Is the Ford F-150 more reliable than the Ram Promaster?

Yes, the F-150 has a clear edge. Both carry a good standing, but Promaster owners report engines and dashboards shutting off without warning, steering that locks up, and recall repairs delayed by missing parts. The F-150 has serious transmission and engine issues, so inspect those before buying.

Which has more recalls, the F-150 or the Promaster?

The F-150 has more. Federal records show 107 recalls across its nine model years from 2018 to 2026, against 54 for the Promaster. The F-150 also sold in much larger numbers. Run the VIN either way, because open recall repairs matter on both.

What goes wrong most often on the Ford F-150?

Power train complaints lead, with 2014 reports. Owners describe the 10-speed automatic slipping, skipping gears, and lurching at stops, and some trucks rolling away while showing Park. Electrical, engine, structure, and brake complaints follow, including cam phaser rattle and doors that freeze or fly open.

What is the biggest problem with the Ram Promaster?

Electrical shutoffs are the most reported area, with 41 complaints. The engine and dash cut out while driving, with no warning lights first. Transmission trouble, steering lockups, and a cooling-system recall waiting on parts also come up often in owner complaints.

Which Promaster and F-150 years should I avoid?

Avoid the 2019 and 2021 Promaster and the 2021 and 2018 F-150, the weakest years for each. Treat 2026 with caution on both, since a newer year has had little time to collect complaints and is not proven better.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford F-150 vs Ram ProMaster: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Ford F-150

Good

Ram ProMaster

Good

On reliability, the Ford F-150 holds a clear edge over the Ram Promaster. The van's sudden shutoffs and stalled recall repairs weigh against it. The F-150 has its own weak spot in the 10-speed transmission, which owners say can roll away in Park or shift hard.

How Do the Ford F-150 and Ram ProMaster Generations Compare?

Most F-150s a shopper will look at fall in two generations. The thirteenth ran 2015 to 2020 and got a mid-cycle refresh in 2018, so 2018 is the refresh year. The fourteenth began in 2021 and is still current, which makes 2021 the first year of the redesign. Those are the two weakest years. The Promaster's first generation ran 2013 to 2022 and received a facelift in 2019, so most vans from 2018 to 2022 are first generation. The second generation began in 2023. Recent years on both models have had little time to collect complaints, so a low count there is not proof of reliability.

Verdict

The Ford F-150 is more reliable than the Ram ProMaster, scoring 68/100 vs 62/100.

Reliability favors the F-150 by a clear margin. It has more recalls, 107 against 54, and far more complaints, but it also sold in much larger numbers, and its standing is good. The Promaster is rated good too. Still, its owners describe engines and dashboards cutting out with no warning, power steering that locks up, and recall repairs stuck waiting on parts. The F-150's own big problems, the 10-speed transmission and the 3.5L EcoBoost cam phasers, are serious and well documented, so check for them before you buy.

Key Differences

1Ram ProMaster has 53 fewer total recalls
2Ford F-150 scores 6 points higher in reliability
3Ram ProMaster has 0.8 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Ford F-150

—

2Ram ProMaster

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Ford F-150 vs Ram ProMaster: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford F-150 vs Ram ProMaster at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford F-150	Ram ProMaster
Reliability Score	68/100	62/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	107	54
Complaints per 10k Sold	5.4	4.6
Year Wins	7 (1 tied)	1 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford F-150 and Ram ProMaster?

Crash-linked trouble sits mostly with the F-150. Its transmission complaints include trucks rolling away while showing Park, and its brake complaints describe a pedal sinking after the master cylinder leaks into the booster. Cabin fires after side airbags fire show up in the electrical reports. The Promaster has only one crash-linked complaint each in power train, engine, and brakes. Its problems are different: sudden engine and dash shutoffs, steering that jerks or goes heavy after water corrodes the wiring harness, harsh transmission downshifts, and cooling-system recall repairs with no parts available.

Ford F-150 vs Ram ProMaster common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford F-150	Ram ProMaster
POWER TRAIN	1.9Low	0.5Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	0.6Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
ENGINE	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.5Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	0.3Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.2Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
EQUIPMENT	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Ford F-150 vs Ram ProMaster Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford F-150 vs Ram ProMaster year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford F-150	Ram ProMaster	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	65/1001R / 1C	Ford F-150
2025	75/10013R / 64C	62/1004R / 3C	Ford F-150
2024	74/1009R / 146C	62/1006R / 5C	Ford F-150
2023	68/10010R / 383C	63/1007R / 39C	Ford F-150
2022	62/10021R / 657C	61/1008R / 53C	Ford F-150
2021	58/10026R / 1021C	58/10011R / 98C	Tie
2020	67/1007R / 517C	62/1007R / 34C	Ford F-150
2019	65/1006R / 972C	58/10010R / 60C	Ford F-150
2018	58/10015R / 1852C	68/1000R / 1C	Ram ProMaster

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford F-150 scored 74/100 and the 2018 Ram ProMaster scored 68/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Ford F-150 vs the Ram ProMaster?

Pick the F-150 if you want a truck with a good reliability standing and a known repair profile. Test the 10-speed automatic hard: look for slipping, hard shifts, and lurching at stops, and confirm the truck holds in Park on a slope. Ask whether the 3.5L EcoBoost has had cam phaser work, since Ford's phaser program has expired. Skip 2021 and 2018 if you can, because those are the weakest years. Do not treat 2025 and 2026 as proven; they have had little time to collect complaints. Pick the Promaster if you need a van and can accept its risks. Its complaint rate per vehicle sold is a little lower than the F-150's. Before you buy, run the VIN for open recalls, especially the engine cooling one, since owners report parts not being available. Test the steering over bumps and the transmission under light throttle. Avoid 2019 and 2021, its weakest years. The 2018 model ranks strongest, but check that its recall work is done and that the steering harness is dry and clean.

Ford F-150 vs Ram ProMaster: Common Questions

Is the Ford F-150 more reliable than the Ram Promaster?: Yes, the F-150 has a clear edge. Both carry a good standing, but Promaster owners report engines and dashboards shutting off without warning, steering that locks up, and recall repairs delayed by missing parts. The F-150 has serious transmission and engine issues, so inspect those before buying.
Which has more recalls, the F-150 or the Promaster?: The F-150 has more. Federal records show 107 recalls across its nine model years from 2018 to 2026, against 54 for the Promaster. The F-150 also sold in much larger numbers. Run the VIN either way, because open recall repairs matter on both.
What goes wrong most often on the Ford F-150?: Power train complaints lead, with 2014 reports. Owners describe the 10-speed automatic slipping, skipping gears, and lurching at stops, and some trucks rolling away while showing Park. Electrical, engine, structure, and brake complaints follow, including cam phaser rattle and doors that freeze or fly open.
What is the biggest problem with the Ram Promaster?: Electrical shutoffs are the most reported area, with 41 complaints. The engine and dash cut out while driving, with no warning lights first. Transmission trouble, steering lockups, and a cooling-system recall waiting on parts also come up often in owner complaints.
Which Promaster and F-150 years should I avoid?: Avoid the 2019 and 2021 Promaster and the 2021 and 2018 F-150, the weakest years for each. Treat 2026 with caution on both, since a newer year has had little time to collect complaints and is not proven better.

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Decided between Ford F-150 and Ram ProMaster? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Ford F-150 and Ram ProMaster

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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