Problems · NHTSA complaints
2017 Ram Promaster City problems
Owners filed 76 complaints about the 2017 Ram Promaster City with NHTSA between Feb 2017 and May 2026. The most-cited component is engine (27).
Complaints
76
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine27
- Electrical system24
- Power train14
- Exterior lighting8
- Visibility/wiper5
- Service brakes5
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Structure4
- Equipment3
- Steering3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Wheels2
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Lane departure1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
8
12
16
9
4
5
5
9
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
27 reports1 crash1 fire
“COMPONENT FAILED: Left transmission mount bracket and its fasteners on a 2017 RAM ProMaster with 3.6L V6 Pentastar (sales code ERB) and 62TE 6-speed automatic (sales code DG2). At least one bracket-to-transaxle bolt sheared. The bracket separated from the transmission, the powertrain dropped on the driver side, the left front CV axle pulled out of the transaxle, and transmission fluid loss occurred. The transmission case casting also appears cracked at the bracket mounting boss. All failed components are preserved and available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: Failure occurred during LOW-SPEED MANEUVERING. Had it occurred at highway speed, the dropped powertrain and separated front drive axle could have caused loss of vehicle control, sudden disabling of the vehicle in traffic, and roadway debris from dragging components. Industry-published cases describe identical failures at 40+ mph (Certified Transmission, May 2019). Multiple owner reports of the same failure exist for 2015-2021 ProMasters. CONFIRMED BY: Failure confirmed by visual inspection at an independent service facility. The failure mode matches FCA Service Bulletin 23-022-19 (8/27/2019), which warns the…”
Electrical system
24 reports1 fire
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Ram Promaster 1500. The vehicle was purchased on February 16, 2024. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the mileage was 84,000. The vehicle was taken to Valvoline, where the odometer was reported in 2018 February 2023 at 346,000. The contact purchased a Carfax report, which indicated that the mileage was 346,544 in January 2023. In addition, the dealer was made aware of the discrepancy, and the contact was informed that the vehicle would be collected, and the sale would be voided; however, the down payment would not be returned.”
Power train
14 reports
“I am the original owner of a 2017 Dodge ProMaster made by Chrysler. My vehicle is currently at a dealership waiting for a complete transmission. I had to have it towed there as this issue happened while I was driving. Luckily, I was not far from home. The van is no longer under warranty at 5 years or100,000 miles. I purchased it new in May 2018. It has only 37000 miles on the odometer. There was a recall unrelated to this problem and fixed. In the beginning I had to Contact Chrysler Customer Service per my dealer who gave me their Customer Care number. I was given a case number by a lower Chrysler representative, who then had me talk to her supervisor. This representative said that there was no forwarding phone contact number for their complaint department and she gave me an address with a US mail PO Box for Chrysler in Auburn Hills, MI. No transmission should go out at 37,000 miles. My dealer is charging me $9000 USD for the transmission repair! A review of social media (Facebook) by various ProMaster owners has lead me to contact you. Groups on Facebook such as ProMaster Owners and Roadtrek ProMaster Class B RV owners have complained about transmissions going…”
Exterior lighting
8 reports
“We purchased 4 of these Dodge promasters about 4 years ago. During the first year we were replacing headlights about every 2 months. Dodge told us that we needed to use their "heavy duty" bulbs. These bulbs seem to last about 1 year. They have a 2 year warranty on original purchase, so after 2 years we have to pay again. This last time the bulb blew it also melted the housing the bulbs sits in. We were required to replace the assembly and the bulbs. I believe Dodge has a voltage issue causing premature bulb failure and now creating a fire hazard. Headlights should not burn out in a year!”
Visibility/wiper
5 reports
“The windshield cowl on this vehicle is poorly designed, allowing water intrusion from multiple points. This is not a minor leak but a severe design flaw that creates immediate and dangerous safety hazards while driving, particularly at highway speeds. The most critical issue is water pouring directly onto the serpentine belt and pulley system. While driving at highway speeds in heavy rain, I lost power steering after water intrusion caused the belt to slip. This sudden loss of steering assist made the vehicle extremely difficult to control, especially in traffic and during turns. Another major safety risk is water intrusion onto the engine fuse box. While driving at highway speeds, water poured into the fuse box, causing electrical shorting. This led to severe overheating that burned my windshield wiper wiring, making the wipers inoperable and drastically reducing visibility. Surrounding wires also melted, posing a significant fire hazard. The sudden electrical failure and loss of visibility created an extremely dangerous situation. Additionally, water pooling on the transmission can drain into the breather hole, allowing significant water intrusion into the…”
Service brakes
5 reports1 crash
“parking brake did not fully release (with no apparent signs). drove 20 miles, brake warning lights went on about 18 miles in to the drive. Pulled up to gas pump with rear wheels (unknowingly) glowing red. $6000 damage incurred, could have easily been an explosion at the pumps. Dealer purchased extended warrantee says nothing that fails due to "rust" is covered. Manufacturer has changed the design of the failed part but takes no responsibility, or issued advisory statements or recall. I purchased this vehicle brand new, am meticulous on upkeep and keeping it clean. All scheduled maintenance has been with the dealer. There were 3 other Promasters in the dealer lot who had the same issues.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.