2016 Ram Promaster: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Ram Promaster: 14 recalls, 32 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
Recalls
14 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Stability control Vehicle recall #16V076000 · 2016 · 57 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l diesel engines. If the driver has disabled the electronic stability control (esc) system, the system is required to be reactivated the next time the vehicle is started. The recalled vehicles have an anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module that May not reset the esc to active status when the key is turned off and back on quickly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor…
Why it matters: Operating the vehicle with the esc off May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Fca will notify owners, and dealers will the update ABS control module software, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2016.
Electrical, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V202000 · 2016 · 23,930 vehicles
What's wrong: A low-voltage electrical harness connector by the front driver seat May be susceptible to water intrusion and corrosion. Corrosion May result in a loss of communication to the transmission control module (tcm) and May cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into and stay in neutral without warning the next time that the vehicle stops.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the harness connector to under the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016.
Electrical, Exterior lights Vehicle recall #16V253000 · 2016 · 6,422 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: Trailer brake lights that are inoperative can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow light control module, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2016.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V461000 · 2016 · 26,298 vehicles
What's wrong: The transmission pump May seize causing a loss of hydraulic pressure.
Why it matters: If the transmission loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle May lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission pump, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2016.
Equipment Vehicle recall #17V273000 · 2017 · 113,896 vehicles
What's wrong: The sun visor, dashboard labels, and owner's manuals incorrectly state that the vehicles are equipped with frontal driver and passenger advanced air bags when they are not. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the sun visor labels, the dashboard (hangtag) label, and the owner's manual and user guide information, free of charge. The recall began June 14, 2017.
Equipment Vehicle recall #17V786000 · 2017 · 550 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles are equipped with kidde plastic-handle or push button 'pindicator' fire extinguishers that May become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force May be needed 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…
Why it matters: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Midwest will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fire extinguisher with a different brand, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2017.
Equipment Vehicle recall #17V824000 · 2017 · 61,791 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V332000 · 2019 · 90 vehicles
What's wrong: When the seat back cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Prime-time specialty vehicles has notified owners, and freedman dealers have inspected and repaired the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V229000 · 2019 · 776 vehicles
What's wrong: When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Transitworks has notified owners and instructed them to contact freedman seats for a repair kit. The recall began December 19, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V313000 · 2019 · 2,080 vehicles
What's wrong: When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Mobilitytrans will notify owners and freedman seating dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began May 19, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V333000 · 2019 · 544 vehicles
What's wrong: When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: New england has notified owners, directing them to contact freedman for repairs to the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall began May 27, 2019.
Equipment, Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #19V818000 · 2019 · 99,128 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An overheated fan motor increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #20V036000 · 2020 · 222,207 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: The driver May be unaware of the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission shift cable, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #20V582000 · 2020 · 20 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: The driver May be unaware of the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Prime-time will notify owners instructing them to take their vehicles to Ram dealers for the necessary repairs, free of charge.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Electrical, Exterior lights Equipment recall #16E039000 · 2016 · 2,291 vehicles
What's wrong: These accessory modules were sold for installation on Ram promaster and promaster city vehicles. 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,…
Why it matters: Trailer brake lights that are inoperative can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will mail letters to owners to try to notify the purchasers of the modules, and dealers will replace the trailer tow light control modules, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (12): the most common themes are warning light on (2), noise or vibration (2).
- Transmission & drivetrain (8): the most common themes are noise or vibration (2).
- Electrical (7): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (2).
- Other / unknown (6): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2016 Ram Promaster has 32 owner complaints, ranking #10 of 13 Promaster model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 50). Complaints peaked in 2020 (5 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 47,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (61 complaints, 12 recalls), 2017 (57 complaints, 10 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Ram Promaster.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Ram Promaster have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 14 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Ram Promaster, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Ram Promaster problems?
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (12), transmission & drivetrain (8), electrical (7).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Ram Promaster get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 9-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Ram Promaster repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.