2023 Ram Promaster Problems

What owners report

Complaints for the 2023 Ram ProMaster are dominated by power steering trouble, usually traced by dealers to water getting into the electric power steering connector or harness. Owners describe the assist cutting out or the wheel jerking, fighting, or locking at low speeds and sometimes at highway speed. A second cluster concerns the cooling fan recall, which many owners say they cannot get repaired because parts are unavailable, and some report fuel leaking at the tank inlet.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering cuts out or jerks (water in connector)

   • 38 complaints (40%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the power steering assist dropping out or the wheel jerking, pulsing, or resisting the turn, often with a wheel that suddenly pulls against the direction they are steering. Several say a warning message such as service electronic power steering appeared, while others had no light at all, and some needed to restart the vehicle to regain assist. According to complaints, dealers found water intrusion and corrosion in the steering harness or connector and quoted replacement of the steering gear, EPS module and harness, with owners reporting parts back-ordered and repairs running into thousands of dollars. A related recall covers water entering the electric power steering wiring harness and disabling assist. Reported from under 6,000 miles to about 88,000 miles, with many at low mileage, sometimes in a parking lot at low speed and sometimes at highway speed.

   Recall 26V6210004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering harness or connector has been inspected or replaced, especially on a van used in wet climates. During a test drive, turn the wheel slowly at parking-lot speed and watch for jerking, pulsing or a service power steering message.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the highway when my steering wheel pulled to the right and almos made me crash into the concrete retainer, i had to fully stop my van in the middle of the highway The steering wheel locks and pulls to the opposite side where you wanna turn i cant use my vehicle like this i seen that a lot of people are dealing with this problem and is not safe!”

   NHTSA complaint #11741049, filed 2026-05

   “Without any warning my steering wheel locked up and started jerking resulting in lack of steering and drivability. I was backing out of my driveway and started to turn onto the street when this happened. This could have been very dangerous if I had been driving on regular roads. The van is currently parked on the street and available for inspection as I was able to gently maneuver it to a safe spot. This has been looked at by a mobile mechanic who put an OBD2 scanner on it and couldn't bring up any codes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11709820, filed 2026-01
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Cooling fan recall with no parts available

   • 19 complaints (20%)
   • median 83,800 mi at 3.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Many owners say they received notice of a cooling fan circuit recall but were told the remedy parts were unavailable, leaving the van unrepaired for months. Some describe the engine overheating in traffic, a whirring or slowly turning cooling fan, or smoke and a burning odor from under the hood; a few mention a front-end fire. Complaints also describe the fan circuit and fuse protection as the subject of the recall. Reported from about 5,000 miles up to very high mileage, including vans parked or in traffic when the fan or overheating symptoms appeared.

   Recall 25V7200004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm with the dealer whether recall 25V720000 has actually been completed on the van, not just scheduled. Listen for the cooling fan running roughly or slowly at idle and check for a burning smell after a drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle is subject to an active safety recall involving the cooling fan module and fuse protection system. According to the recall notice, the cooling fan module may experience premature bearing wear resulting in excessive current draw and potential vehicle fire risk. The vehicle was held at the dealership for several months related to recall and engine repair concerns and has since been returned to me, however the recall remedy remains unresolved/open. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11736442, filed 2026-05

   “The contact owns a 2023 Ram Promaster 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V720000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11744810, filed 2026-06, 143,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel leaks at the tank inlet

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 3.8 yrs old
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners report the plastic fuel tank cracking or splitting at or near the filler inlet connection and gasoline leaking onto the ground, in some cases heavily enough that the van could not be used. According to complaints, dealers ordered replacement tanks that were on back order, and owners say the leak began without warning. One owner described strong raw fuel fumes in the cab during hot weather, with repeated dealer visits before the source was found. Mileage is often not stated in these complaints; leaks were reported after normal use, with one fume complaint tied to hot weather.

   What to check: Inspect the area where the filler pipe meets the tank for cracks, staining or a fuel smell, and check for any fuel odor in the cab after the van sits in warm weather.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My company issued 2023 Ram Promaster has an issue with the cab filling up with raw gas fumes during hot weather. They are very over bearing, make breathing difficult and of course they are flammable. I've taken it to the dealership 4 times now over the past year. The first 3 times they've said they can't replicate it and they don't smell anything. One dealership did try replacing the evap canister and fuel tank pressure sensor but this did not fix the issue. Eventually I determined the source of the fumes myself. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11687011, filed 2025-09

   “Fuel Tank leaking at inlet port. Leaking gasoline on ground. Vehicle is at Sunset Dodge for fuel tank replacement. Not under warranty or a recall at this time. Fuel started leaking with no warning”

   NHTSA complaint #11751727, filed 2026-07
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Uconnect settings reset and screens fault

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • typically at 1.8 yrs old
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the Uconnect radio losing its settings, resetting the unit display between mph and km/h, reverting the parking brake or radio station selections, and occasionally locking the van by itself. Some report the system faulting out and disabling driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, or the instrument panel flickering during turn-by-turn navigation, with dealers reflashing the software and the problem returning after a short distance. Usually reported within the first tens of thousands of miles, often soon after purchase or after a software recall reflash.

   Recall 24V4360004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the radio software has been updated and whether recall 24V436000 was completed. Cycle through the settings menus and check that the backup camera and driver-assist warnings behave normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “From purchase the UConnect system has faulted out and have effected items like Navigation, etc but wasn't a real problem. On 7/18 I had my dealer perform recall # 66B/NHTSA 24V-436 On 7/20 the UConnect system began faulting out but this time it started Disabling the Automatic Emergency Braking while driving, Disabled the parking brake when it was set, Indicated that various lights were not working when they were. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11612576, filed 2024-09

   “I finally found a place to report issues with my 2023 Ram ProMaster 3500. I have experienced different issues with this vehicle. The turn indicator failure first started around 8000 miles. The door ajar light for the sliding door started around 35000 miles. What I believe is the traction control, has been an ongoing issue unsure of when it started, but is the most common issue. 1) Multiple times, the left turn signal randomly fails, the bulb indicator light turns on. The front left and mirror signal don't work. While the rear one does. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11609214, filed 2024-08

Buying note. Have the van inspected specifically for water intrusion at the power steering connector and confirm which open recalls, especially the power steering and cooling fan campaigns, have actually been fixed rather than just scheduled. Check the fuel tank inlet for leaks and verify the radio software is current.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.