2015 RAM Promaster 2500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 RAM Promaster 2500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)1026.3%
- Engine718.4%
- Electrical513.2%
- Fuel system37.9%
- Exterior lighting37.9%
- Brakes37.9%
- Driver assistance25.3%
- Suspension25.3%
- Transmission12.6%
- Other / unspecified12.6%
- Body & structure12.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SAW ONLINE SHOWS THERE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION ON MODEL 2014-2015. MY VAN HAS THE SAME ISSUE ON THE TRANSMISSION. ITS DEFENDTLY QUALIFY. BUT BASE ON MY VIN NUMBER ITS NOT QUALIFY. STILL PARK INFRONT OF MY HOUSE, SOMETHING IS GONE WRONG. CHECKED WITH A MECHANIC. THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON MY VAN. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 16V529000.
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION DO UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND ALSO WHEN APPROACHING TO STOP LIGHT IT STARTS JUMPING THE SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T GET NEUTRAL WHEN PRESS THE STOP PEDAL IT KEEP MOVING, ALSO HAPPENS WITH REVERSE
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Ram Promaster 2500. The contact stated that while his client was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shudder abnormally, prompting him to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the fan bearings were damaged, allowing the fan to move back and forth freely. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V818000 (Equipment, Engine and Engine Cooling) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
IN 2018 WE HAD A MAJOR RADIATOR PROBLEM, FAN, FLUID, HOSES ALL BLEW ALL OVER A CUSTOMERS DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS THE FINAL STRAW AFTER BEING STRANDED AND TOWED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY 26K MILES ON THE TRUCK. FINALLY, RAISED ENOUGH FIGHT AND CALLED CHRYSLER/DODGE AND THEY OPENED A CASE AND FIXED PROBLEM. HERE WE ARE IN EARLY 2021 AND PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN, FAN NOT WORKING, HOSES BLOWING, LOSING FLUID, OVERHEATING.... THE VB-2 RECALL IS OUT THERE BUT MY TRUCK VIN IS NOT INCLUDED, HOWEVER, THE EXACT PART AND PROBLEM IS IN THE VEHICLE, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. RECALL WAS NOT RECOGNIZED UNTIL NOV 2019. TRUCK HAS MAJOR TRANS PROBLEMS AT 20K, THAT A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR, PLUS ALL OF THE RADIATOR PROBLEMS AND NOT SURE HOW TO GET ADDRESSED UNDER THE VB-2 RECALL. ALL DOCUMENTATION IS WITH ONE DEALERSHIP AND THE TRUCK IS THERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ANOTHER BLOWN HOSE AND FAN NOT WORKING AND OVERHEATING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact then turned around and returned to his residence. The contact stated upon parking and turning off the vehicle, the cooling fan remained engaged. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence the next day and diagnosed that there was a wiring failure and the power control module had failed. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle in for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 92,900.
PURCHASED A NEW 2015 PROMASTER 2500 IN 2015 AND EXPERIENCE ENGINE PROBLEMS AFTER 2 YEARS. IN 2020 FUEL INJECTION AND ENGINE COOLER FAN ISSUES. EACH TIME THE LIGHT BULBS (HEADLIGHTS) ARE CHANGED THEY GO OUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. I'M SCHEDULED FOR A FEW RECALLS AND WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN FOR THE ENGINE COOLER FAN AND THE SHIFT CABLE. I WOULD NEVER BUY A DODGE RAM TRUCK AGAIN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASED A NEW 2015 PROMASTER 2500 IN 2015 AND EXPERIENCE ENGINE PROBLEMS AFTER 2 YEARS. IN 2020 FUEL INJECTION AND ENGINE COOLER FAN ISSUES. EACH TIME THE LIGHT BULBS (HEADLIGHTS) ARE CHANGED THEY GO OUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. I'M SCHEDULED FOR A FEW RECALLS AND WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN FOR THE ENGINE COOLER FAN AND THE SHIFT CABLE. I WOULD NEVER BUY A DODGE RAM TRUCK AGAIN.
