2016 Ram PROMASTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
47,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 32 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 21.9% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 12 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Engine: 12; Power Train: 8; Electrical System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 6; Exterior Lighting: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 5; 2021: 5; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10850650 · 2016-03-20 (March 20, 2016)
THROTTLE IS" UNPREDICTABLE" AND SLOW TO RESPOND, WITH A DELAY OR NO RESPONSE AT TIMES. WHEN IN MOTION AND THE WHEEL TURNED, IT HAS LURCHED FORWARD ON IT'S OWN. SITTING AT INTERSECTION WITH WHEEL TURNED AND WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR TO MAKE TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THROTTLE WAS PRESSED DOWN AND THEN ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE UNTIL REPEATING THE ACTION AND THEN SHOOTING FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. 3 TIMES NEARLY INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF UNPREDICTABLE THROTTLE RESPONSE. CAR HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES AND IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLED…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10850650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11254915 · 2019-09-12 (September 12, 2019)
2016 RAM PROMASTER 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A HARD SHIFT ISSUE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JOLT FORWARD AS IF IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11254915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11456367 · 2022-03-11 (March 11, 2022)
E-Brake cable freezes or doesn't disengage causing damage to the rotors, brakes, pads. Dealership said that the e-brake cable had stretched causing the rear parking brake to lock and destroy the rotors, brake pads, shoes, wheel speed sensors, pad sensors. This issue was addressed while the vehicle was under manufacturer right before we purchased the vehicle. No action was taken due to no codes in the computer, which is related to a Technical Service Bulletin for this vehicle. The TSB number is 08-088-16. Dated November 15, 2016. The TSB requir…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11456367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11563536 · 2024-01-04 (January 4, 2024)
Parking brake won't release when temperatures are at freezing or below. Consensus opinion on the internet is that water is getting into the cable + cable housing line and freezing, which causes the cable to stick inside the housing. Thus, when releasing the parking brake, the cable doesn't move and the pads are still pressing against the drums.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11563536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11054122 · 2017-12-12 (December 12, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PERFORMANCE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM COLUMBUS (AUTO MALL DR, COLUMBUS, OH), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11702191 · 2025-12-01 (December 1, 2025)
I purchase this car used from a dealer. the transmission failed at 87564 miles. i had the a new transmission installed. The gear box or shifter failed at 91231 miles. I had that repaired. The timing chain started to fail at 100432 miles. this issue would cause the car to stall randomly. This I feel is a safety issue. The car is not being driven for the cost of repair is out of my budget.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11702191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10898312 · 2016-08-24 (August 24, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM PROMASTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V202000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10898312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140327 · 2018-10-15 (October 15, 2018)
ABOUT EVERY 3 MONTHS WE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE LIGHT BULBS IN EITHER HEADLAMP. ONE OR THE OTHER KEEPING BURNING OUT. WE REPLACE THE BULBS TOGETHER AND USE GLOVES AS TO NOT DESTROY THE BULB. WE JUST HAD THE VAN INTO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON OCT. 5, 2018 FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY RAN A CHECK ON THE WIRING SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING. THEN SUNDAY THE ONE BULB WENT OUT AGAIN AND WE REPLACED IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11140327 at NHTSA ↗