Ram recalls 265,512 ProMaster vans over power-steering-assist loss risk

Here’s the short version: if you drive a Ram ProMaster van, water can get into the power steering wiring and kill your steering assist without warning. That’s the kind of thing you find out about at the worst possible moment — usually mid-turn, hauling a full load.

Ram is recalling 265,512 ProMaster vans over it. If one of these is your work vehicle, this isn’t a problem you want to sit on.

What actually goes wrong

The failure is in the electric power steering wiring harness. Water can get into that harness and damage the wiring. When the wiring goes bad, you can lose power steering assistance.

Here’s what that feels like from the driver’s seat. Electric power steering does the heavy lifting for you when you turn the wheel. Lose that assist, and the steering doesn’t fail completely — but it gets a lot heavier. On a loaded cargo van, that’s a real jump in effort. You’ll be fighting the wheel.

The part that makes this a safety recall and not just an annoyance: the filing says drivers may get no warning before it happens. No light, no chime, no gradual fade you can plan around. One moment the steering is normal, the next you’re muscling it. At low speed in a tight spot, or at highway speed trying to hold a lane, that increase in steering effort raises the risk of a crash.

What the filing covers

The recall covers 265,512 vehicles across the ProMaster lineup. The affected units break down roughly like this:

• About 44,391 Ram 1500 ProMasters
• About 147,204 Ram 2500 ProMasters
• About 72,043 Ram 3500 ProMasters
• About 1,874 Ram 3500 EV ProMasters

Those span model years 2022 through 2026, including the 2024 Ram 3500 ProMaster EV. The 2500 is the bulk of the affected fleet, which makes sense given how common those vans are in delivery and trade work.

The recall was reported by NHTSA and picked up by major outlets during the week of October 5-9, 2026. Fox Business ran its coverage a few days before this writing.

What this means if you own one

These are working vans. A lot of them never sit still, so you can’t afford to ignore a wiring problem that affects how the thing steers. Here’s how I’d handle it.

1. Run your VIN. Go to the NHTSA recall lookup and enter your 17-digit VIN. That tells you whether your specific van is in the 265,512 — not every ProMaster on the road is. Your VIN is the only thing that gives you a straight answer. Don’t assume you’re clear just because the van drives fine right now.

2. Watch for a sudden change in steering effort. The warning here is that there may be no warning. But if you ever notice the wheel suddenly getting heavy, or steering that takes more muscle than it did yesterday, treat that as the symptom. Slow down, keep both hands on the wheel, and get it looked at. Don’t tell yourself it’s nothing.

3. Wait for the recall notice and get the free repair. A recall repair is free. That’s not a favor from Ram — it’s the law on a safety recall. Watch your mail for the official notification letter, and when it tells you the fix is available, schedule it at a dealer. Don’t pay anybody for this.

4. Document everything. If you’ve already had steering trouble on your ProMaster, write down the dates, what happened, and anything you paid to deal with it. Keep receipts. If a repair tied to this defect comes up, that paper trail is what protects you.

5. If it’s a fleet van, tell your drivers now. Don’t wait for the letter to filter through the company. Anyone behind the wheel of one of these should know that the steering could get heavy without warning, and what to do if it does.

You can keep an eye on your specific model here: 2022 RAM 1500 ProMaster, 2022 RAM 2500 ProMaster, 2022 RAM 3500 ProMaster, and the 2024 RAM 3500 ProMaster EV.

My honest take

Water getting into a wiring harness is one of those defects that’s fine until it isn’t. A loaded van with heavy steering that drops on you without warning is a legitimate safety concern, and the number here — more than 265,000 vehicles — is big. The good news is this is a known, covered recall with a free fix on the way.

So don’t panic, but don’t drag your feet either. Run the VIN, pay attention to how your steering feels, and get the repair done once it’s offered. For a van you depend on to make a living, that’s cheap peace of mind.