LOSS OF POWER/ ACCELERATION MORE THAN 10 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. RESULTING IN HAVING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, UNABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE CONSTANT ISSUES WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR FACILITY FOR THESE CURRENT ISSUES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. NUMEROUS TIMES A YEAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 RAM PROMASTER 2500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/18/17*LJ *CN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BUYER BEWARE I NEVER BEEN TREATED SO BADLY, THIS DEALERSHIP IS THE WORST WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP ONE OF MY VANS THERE WAS 2 OF THEM IN THE SERVICE DEPT AND I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS ABLE TO COME TO PICK ONE UP AND THIS TIME I WAS SO LUCKY TO GET A RENTAL AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE TAKING THE RENTAL BACK WHEN I ARRIVED EVEN THOUGH THE STILL HAD 1 OF MY OTHER VANS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER HE SAID THAT I COULD COME INTO PICK UP ONE OF THE VANS AND TOLD ME TO BRING THE RENTAL IN SO THEY CAN TRANSFER THE PAPERWORK OVER TO THE OTHER VAN, SO WHEN I GET THERE HE WAS GONE FOR THE DAY AND HAD TO DEAL WITH THE CASHIER BECAUSE IT WAS 630PM, I WAS NOT PREPARED TO RETURN TH RENTAL IT WAS FULL OF TOOLS NOT CLEANED OR I DIDN'TGET A CHANCE TO FILL THE GAS TANK SO I ASKED TO GO FILL THE GAS TANK AT THE GAS STATION THAT WAS NOT EVEN A HALF A BLOCK AWAY YOU COULD SEE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID NO WE WILL CHARGE YOU $5.15 A GALLON. I WAS CHARGED $550 FOR THAT RENTAL. THEY WOULDN'T LET ME EVEN LOOK AT THE VAN UNTIL I PAID THE $550 AND I HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE VAN THAT WAS STILL IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOT FINISHED BEFORE THEY WOULD LET ME SEE IF ALL THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. SO I PAID AND THEN THE VAN HAD NO HEADLIGHTS SO SHE HAD SALESMEN LOOK AT IT AND HE HIT THE HEADLIGHTS AND ONE CAME ON AND OFF THE OTHER ONE WAS STILL OUT SO THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE WITH THE BRIGHTS ON 2 NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THEN THE VAN WAS STILL LEAKING COOLANT. I ASKED IF SOMEONE COULD AT LEAST REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS AND THEY SAID THAT NOT ONE PERSON HERE CAN DO THAT? I SAID THIS VAN IS NOT EVEN SAFE TO DRIVE ITS DARK OUT WHAT IF THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ALL TOGETHER AND I GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND HURT SOMEONE OR MYSELF? THEY SAID YOU CAN LEAVE IT BUT I CANT PROMISE YOU ANYTHING OR WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO IT. THEY REPLIED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL ADDRESS THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS
THE DRUM-STYLE PARKING BRAKE BECOMES FROZEN IN COLD WEATHER MAKING THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVEABLE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT IS DRIED OUT AND THE SHOES FREED. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE WITH THE COMPLETE SYSTEM REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY (12/24/17), A NIGHT SPENT IN THE SHOP TO "DRY" OUT AND WILL NOW (218/19) BE GOING IN AGAIN WITH DAMAGE FOUND TO THE MECHANICAL MECHANISMS AND NEARBY BRAKING SENSORS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ENGINE NEEDS TO GET REPLACED. IT BLEW THE GASKETS. HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BULBS. BULBS WERE SWITCHED OUT AND THEY STILL DIDN'T WORK. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN THE TRUCK OFF THEN ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO PROPERLY WORK.
LOSS OF POWER/ ACCELERATION MORE THAN 10 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. RESULTING IN HAVING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, UNABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE CONSTANT ISSUES WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR FACILITY FOR THESE CURRENT ISSUES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMPLAINT NUMBERS: 10967663, 10967668, 10967666 AND 10967670, WERE ALL FILED LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO. ATTACHED IS MORE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ON THE "7" ZENITH DRIVETRAIN FAILURES AND LACK OF SUPPORT FROM ZENITH DESPITE OUR REQUEST FOR SERVICE AND BEING UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE OTHER CONVENTIONAL FUEL SHUTTLES IN ORDER TO RUN OUR OPERATION.
