2021 Ram Promaster Seat Belt Retractor Recall (21V699)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · 10,372 vehicles · Reported September 9, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling 10,372 2021 Ram Promaster; 2021 Ram Promaster City vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V699 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V699000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Y61 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 9, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ram Promaster; 2021 Ram Promaster City |
| Units affected | 10,372 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Rear / Other > Retractor |
| Safety risk | An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ram Promaster in recall 21V699?
The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram ProMaster City and Ram ProMaster vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Promaster with recall 21V699?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Promaster shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the retractor, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V699?
Recall 21V699 covers 10,372 vehicles: 2021 Ram Promaster; 2021 Ram Promaster City.
NHTSA lists 10,372 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ram | Promaster |
| 2021 | Ram | Promaster City |
What is the fix for the Promaster seat belt retractor recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853- 1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y61.
When was recall 21V699 announced?
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V699 to NHTSA on September 9, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 28, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 9, 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V699000. |
| October 28, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 61 months ago. If your Promaster was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Promaster is part of recall 21V699?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V699 is open on your Promaster, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V699000 is open on your Promaster, it will be listed there, along with Ram recall number Y61. You can also ask any Ram dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Promaster owners do about recall 21V699?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V699000 applies to your Promaster.
- Call a Ram dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the retractor happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Promaster owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the seat belts.
Since recall 21V699 was reported on September 9, 2021, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the seat belts and were received on or after September 9, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related seat belts issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 116 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 7 of them involve the seat belts. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ram Promaster: 111 complaints in total, 6 about the seat belts
- 2021 Ram Promaster City: 5 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2021 Ram Promaster 2500. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts' webbing was frayed. The contact had not experienced a failure with the seat belts; however, due to the safety concerns, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the seat belts were replaced.
2021 Ram Promaster owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11693321, filed October 14, 2025
The 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500 I purchased from a dealer on 12/6/25 now has a serious safety defect. The transmission began grinding when shifting into Drive on 1/27/26. Immediately after, the vehicle started rolling backwards while fully in Park with the engine running. This indicates a failure of the parking pawl or internal gearset.
2021 Ram Promaster owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11713763, filed January 27, 2026
The back seatbelts seize up and no longer extend. This can happen at any time. There have been numerous complaints on the forums and someone even posted a video describing the issue being related to the leveling feature in the seatbelt mechanism not functioning correctly: https://www.youtube.
2021 Ram Promaster owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11407908, filed April 13, 2021
Can recall 21V699 make my Promaster a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 21V699000 does not automatically make your Promaster a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2021 Ram Promaster affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Ram Promaster has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Promaster went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Promaster been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ram Promaster recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V699
Did the recall 21V699 fix work?
Since recall 21V699 was reported on September 9, 2021, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed October 28, 2021.
Is the 21V699000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Promaster is part of recall 21V699000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V699000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ram. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.