NHTSA Recalls 165k Ram ProMaster Vans Over Rollaway Accident Risks

Recalled Ram ProMaster vehicles may roll away while in park due to faulty transmission software.

A recall has been issued for more than 165,000 Ram ProMaster vans, which may experience problems that cause the vehicles to roll away or move when the driver believes they are parked, posing a risk for occupants and others in the area.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Ram ProMaster recall on April 27, indicating that a defect in software that controls the powertrain may prevent the vehicle from fully engaging into park, potentially allowing a van roll away accident without warning.

A van rollaway poses a risk of serious injury for passengers still leaving the vehicle, and may cause the vehicle to strike nearby pedestrians or objects.

According to the recall announcement, the defective transmission software can result in a premature failure of the clutch, allowing metal debris to form and gather in the transmission gear. The debris can then interfere with the parking pawl’s ability to fully lock the vehicle’s transmission into the park position.

While no accidents or injuries have been reported in connection to the recall, Chrysler has become aware of at least 2 customer service records and 64 warranty claims from June 24, 2020 through April 7, 2023, that could potentially be related to the issue.

Chrysler first learned of the issue in August of 2022, after receiving a report of a Ram ProMaster van that rolled away while in the park position. Further investigation revealed an issue with the powertrain control module calibration software, prompting a voluntary safety recall on April 20, 2023.

The recall impacts approximately 165,503 model year 2019 through 2021 Ram ProMaster Vans equipped with the 62TE transmission. A full list of the affected software control part numbers can be found on the NHTSA’s website.

Chrysler announced they will begin sending recall notification letters to customers by June 16, 2023, which will include instructions on how schedule free inspection and repair of their vehicles by a licensed dealer.

For more information on the recall, consumers can contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 and reference recall number 44A. They may also contact the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit www.nhtsa.gov.