Watch Your Step! Chrysler Recalls RAM 2500 Pickups Over Failing Bed Step

December 16, 2021 Update – Chrysler has remedied issues with 27,657 models including the 2019 and 2020 Ram 2500 pickup trucks and the Ram 3500 pickup trucks dealing with bed step failures. Additionally, 462 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 134 have been removed from the recall. Two groups of Ram pickup truck models were remedied in 2020 and three were remedied in 2021 for bed steps that may cause failures when used with heavy loads.

Despite being a minor, non-mechanical problem compared to other stalling issues experienced by the Chrysler RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 pickup trucks, these truck owners should remove the platform step because it can fail unexpectedly during use.

Laguna Hills, CA – May 15, 2020 – Chrysler recalled a total of 37,580 2019 and 2020 Ram 2500 pickup trucks and Ram 3500 pickup trucks that have had issues with the bed step accessory. During heavy loading, the bed step can break leading to user injury.

Dangers of a Faulty Bed Step

Having a bed step is a convenient feature that makes it easier for the user to climb into the bed of the truck.

In Ram trucks, if too much pressure is applied to the bed step, such as when a user steps up while carrying a heavy item, it can cause the support brace holding the step in place to break. As of March 30, 2020, owners have filed a total of 27 warranty claims. While there are no reported injuries from the faulty steps, the risk of an eventual fall and injury is imminent without the recall in place.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), over nine million people went to the emergency room for treatment of an injury related to a fall in 2016. While the NSC considers a fall to be a preventable injury, it is largely unavoidable when it comes to faulty equipment.

Is Your Vehicle Affected?

Based on the production records, the recall consists of 25,822 Ram 2500 pickups. The manufacture dates of all the pickup trucks are between October 18, 2018, and March 1, 2020. The recall also includes 11,758 Ram 3500 pickup trucks manufactured between January 8, 2019, and March 1, 2020. 

Replacement Bed Steps Are Currently Unavailable

Thus far, no repair for the bed step assembly is available. A letter sent to dealers by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) instructs them to remove the bed step assembly on all unsold vehicles. Chrysler will notify dealers when a new deployable bed step becomes available. At that time, the dealers will be able to contact the vehicle owners to bring their trucks in for the installation of a new bed step at no cost.

RAM 2500 safety issues

The owners of the Ram recall should be also aware of two previous Ram recalls. In March 2020, Chrysler recalled over 87,000 trucks because of a potential fire hazard caused by leaking transmission fluid on these RAM pickups.

The same trucks are also among 318,537 recalled vehicles because of a rear-view camera display image that remains on longer than ten seconds. The lingering display image in several models of Jeep SUVs could distract the driver and possibly contribute to a vehicular accident.

Scheduling a Repair

To locate a dealership near you to remove the bed step and avoid the danger of this faulty equipment, visit Motorsafety.org.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 27,000 vehicles are included in this Chrysler recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joe GlaserWatch Your Step! Chrysler Recalls RAM 2500 Pickups Over Failing Bed Step

Chrysler Recalls Jeep, Ram, Dodge Vehicles to Fix Distracting Rear-View Camera

Laguna Hills, CA – May 12, 2020 – Chrysler (NASDAQ: FCA) announced the recall of several models of Jeep SUVs, Ram pickup trucks, Dodge SUVs and Chrysler minivans equipped with 8.4” or 12” radio displays.

The recall includes the following models:

  • 2020 Jeep Gladiator
  • 2020 Jeep Cherokee
  • 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup
  • 2019-2020 Ram 2500 Pickup
  • 2019-2020 Ram 3500 Pickup
  • 2019-2020 Chrysler Pacifica
  • 2019-2020 Dodge Durango
  • 2019-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  • 2019-2020 Jeep Wrangler
  • 2019-2020 Jeep Renegade
  • 2019 Dodge Challenger

Recall Summary

Because of a software error, the rear-view camera image remains displayed after the vehicle shifts out of reverse, which could distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash.

In addition to the safety issue related to distracted driving, Chrysler initiated the recall to ensure vehicles meet federal standards that require rearview cameras to turn off within 10 seconds after shifting out of reverse.

The remedy will be available as early as May 22, 2020. The manufacturer will cover the cost to repair vehicles, which consists of a software update that could take up to a half day to repair at a certified service center.

