, free of charge. Interim owner notifications informing owners of the safety risk were mailed December 10, 2019. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. The recall began July 7, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB2.

See all 10 recalls for the 2017 Ram Promaster →

2017 compared with other Promaster years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good366012—
2016Best93214—
2017Good455710—
2018Good273810—
2019Caution55609—

All Ram Promaster years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Ram Promaster reliable?
NHTSA lists 57 complaints and 10 recalls for the 2017 Ram Promaster, with a complaint index of 45. It ranks 7th worst of 12 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Promaster years.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ram Promaster?
Electrical System and Engine issues are tied as the top problem areas, each making up 42% of complaints. Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 25%, with a median failure mileage of 32,875.5 miles.
Does the 2017 Ram Promaster have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2017 Ram Promaster, covering areas including Transmission & Powertrain, Structure & Body, and other components like fire extinguishers. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2017 Ram Promaster compare to other years?
The 2017 model's complaint index of 45 is better than 2014 (73), 2019 (55), 2020 (64), 2021 (91), 2022 (82), and 2023 (100), but worse than 2016 (9), 2018 (27), 2024 (18), and 2025 (0).
Were there any fires reported for the 2017 Ram Promaster?
NHTSA lists 3 fires among the 57 complaints for the 2017 Ram Promaster, with no reported injuries or deaths.

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.