FCA recalls 265,512 Ram ProMaster vans over water-corroded power steering

FCA US is recalling 265,512 Ram ProMaster vans — the 2022–2026 ProMaster 1500, 2500 and 3500 and the 2024–2026 ProMaster 3500 EV — because water can enter the electric power steering harness and corrode it, causing intermittent or permanent loss of steering assist. The Part 573 report says there is no warning before the failure; the effort needed to turn the wheel can change from one moment to the next. NHTSA lists the campaign as 26V621 (Chrysler number 92D); VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov on 6 October 2026.

The road to the recall was long. NHTSA sent FCA a pre-investigation inquiry on 22 September 2025 based on nine owner complaints. On 2 March 2026 the agency opened Preliminary Evaluation PE26-002, by then holding 19 owner reports on 2022–2023 vans — an estimated 136,666 vehicles — several describing water inside the connectors of the power steering control module. FCA's own review found 437 customer assistance records, 2,799 warranty claims and 191 field reports that may be related, received between April 2022 and June 2026. The company concluded a safety defect exists on 22 September 2026.

The recall covers vans built from August 2021 to October 2025, when the affected EPS unit left production; FCA estimates 7.7% of the recalled vans have the defect, and it knows of one crash and no injuries in all markets. Dealers inspect for free and replace the wiring harness and, as needed, the power steering gear; the replacement harnesses carry improved sealing to keep water out, with the repair rolling out in phases.

265,512 vans recalled, an estimated 7.7% actually defective; harnesses and steering gears must be replaced; one crash reported, no injuries.

The failure mode is invisible until it happens: corrosion gives no warning, and steering effort that changes moment to moment is most dangerous exactly when a driver leans on it.

Vans are work vehicles — the ProMaster fleet's duty cycles and weather exposure made a sealing defect a fleet-wide problem, not an edge case.

FCA spent a year inside its own data before agreeing with the regulator: the defect decision came four days shy of the pre-inquiry's first anniversary.

The one reported crash, against no injuries, kept the campaign from ever carrying a do-not-drive order — but 7.7% prevalence means roughly 20,000 vans on the road with latent assist loss.

Intermittent electrical faults outrun warranty statistics: it took 437 customer records, 2,799 warranty claims and 191 field reports before FCA could call the defect real.

Dealers began inspections under campaign 26V621, replacing harnesses and steering gears with better-sealed parts; owner notifications and phased repairs continue after the 6 October 2026 VIN-search go-live. The material records no injury claims and no additional regulatory action beyond the recall.