Driving Risks

The rear-view camera potentially leads to a crash because once the driver shifts into drive, the vehicle is in forward motion while the navigation system displays an image in backward motion. If this were to happen while the driver pulls into traffic or an area with pedestrians, the risks of a crash increase.

The Threat Of Distracted Driving

According to the CDC, distracted drivers pose a serious problem that results in thousands of deaths each year. Several campaigns exist to bring more awareness to the problem, as well as April being designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

In both 2016 and 2017, over 3,000 people lost their lives in a motor vehicle crash involving distracted drivers.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – April 2019

In 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) classified 9% of traffic facilities as distraction-affected crashes, which means the driver was distracted at the time of the crash. In both 2016 and 2017, over 3,000 people lost their lives in a motor vehicle crash involving distracted drivers.

Other Recent Recalls

Earlier this year, some 2018-2020 Jeep Wranglers and 2020 Jeep Gladiators were the subjects of a recall involving the manual transmission. The recall affected almost 30,000 Jeep Wranglers and over 3,400 Jeep Gladiators. In addition to the manual transmission recall, Jeep also recalled over 33,000 Jeep Gladiators because of a clutch defect.

Is Your Vehicle Affected By This Recall?

Over 318,000 cars are included with this Chrysler recall. To find out if your vehicle is one of them, visit MotorSafety.org, where you can search for open recalls on your vehicle, set up an appointment for any needed repairs, and sign up for automatic alerts so you know when your vehicle might be not safe to drive.

Joe GlaserChrysler Recalls Jeep, Ram, Dodge Vehicles to Fix Distracting Rear-View Camera

Chrysler Recalls Jeep Compass and Ram Vehicles for Wiper Malfunction

Laguna Hills, CA – May 1, 2020 – A nut that does not fit properly is causing some wiper blades to loosen and not work properly on potentially hundreds of thousands of Jeep Compass and Ram 1500 pickups. The fix is fast, simple, and free, NHTSA recall information says.

  • Jeep Compass SUVs manufactured from May 12, 2019, through March 3, 2020.
  • Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 Classic pickups built from April 28, 2019, through March 3, 2020.

A nut that does not fit properly might cause wiper blades to loosen and not work properly, which could impair driver vision. 425,588 vehicles recalled, including 316,626 Ram 1500 pickups and 108,962 Jeep Compass SUVs.

No matter how well you plan ahead, something incredibly simple can trigger big problems. That is why Fiat-Chrysler is recalling hundreds of thousands of pickups and SUVs due to an incorrect nut that enables wiper blades to loosen. If you drive a Jeep Compass SUV, Ram 1500, or Ram 1500 Classic that was built in the past two years, Fiat Chrysler recalls say you might have a pending problem with your windshield wiper blades. No accidents or injuries are know to exist due to the problem, Fiat-Chrysler says.

Why Loose Wiper Blades Are a Problem

When a wiper blade becomes loose, it does not provide the proper tension to work properly. Instead of cleanly wiping the windshield clean and providing clear vision, the wiper blades just smear fluid on the windshield and obscures vision. The lights of an oncoming vehicle could blind a driver, too. Jeep Compass recalls cite the same problem affecting Jeep Compass SUVs built in 2019 and 2020 that Ram cites for its pickups built during the same timeframe.

Incredibly Fast and Simple Fix

When it comes to the world of vehicle safety recalls, the fix could not be quicker or simpler. The solution is to tighten the nut just a quarter of a turn. That means you can get your wiper blades fixed quickly and ensure clear vision on rainy or snowy drives. They might even install new wiper blades.

Recent Jeep SUV, Ram Truck Recalls for Fire Risks

Jeep currently is recalling more than 33,000 Wranglers and Gladiators with manual transmissions due to a fire risk. The Jeeps built in 2018 through 2020 have clutch plates that might fail and leak fluid that might cause a fire. Ram recalls in 2019 targeted 498 heavy-duty Ram trucks for fire risk. The recall says the trucks have faulty fuel lines that might develop cracks and leak fuel. The leaking fuel might catch fire if it comes into contact with the exhaust manifold.

Search Recent Ram 1500 and Jeep Recalls

You can learn more about recalls for Jeep and Ram trucks at motorsafety.org and use the free vehicle recall search tool that lets you input your VIN and find out if any recalls affect your vehicle. Get peace of mind knowing whether or not these dangers exist. If they do, you can get a fix done quickly and at no cost to you.

Joe GlaserChrysler Recalls Jeep Compass and Ram Vehicles for Wiper Malfunction