U.S. – Aug. 29, 2018 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced a recall for more than 1.1 million Dodge Ram trucks. According to USA Today, FCA is calling to fix vehicles in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and in other countries globally due to a faulty tailgate issue. The official recall will begin in September of this year.

The Defect

Through an investigation by the automakers, it was discovered that certain power locking mechanisms in the tailgate system have problems. The component that helps automatically latch the tailgate can corrode over time at a faster rate than normal, which can cause the system to not operate correctly. If the tailgate unlatches unexpectedly, it could cause cargo to fall out the back of the pickup truck. This can put drivers and others on the road in danger of an accident, injury or crash.

The trucks affected in the recall include models with the 5′ 7″ or 6′ 4″ truck bed. They are the 2015-2017 RAM 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. The current models of 2018 and 2019 Ram trucks are not part of this recall over tailgate issues, as they are equipped with new features such as lift-assist.

According to The Drive, the overall average for car recalls per make and model is 0.79 per 100,000 units sold. In the list of top 10 vehicles with the most recalls, the Ram Pickup comes in at number six, behind the Nissan Pathfinder and Dodge Durango. The Ram Pickup has a 1.99 rating per 100,000 units sold, more than double the average. Domestic automakers take up six of the top 10 spaces for the most recalled vehicles, while Japanese automakers are among the lowest.

Four of the top 10 vehicles are offered by FCA: Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler or Fiat. Due to a large recall in May involving 4.8 million vehicles, this tipped the scales for the averages this year. In comparison, some of the least recalled makes and models in the U.S. include the Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Equinox and the Toyota Corolla.

Timeline of Events

Earlier this month, FCA announced the recall for the Ram trucks. So far, there have been no injuries or accidents relating directly to this specific recall. There are exactly 1,149,237 trucks involved in the recall in the U.S. An additional 260,315 vehicles in Canada; 19,432 in Mexico and 25,361 trucks in other countries worldwide are also part of the recall.

Beginning September 14, FCA will officially begin the recall. Any trucks at risk for the faulty tailgate will be able to take their truck in for repairs and fixes of the parts. In the meantime, spokespeople from FCA urge owners to make sure cargo is extra secure and all safety precautions are followed in the Dodge RAM manual.

The Solution

Chrysler announced plans to notify owners of the problem with the tailgates. The automaker also suggests using some of the other features and equipment included in the tailgate mechanisms to ensure cargo can be as secure as possible. This includes (but is not limited to) investing in higher friction truck bed liners, bulkhead dividers, bed extenders and tie-down rings.

If auto dealerships and drivers would like more information, they can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which can be reached via their website. Costumers who would like to contact Chrysler directly in the US can call their helpline at 1-800-334-9200. For reference, the recall official number from FCA is U74. People concerned about the recall globally can reach the FCA helpline for Dodge specifically at 00800-3634-3000.

Auburn Hills, Mich. – July 13, 2018 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has recalled more than 1,700 vehicles potentially equipped with defective rearview cameras, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The campaign affects 2018 Dodge Journey sport utility vehicles produced between May 1, 2018, and May 25, 2018. The American automaker suspects all of the vehicles referenced in the action contain the defective parts.

The Defect

The affected vehicles contain rearview mirror displays with integrated cameras. When in operating in reverse, drivers viewing their progress in dash-mounted displays may encounter cautionary text that obscures their view and therefore increases the likelihood of an accident.

In addition to posing a serious hazard to occupants, the defective cameras violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, which mandates that all manufacturers ensure all models facilitate “clear and reasonably unobstructed view{s} to the rear.”

FCA has yet to receive field reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

Quality assurance personnel at the Toluca Assembly Plant in Toluca, Mexico conducted rearview mirror compliance tests May 21, 2018, and found that cautionary text displayed in conjunction with the rearview camera view inhibited visibility. One day later, engineers confirmed the presence of the defect and notified the FCA Safety and Regulatory Compliance, which quickly initiated a noncompliance investigation.

Members of the Vehicle Regulations Committee reviewed the matter on June 7, 2018, following the conclusion of the inquiry and, based on the evidence uncovered in the investigation, recommended for an immediate voluntary safety recall.

The Solution

FCA intends to direct dealers to replace the rearview mirrors in affected vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. The automaker will notify both dealers and owners on or around Aug. 3, 2018. Individuals in possession of the recalled models can expect to receive notification via first-class mail.

Owners in need of assistance prior to the start of the campaign can speak with FCA customer service staff by calling (800) 853-1403. Callers should use the internal recall identification code U58. Owners can also connect with the NHTSA directly using the agency’s toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.