2016 RAM Promaster 3500 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 2016 RAM Promaster 3500, 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
- Engine521.7%
- Powertrain (other)417.4%
- Electrical417.4%
- Exterior lighting313.0%
- Brakes28.7%
- Tires & wheels14.3%
- Body & structure14.3%
- Driver assistance14.3%
- Other / unspecified14.3%
- Airbags14.3%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVER 4 YEARS NT FIXED HAZARD TO DRIVE POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD SAFETY HEALTH ISSUES WINNEBAGO IGNORES MY SAFETY HELP REQUEST HAVE NT DERIVEN THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED DUE TO STAFF AVAILABILITY. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 19V818000 (EQUIPMENT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 20V036000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I'VE ONLY BEEN TAKING IT TO THE RAM DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED IN MAY STILL HAVE NOT GOT IT FIXED RIGHT ONE MINUTE I COULD BE DOING 40 AND THEN I NEXEN YOU KNOW THE RPMS ARE UP TO 7 IN THE DROP DOWN IN A JERK SO HARD TO GET INTO GEAR ALMOST BREAKS MY FREAKING NECK THEN I WILL SHIFT IN I GET UP TO 65 ANYTHING OVER 65 IT STARTS JERKIN AND THEN DROPS BACK DOWN AND I CAN'T GET BACK STARTED AGAIN I HAD TO PULL OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LET EVERYTHING COOL LOB DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME ALREADY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM THE SPEED CONTROL HIM SENSOR I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE I CAN DO I AM TAKING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY DON'T IN A LIGHT TO KNOW WHY THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THEIR PROPERLY
MY 2018 RAM PROMASTER 3500 WAS HAVING PROBLEM WHEN I PUT IN REVERSE, IT WAS JERKING AND I HAD TO PUSH EXTRA GAS TO REVERSE IT. I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY SAID YES IT HAS PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSION AND I HAD TO LEAVE MY VAN TO FIX IT. THEY TOOK 4-5 DAYS, BUT DIDN'T FOUND EXACT CAUSE AND THEY JUST FLUSH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY TOLD ME "IF YOU FACE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN PLEASE COME BACK WE WILL HELP YOU EVEN WHEN WARRANTY EXPIRE". ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS HAVING AGAIN SAME ISSUE AND EVEN MORE THING, IT WAS JERKING WHILE I AM DRIVING ALSO AND REVERSING WAS SAME LIKE BEFORE. I TOOK IT AGAIN TO SAME DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOW MY PROBLEM IS MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED BUT I AM HAVING SAME PROBLEMS. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT WHEN I HAD WARRANTY. IT SOUNDS LIKE MY LOSS EVEN I HAD WARRANTY.
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 Roadtrek Simplicity RV built on a 2016 Ram Promaster 3500 chassis. The contact stated that while in a parking lot, a fellow motorist informed her that something had been dragging underneath her vehicle. The contact discovered that the winch that attached her spare tire to the vehicle was loose and that the spare tire connected to the winch was gone. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where they replaced both the winch and the spare tire; however, the failure occurred twice. The contact also stated that the battery failed to hold a charge. There was a beeping sound coming from the battery indicating that the charge was low. The contact believed that the battery failure was related to the spare tire failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
OVER 4 YEARS NT FIXED HAZARD TO DRIVE POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD SAFETY HEALTH ISSUES WINNEBAGO IGNORES MY SAFETY HELP REQUEST HAVE NT DERIVEN THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED DUE TO STAFF AVAILABILITY. *JS
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND, THIRTY MILES LATER, THE OTHER HEADLIGHT ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARTVILLE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (900 E BOBO NEWSOM HWY, HARTVILLE, SC 29550) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AT LEAST ONCE PER MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER 3500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED 34 SEPARATE TIMES IN 17 MONTHS DUE TO CONTINUED FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. ALSO, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD GRADUALLY EXTEND TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT CHANGE UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
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
RECEIVED RECALL HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH NHTS AND WINNABEGO NO HELP WIFE WILL NOT RIDE IN AFRAID OF SUGGESTED FIRE HAZARD HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE FROM ANY ONE PAST RECORDS SHOULD SHOW CONCERN POSSIBLE PROPANE EXPLOSION RECALL 17V-108 18V-546 16V598 FIRE SAFETY IS CONCERN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER 3500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED 34 SEPARATE TIMES IN 17 MONTHS DUE TO CONTINUED FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. ALSO, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD GRADUALLY EXTEND TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT CHANGE UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a Roadtrek Simplicity RV built on a 2016 Ram Promaster 3500 chassis. The contact stated that while in a parking lot, a fellow motorist informed her that something had been dragging underneath her vehicle. The contact discovered that the winch that attached her spare tire to the vehicle was loose and that the spare tire connected to the winch was gone. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where they replaced both the winch and the spare tire; however, the failure occurred twice. The contact also stated that the battery failed to hold a charge. There was a beeping sound coming from the battery indicating that the charge was low. The contact believed that the battery failure was related to the spare tire failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
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
OVER 4 YEARS NT FIXED HAZARD TO DRIVE POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD SAFETY HEALTH ISSUES WINNEBAGO IGNORES MY SAFETY HELP REQUEST HAVE NT DERIVEN THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED DUE TO STAFF AVAILABILITY. *JS
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
I'VE ONLY BEEN TAKING IT TO THE RAM DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED IN MAY STILL HAVE NOT GOT IT FIXED RIGHT ONE MINUTE I COULD BE DOING 40 AND THEN I NEXEN YOU KNOW THE RPMS ARE UP TO 7 IN THE DROP DOWN IN A JERK SO HARD TO GET INTO GEAR ALMOST BREAKS MY FREAKING NECK THEN I WILL SHIFT IN I GET UP TO 65 ANYTHING OVER 65 IT STARTS JERKIN AND THEN DROPS BACK DOWN AND I CAN'T GET BACK STARTED AGAIN I HAD TO PULL OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LET EVERYTHING COOL LOB DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME ALREADY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM THE SPEED CONTROL HIM SENSOR I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE I CAN DO I AM TAKING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY DON'T IN A LIGHT TO KNOW WHY THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THEIR PROPERLY
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 19V818000 (EQUIPMENT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 20V036000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
2016 PROMASTER WITH 2017 WINNEBAGO TRAVATO ..DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WITH NOTICE TO SERVICE. I HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY SINCE JANUARY OF 2020 TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. FILED WITH PROMASTER CASE MANAGEMENT JAN 2020. RECALLS ON FAN AND CABLE WERE TAKEN CARE OF ON 11/19/20. THEY COULDN'T'/WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIRBAG ISSUE...SAME AS ALL THE OTHER DEALERSHIPS I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO. NO HELP
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 .