Ram ProMaster Recall Issued Due to Vehicle Fire Risks From Defective Radiator Fans

Manufacturer’s investigation determined that premature wear within the fan system and insufficient fuse protections could increase the risk of Ram ProMaster vehicle fires.

The U.S. National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a Ram ProMaster recall on October 24, warning that nearly 300,000 vehicles may have a flawed radiator fan design that could increase the risk of an electrical short circuit.

The radiator fan is located under the hood and helps keep the engine cool by pulling air through the radiator to lower coolant temperatures, which is the liquid that prevents the engine from overheating.

The fan operates through an electrical circuit that controls when the fan turns on and off. If that circuit overheats or malfunctions, the fan motor can generate excessive heat, potentially sparking an engine compartment fire and increasing the risk of property damage or serious injury.

According to the recall report (PDF), Ram first became aware of the issue on July 3, after its FCA US Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance organization detected a trend of fires originating from the cooling fan module in certain Ram ProMaster vehicles.

The manufacturer reported at least 39 customer assistance records and field reports involving the cooling fan module, though no accidents or injuries have been linked to the issue so far.

The investigation continued over the following months, until the root cause was found to be premature bearing wear, meaning parts inside the fan wore out sooner than they should, combined with inadequate fuse protection on the 400W fan circuit, which failed to prevent the fan from overheating.

As a result of the findings, FCA US, Ram’s parent company, decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall (PDF) of 291,664 model year 2018 through 2026 Ram ProMaster vehicles on October 16.

Customers will begin receiving interim notification letters explaining the safety risk on November 20. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. 

FCA US, also known as Chrysler, has assigned recall number 67C to this action. Customers may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403 or the manufacturer’s contact for the recall, Emily Smith, by email at emily.c.smith@dot.gov.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-275-9171), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

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