2017 RAM PROMASTER

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Prime-Time Specialty Vehicles (Prime-Time) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Paratransit vehicles equipped with 3.6L 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.

Risk: The driver may be unaware of the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram ProMaster vehicles equipped 3.6L 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.

Risk: The driver may be unaware of the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

SEATS

Mobility Transportation Services (MobilityTrans) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ford Transit and Ram Promaster vehicles and 2014-2015 Ford Econoline vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats, part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719. 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ram ProMaster vehicles equipped with 3.0L 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.

Risk: An overheated fan motor increases the risk of a fire.

SEATS

New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ford Transit and 2014-2019 Ram Promaster 2500 and 3500 vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman Go-ES Foldaway seats. 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

SEATS

Prime-Time Specialty Vehicles (Prime-Time) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ram ProMaster and Ford Transit vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats. 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

EQUIPMENT

Midwest Automotive Designs, LLC (Midwest) is recalling certain Custom Vans and Camper Van recreational vehicles built on 2014-2017 Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis and 2016-2017 RAM Promaster chassis. 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 full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

EQUIPMENT

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. 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 product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Risk: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Ram ProMaster vehicles. 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."

Risk: 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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2017 Ram Promaster 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V818000 (Equipment, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

EQUIPMENT

The contact owns a 2017 Ram Promaster 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V818000 (Equipment, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

POWER TRAIN

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 out. From what I understand, Chrysler has recalled vehicles from 2019 model years up through maybe 2023, for transmission issues. Why the 2018 model year was not included is beyond me. It is also my understanding that Chrysler is now building a completely new transmission for vehicles built since the current model year. Previous owners like me will have to settle fro re-manufactured transmissions from Chrysler. I am sure the NHTSB has been contacted by people like me. There are hundreds of us with transmission issues which can be considered driving safety issues.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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 transmission fluid. This can cause erratic shifting, transmission failure, or complete power loss. At highway speeds, this can lead to sudden deceleration or loss of acceleration, putting drivers and others at serious risk. This issue has been experienced by multiple owners and confirmed by independent service centers. It is not a DIY repair—the defective cowl design allows excessive water ingress. There are no warning lights or messages before failure, only sudden and dangerous symptoms once water intrudes. This is a major safety concern, particularly at highway speeds, where sudden power steering loss, electrical failure, or transmission issues can lead to catastrophic consequences. Immediate investigation and corrective action are necessary to prevent accidents, injuries, or fatalities.

STEERING

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 transmission fluid. This can cause erratic shifting, transmission failure, or complete power loss. At highway speeds, this can lead to sudden deceleration or loss of acceleration, putting drivers and others at serious risk. This issue has been experienced by multiple owners and confirmed by independent service centers. It is not a DIY repair—the defective cowl design allows excessive water ingress. There are no warning lights or messages before failure, only sudden and dangerous symptoms once water intrudes. This is a major safety concern, particularly at highway speeds, where sudden power steering loss, electrical failure, or transmission issues can lead to catastrophic consequences. Immediate investigation and corrective action are necessary to prevent accidents, injuries, or fatalities.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 transmission fluid. This can cause erratic shifting, transmission failure, or complete power loss. At highway speeds, this can lead to sudden deceleration or loss of acceleration, putting drivers and others at serious risk. This issue has been experienced by multiple owners and confirmed by independent service centers. It is not a DIY repair—the defective cowl design allows excessive water ingress. There are no warning lights or messages before failure, only sudden and dangerous symptoms once water intrudes. This is a major safety concern, particularly at highway speeds, where sudden power steering loss, electrical failure, or transmission issues can lead to catastrophic consequences. Immediate investigation and corrective action are necessary to prevent accidents, injuries, or fatalities.

ENGINE

Went to use the brakes and they would not work. Had to swerve into a ditch to stop. ABS and Traction issue.