THE COUPLER BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED; ALSO, THE AXLE HAS FAILED TWICE, THE LAST AXLE FAILURE THE SHAFT SPLIT IN HALF AND PART OF IT ENDED UP IN THE GEAR BOX. THE A/C CONTINUALLY LEAKS AS THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FROM CONDENSOR TO COMPRESSOR IS TOO SHORT. THE ATTACHED IS A LAWSUIT THAT ZENITH FILED IN JUNE 2016 OVER IT'S REPEATED DRIVE TRAIN FAILURES, ALLEGING BORG WARNER AT FAULT. ATTACHED IS A DEPICTION OF THE ZENITH PORTAL THAT WAS ESTABLISHED TO COMMUNICATE AND TRACK SERVICE TICKETS ON REPAIRS; HOWEVER, ON AUGUST 10, 2016 ZENITH DENIED US ANY FURTHER ACCESS TO THE PORTAL. ZENITH HAS REFUSED TO GIVE US SUPPORT. WE ARE A COMMERCIAL OPERATOR WITH COURTESY PASSENGER SHUTTLES FOR MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE TO AND FROM OUR PARKING LOT AND TO THE SAN DIEGO AIRPORT. WE ARE A GROUND TRANSPORTATION OFF AIRPORT PARKING OPERATOR. THE SHUTTLES HAVE BROKEN DOWN TO AND FROM ROUTE DURING OPERATION, THE ROUTE IS 9 MILES ROUND TRIP. WE AVERAGE 150 MILES PER DAY IN A SHUTTLE. WE ARE IN STREET TRAFFIC WITH STOP LIGHTS AND HIGH CONGESTION DUE TO THE ROADS AT THE AIRPORT HAVE HIGH USE. WE OPERATE 24/7 AND HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1991 AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD BROKEN DRIVETRAINS OR AXLES IN OUR SHUTTLES. WE HAVE VIDEOS OF THE FLOPPY COUPLER THAT DEMONSTRATES THE ONGOING ISSUES OF THIS PART AND THE IMPACT THAT A FLOPPY COUPLER HAS ON THE SPLINES OF THE MOTOR AND GEAR BOX. THIS COMPLAINT WILL BE 1 OF 3 AS WE HAVE 3 SHUTTLES BY ZENITH THAT WERE ALL PURCHASED IN 2015.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact then turned around and returned to his residence. The contact stated upon parking and turning off the vehicle, the cooling fan remained engaged. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence the next day and diagnosed that there was a wiring failure and the power control module had failed. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle in for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 92,900.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Ram Promaster 2500. The contact stated that while his client was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shudder abnormally, prompting him to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the fan bearings were damaged, allowing the fan to move back and forth freely. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V818000 (Equipment, Engine and Engine Cooling) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES SENSE I GOT MY VAN, THE PADS WEAR FAST AND LEAVE BLACK DIRT ALL OVERS THE WHEELS, AND NOTHING GETS DONE ABOUT IT. THE HEADLIGHTS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE AT LEAST 4 TIMES EACH, AND THEY JUST BURNT OUT AGAIN. NOW THE REAR CARGO DOOR LATCH HANDLE JUST FELL APART AND ITS ALL MADE OF PLASTIC AND COST A LOT TO FIX, I LOOK ONLINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECALL FOR IT BUT NOT FOR MY VAN, WHY NOT? A WHILE BACK THEY DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR SOMETHING AND MY MILES PER GALLON WENT FROM 16/19 TO 13/16, I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHANGE IT BACK OR FIX MY MILEAGE AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT. I AM FED UP, I WANT MY VAN FIXED AT DODGE/RAM/CHRYSLER COST NOT MINE!!!!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .