Stellantis recalls RAM trucks following government investigation

Auburn Hills, MI – December 5, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the RAM brand, has recalled 222,410 RAM trucks that may stall due to a defective high pressure fuel pump.  The issue increases the risk of an accident and injury.

The recall includes the following trucks:

  • 2019 – 2020 RAM 2500
  • 2019 – 2020 RAM 3500
  • 2019 – 2020 RAM 4500
  • 2019 – 2020 RAM 5500

Recall summary  

The fuel pump may fail and generate debris, which could clog up the whole fuel system. This starves the engine of fuel and causes the truck to stall. The reason for the recall is not explicitly stated but appears to be connected to the pump itself, as well as the powertrain control module (PCM), which is the brain of the car that controls over 100 elements and also transfers power to the driving wheels, as reported.

The affected part number is the “engine assembly” with multiple part numbers,  including R3041229AA and  R3041230AA.

The recall follows on the heels of a government investigation into stalling RAM trucks. However, the recall documents do not link the two and the investigation is still ongoing. 

Recall risks

Stalling on the road is dangerous, especially at high speeds, because a stalled car could get hit by faster moving traffic behind it. Read more about what to do if your car stalls on the freeway in this article about a Toyota Denso fuel pump recall.

Warning signs

Drivers may notice any of the following signs: 

  • A malfunction indicator light turning on 
  • A fuel leak
  • Abnormal engine noise
  • Change in drive quality

The repair

RAM dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, and will inspect and replace additional fuel system components, if necessary. Notification letters with more information will be sent out starting January 1, 2022.

Recent RAM truck recalls

RAM recently recalled 2021-2022 RAM 2500,3500,4500, and 5500 trucks over a risk of engine fire. The 4 million-vehicle RAM PCM recall continues as well — as of January last year, a little over 1 million cars had yet to be repaired.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 222,000 vehicles are included in this RAM recall. To do a RAM recall check on your car, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls RAM trucks following government investigation

Stellantis recalls vehicles over high beam activation issue

Auburn Hills, MI   –  November 13, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 7,082 of their 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs, whose high beams may be difficult to activate. The issue reduces visibility and increases the risk of an accident. 

Recall summary  

This Stellantis recall affects certain Jeep Grand Cherokees that are not equipped with “automatic high beams” which turn on and off by themselves as needed.

In these vehicles, drivers are not able to activate the high beams when the light switch is in the “Auto” position. The high beams can only be selected with the headlights in the “On” position. If the driver is not aware of that, he or she may have a hard time activating the high beams.

This issue was caused by an oversight during vehicle programming and affects “Body Controller Modules” with part number 68374988AA. 

Recall risks

Drivers may have limited visibility with the Jeep auto high beams not working. This may prevent them from noticing potential obstacles and result in a crash, which increases the risk of an accident or injury. 

Other Stellantis recalls

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L cars are subject to another recall that was started in October because of faulty rearview cameras, as reported. It is not clear if there is any overlap between the two recalls.

The repair

Dealers will reprogram the module with updated software to correct this Jeep Grand Cherokee automatic high beams’ issue. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners around December 3, 2021. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Jeep Grand Cherokee recall includes more than 7,000 vehicles. Do a Jeep recall check to see if yours is one of them by using  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls vehicles over high beam activation issue

Stellantis recalls Ram ProMaster City to fix faulty turn signals

Auburn Hills, MI – October 29, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), which owns the Chrysler brand, has issued a recall for 23,853 Dodge Ram ProMaster City vans to address an issue with the turn signal indicators on the instrument panel. The problem may cause users to be unaware of inoperative turn signals, increasing the risk of a crash.

The faulty component is the “Body Control Module” (BCM) with part number 52214967.

Recall summary

When a turn signal bulb burns out, the signal fails and the signal indicator in the instrument cluster starts flashing faster to indicate that. However, the faulty software on the affected vehicles by this Chrysler recall may prevent the flashing rate on the instrument cluster from changing when the bulb is out. As a result, the driver may be unaware that the turn signals are not working.

Recall risks

Drivers who are unaware of turn indicators not signaling their intentions to other drivers increases the risk of a crash or injury and may cause accidents with tragic outcomes. 

Other Stellantis recalls

Last month, the 2021 Dodge Ram ProMaster City was recalled to address unsecured child seats. Another Ram recall from September was conducted for Ram 1500, Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 trucks because of faulty airbag inflators.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will install an updated version of the software that controls the BCM. Chrysler will send notifications about the repair to vehicle owners on November 10, 2021. 

Owners that have already paid to have the issue resolved will be reimbursed.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

To see if your 2021 Ram ProMaster City is one of the affected vehicles, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls Ram ProMaster City to fix faulty turn signals

Stellantis recalls Jeep Grand Cherokees over faulty rearview cameras

Auburn Hills, MI  – October 10, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 56,180 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs with rearview cameras that may fail to display the image. This may result in a crash while reversing, increasing the risk of an injury. 

The faulty component is the radio assembly, with part numbers 68426026AD and 68426027AD. 

Recall summary

Vehicles that are affected by this Jeep recall have an infotainment system, whose central display reproduces images from the rearview camera. Due to a radio software error, this system may malfunction while shutting itself down. Consequently, there will be no image from the rearview camera when the driver starts the vehicle.  

Recall risks

A driver who is reversing a vehicle with a malfunctioning rearview camera may fail to notice a person or an object behind them. This increases the risk of a crash or injury and may even cause accidents with tragic outcomes. Because of this, rearview cameras have been  mandatory on all vehicles since May 2018

Other Jeep and Chrysler recalls

At this time, this is the only Jeep Grand Cherokee recall that is affecting this 2021 model. Last year, however, there was a similar Chrysler recall concerning Dodge Charger Pursuit with rearview cameras that may fail to display an image. 

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will install an updated version of the software that controls radio operation. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners around November 10, 2021. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Jeep recall includes more than 50,000 vehicles. To do a Jeep recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls Jeep Grand Cherokees over faulty rearview cameras

Stellantis recalls RAM vans with unsecured child car seats

Auburn Hills, MI – October 2, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns Fiat Chrysler and the RAM brand, has recalled 8,379 RAM cargo vans whose seat belts may fail to securely hold children’s car seats and increase the risk of an injury to the child in the event of a crash.

Although it is known as a cargo van, some RAM ProMaster vans have rear seats where children are most  likely to be situated.

 This recall is part of a series of ongoing recalls and includes:

  • 2021 RAM ProMaster cargo vans
  • 2021 RAM ProMaster City cargo vans

The faulty component in this recall is the Seat Belt Assembly with multiple part numbers, including 5PC00LK3AB and 1ZS83JXWAB.

Recall summary  

There are two ways to secure a child car seat in a vehicle, using the regular seat belt or the so-called lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system.

The former comes with two retractors, which are things used to hold it in place – the emergency locking retractor (ELR) and the automatic locking retractor (ALR). The ELR only locks in if there is an accident, while the ALR locks in as soon as the belt is unspooled and buckled.  This makes it ideal for securing child seats to prevent them from moving around.

Due to faulty parts provided by Swedish-American supplier Autoliv, the ALR may malfunction and allow the seat belt to move around.

Background of the recall

Before the recall was issued Autoliv recommended that car companies petition government safety regulators to consider the safety risk “inconsequential” and release the companies and Autoliv from responsibility to repair and replace the defective seat belts. The petition was not granted and the recall is moving forward but it could have delayed the recall for a long time, as was the case for the December General Motors’ Takata recall, as reported.

Recall risks

Faulty seat belts posed “an increased risk of injury” to children in car seats secured with the seat belt, according to Autoliv.

Safety tips

The defect would not affect car seats secured using anchors and tethers using the LATCH system. You can read more about  which car seats use the LATCH  system in this article.

Fiat Chrysler recalls

There were two Fiat Chrysler recalls last month. Over 200,000 RAM trucks were recalled due to faulty airbag inflators which may rupture and maim the vehicle occupants. Later in the month, over 14,000 Jeep Wranglers were recalled because of a potential fuel leak, as reported.

The repair

Starting October 29, 2021, Stellantis will notify owners, instructing them  to take their vans to an approved RAM repair shop. Workers will inspect the seat belt assemblies and replace them, if needed. The inspection and repair are free.

Other recalls

This recall is just one in a series of recalls by manufacturers who used Autoliv seat belts in their vehicles. The other affected manufacturers are:

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 8,000 vehicles are included in this Chrysler recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls RAM vans with unsecured child car seats

Stellantis recalls Ram trucks with faulty airbag inflators

Auburn Hills, MI – September 17, 2021 – Fiat Chrysler, owned by Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), has recalled 212,373 Ram pickup trucks with potentially faulty side-curtain airbag inflators that may rupture and injure vehicle occupants. The recall includes:

  • 2015 -2020 Ram 1500 trucks
  • 2015-2016 Ram 2500 trucks
  • 2015-2016 Ram 3500 trucks

The affected component is the Side Airbag Inflatable Curtain with multiple part numbers, including 68161578AJ.  The airbags were made by Takata’s successor, Joyson Safety Systems.

Recall summary  

As reported, the side-curtain airbags – also known as roof rail airbags – deploy over the windows to drivers’ and passengers’ heads during a crash. The inflators inside them release gas to inflate the airbags quickly.

Due to a manufacturing mistake, moisture got inside some airbag inflators, which could corrode the casing from the inside. The casing could rupture, releasing compressed gas and inflator pieces into the vehicle at high speeds.

Fiat Chrysler is aware of one report of inflator rupture in a 2015 Ram 1500. The automaker expects that 22 percent of trucks in this recall have defective inflators. 

Risks

Read more about the risks of corroded inflator rupture in this recent article about a recall of 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks with corroded Joyson inflators.

Takata airbag recalls

Millions of older cars have been recalled because of faulty airbag inflators that may explode when the airbag is being inflated and hurl sharp metal components at the driver or the passengers. You can read more about these ongoing recalls here.

This recall is not part of the Takata airbag recall, however, because it involves a different type of inflators, according to recall documents.

The repair

Ram dealers will inspect and replace one or both side curtain airbags  as needed. Owner notifications will be sent out starting October 1, 2021. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 212,000 vehicles are included in this Fiat Chrysler airbag recall. To see if your Ram truck is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls Ram trucks with faulty airbag inflators

Stellantis is recalling vehicles over a risk of windshield detachment

Auburn Hills, MI  – August 18, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – that owns both Chrysler and Dodge brands – has announced a recall for 21,258 vehicles whose windshields may have been improperly fitted. This may lead to its separation from the vehicle during a collision, which increases the risk of injury. This Dodge and Chrysler recall includes the following vehicles: 

  • 2020 Chrysler 300
  • 2021 Chrysler 300
  • 2020 Dodge Challenger
  • 2021 Dodge Challenger
  • 2020 Dodge Charger
  • 2021 Dodge Charger

Recall summary  

The vehicles affected by this recall may have been painted with a “non-conforming” coat which does not adequately bonds the windshield with the metal beneath it. As a result, the windshield could detach from the vehicle during a collision.  

Risks

A large piece of glass that is flying out of control can injure passengers inside the vehicle, other motorists and nearby pedestrians. In addition, such vehicles fail to comply with a U.S. safety standard which requires at least half of the windshield to stay in place during a collision. 

Other Dodge Challenger recalls

In April of last year, the 2019 Dodge Challenger was part of a 300,000-unit strong recall for a lingering rearview camera image which could distract the driver and lead to a crash. The 2020 model-year is not subject to any additional recalls.

Other Dodge Charger recalls

The 2018, 2019 and 2020 Dodge Charger were recalled in August of last year because the backup camera image would not display when these cars were in the so-called stealth mode, as reported. The 2021 model-year does not have any additional recalls outstanding.

The repair

Chrysler and Dodge authorized dealers will fix this issue by removing the windshield and applying a different type of urethane sealant which will ensure that the windshield will stay in place. Notifications will be sent to owners around August 27. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Chrysler and Dodge recall includes more than 20,000 vehicles. To see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis is recalling vehicles over a risk of windshield detachment

US government investigates Dodge and Chrysler vans’ sliding door issues

Washington, D.C. – July  21, 2021 –  The arm of the U.S. government that regulates vehicle safety is conducting an investigation to determine if Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) will need to recall 233,084 2016 Chrysler Town and Country and the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan vans because of faulty sliding doors. The doors may allegedly become stuck, potentially trapping passengers in the vans in the event of an emergency.

Summary  

The vans in question are equipped with power sliding rear doors that open at the push of a button inside the car or on the key fob. However, 426 drivers complained that they could not get the doors to open, even manually. This prompted the regulator – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – to open an investigation on July 9. 

Consumer complaints

Many of the complaints described “consumers having to remove passengers in the rear of the vehicle through the front doors, the second sliding door (if it was operational), the windows, or the rear hatch of the vehicle.”

Previous issues

Stellantis, Dodge and Chrysler’s parent company, has been aware of the issue since 2016, when they issued a bulletin to dealers instructing mechanics to replace sliding door lock actuators on vans whose doors got stuck. The automaker discovered a defect in the lock actuators that would cause the doors to get stuck, sometimes emitting a loud buzzing noise when the car was locked or unlocked.

It is not clear how big the population affected by this issue was or how many cars were actually repaired at the time.

Risks

Many complaints NHTSA received expressed concern that in an emergency or crash, vehicle occupants could become trapped inside the vehicle.  This represents a grave risk in the event of, for example, vehicle fires, where occupants need to leave a vehicle quickly.  If someone is hurt, first responders may also have a hard time getting to the patient quickly if they cannot open doors from the outside.

More dangers

Through the investigation, NHTSA is set to find out how often these rear door failures, confirm the risks that the complaints are referring to and potentially flesh out any additional dangers.

Next steps

The investigation is currently in the “preliminary evaluation” stage, which NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) usually completes within four months. If the evaluation shows a potential safety defect, the office will conduct an engineering analysis to decide whether to initiate a safety recall. That stage usually takes around a year, as reported.

Will your vehicle be part of a recall?

Over 233,000 vans could be implicated in a future Fiat Chrysler recall or Dodge recall. To see if your van is one of them, bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool and check back for open recalls in the future.

Rebecca RandUS government investigates Dodge and Chrysler vans’ sliding door issues

Stellantis recalls Jeep Cherokees for transmission fluid leak

Auburn Hills, MI – May 15, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – which owns the Jeep brand – has recalled 18,800 2021 Jeep Cherokee SUVs that may leak transmission oil, creating the risk of fire.

The component in question is called “3.2L TOC Hose,” with multiple part numbers, including 68399015AA.

Recall summary  

The oil cooler is a component of the engine system designed to keep the engine from overheating, while curing is a process that is used to give final shape to some parts of the car, such as rubber hoses and tires.

Due to a supplier error, the oil cooler hose – which carries lubricating oil from the transmission to the oil cooler – has been cured for too long, making it weak and prone to breaking.  

Risks

The weak hose may rupture, igniting the oil and resulting in an engine fire. Vehicle fires are extremely dangerous, putting occupants at a serious risk of injury or death. Read more about what to do in case of a vehicle fire in this article about a recent Kia Stinger recall.

Warning signs 

The manufacturer says there are no warning signs. If your car is part of this recall, take it in for repair immediately! 

Complaints

Stellantis acknowledges that it knows of four customer assistance records, 160 warranty claims, and seven field reports related to this problem. The automaker estimated that 1 in 10 of the recalled vehicles contained a defective hose.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the transmission oil cooler hose and replace it, if needed, for free. Drivers who paid to have this issue fixed before the recall may be eligible for reimbursement. Owner notifications with more information about when and how to seek repairs will be sent out starting  June 23.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 18,000 vehicles are included in this Jeep recall. To see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls Jeep Cherokees for transmission fluid leak

Stellantis recalls Ram trucks that may catch fire

Auburn Hills, MI – April 26, 2022  – Chrysler has remedied issues with 12,919 vehicles including the 2021 RAM 2500 that was dealing with electrical issues caused by a short on a relay. Additionally, 193 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 24 have been removed from the recall. All these 2021 Ram 2500 models with these electrical issues were remedied in three groups during 2021.

Auburn Hills, MI – April 8, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Dodge brand, is recalling 19,214 vehicles with a faulty relay, or a switch, inside the engine compartment that may cause fire. This recall includes the following Ram pickup trucks :

  • 2021 Ram 2500
  • 2021 Ram 3500 
  • 2021 Ram 4500 
  • 2021 Ram 5500

Recall summary  

The recalled cars are equipped with Cummings 6.7L diesel engines that have an electric heater that warms up the air coming into the engine and helps it reach running temperatures faster. The operation of this heater is controlled by a so-called solid state relay, which is an electric switch that turns electrical power on and off. This switch may be defective and can short circuit, which may lead to fire in the engine compartment.  This may occur regardless of whether the ignition is on or off.

The defect is caused by a supplier error.

Risks

A fire can be a serious safety concern if it happens while driving. Potential hazards range from failure to stop and evacuate the vehicle in time to increased risks of collision. In addition, a burning vehicle on the road is a threat to other drivers and their passengers. 

Safety tips

Chrysler does not explicitly say this, but in the case of other recent recalls because of an increased fire risk, manufacturers like Hyundai have recommended to park recalled vehicles outside and away from structures, such as houses and garages.

For tips on what to do if your vehicle catches fire, please read this article about a Hyundai recall.

Other Chrysler recalls

In November, over 19,000 Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 pickup trucks were part of a recall due to the driver-side mirror issue, where the mirror glass detached from the backing plate and no longer showed a reflection of what was behind.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will install a protective barrier around the relay. If it short-circuits, the barrier will act as a thermoresistant capsule, which will contain the spread of heat and prevent the fire. The repairs are free of charge. The recall begins on April 30.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ram recall includes over 19,000 pickups. To see if your Ram is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls Ram trucks that may catch fire