Stellantis recalls RAM trucks following government investigation

Stellantis recalls RAM trucks following government investigation

December 5, 2021 Rebecca Rand , ,

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 is recalling RAM trucks over risk of fire

Stellantis is recalling RAM trucks over risk of fire

November 14, 2021 Bojan Popic

Auburn Hills, MI  – November 14, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), which owns the Dodge brand, is recalling 131,177 of their heavy-duty pickup trucks that may develop an electrical fire inside the engine compartment. This increases the risk of injury.

This recall is an expansion of a previous recall, comes on the back of multiple fires and customer complaints and includes the following vehicles with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine :

  • 2021 Ram 2500
  • 2022 Ram 2500
  • 2021 Ram 3500 
  • 2022 Ram 3500
  • 2021 Ram 4500 
  • 2022 Ram 4500 
  • 2021 Ram 5500
  • 2022 Ram 5500

Recall summary  

The engines of the vehicles that are part of this Ram truck recall have an electrical heater that warms up the air coming into the engine to help it get to running temperatures faster. The heater is controlled by an electrical relay, or a switch. 

Recalled vehicles’ switches may short circuit and overheat, causing a fire inside the engine compartment. This can happen both while driving as well as when the vehicle is parked and the engine is turned off. 

The component in question is a solid-state intake heater grid relay, with part number 68444169AA.  

Background of the recall

This recall appears to be an expansion of a smaller recall conducted in April. The first recall involved the relay with the same part number and affected about 19,000 of the 2021 RAM trucks, as reported. Both relays were made by German manufacturer Eberspaecher. The manufacturer became aware of at least eight fires leading up to the recall.

Recall risks

The flames and smoke may distract the driver and other motorists, which may lead to a crash. In addition, the driver may fail to stop the vehicle in time for its occupants to leave it in a safe manner. Both increase the risk of an injury or an accident.

Safety tips

Park your vehicle away from buildings and other vehicles until the final repair is completed.

For tips on what to do if your vehicle catches fire, please read this article relating to car fire safety. 

Other Ram recalls

Over 23,000 RAM ProMaster City vans were recalled in late October because of turn signal indicators that may stop working, increasing the risk of an accident.

The 2020 model-years included in this recall are also being investigated by the U.S. auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) because they may stall while in motion, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will inspect and replace the relays if necessary. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners around December 3, 2021. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Ram recall includes more than 130,000 vehicles, including the widely-popular 2021 Ram 2500 Cummins truck. To see if yours is one of them, use  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis is recalling RAM trucks over risk of fire
RAM trucks under investigation for stalling issues

RAM trucks under investigation for stalling issues

November 14, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Washington, D.C. – November 14, 2021 – U.S. government auto safety regulator is investigating Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) over concerns that 604,651of its RAM pickup trucks could stall. These trucks could be subject to a recall in the future.

The investigation involves the following heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel engines: 

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

Investigation summary  

The regulator – the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – opened the investigation on October 14, after receiving 22 complaints and 2 field reports “alleging incidents of stall/loss of motive power as a result of high pressure fuel pump failures,” according to official documents. 

The stalls occurred “at speeds above 25 mph” and “resulted in permanent disablement” of the implicated vehicles, meaning that they would not restart after the power loss occurred. At least one of the complaints mentioned that the vehicle caught fire.

The investigation will also look for the root cause of the fuel pump failures. If NHTSA discovers a safety defect, it may order Stellantis to issue a recall.

Risks

Stalls put vehicles at risk of being hit from behind by faster-moving traffic and there has been at least one crash after a truck stalled, according to the related driver complaints NHTSA has gathered.

Vehicle fires are also very dangerous for drivers and people nearby. Read more about vehicle fire safety in this article about a BMW recall.

Recent RAM truck recalls

Fire safety has prompted two RAM recalls in recent months—19,214 new RAM heavy duty trucks were recalled this year over a faulty relay switch that could cause a fire. Over 30,000 2019 – 2020 RAM 3500, 4500 and 5500 trucks were recalled in August over an engine oil issue that could cause fuel or oil leaks, which are a fire hazard.

Background of the investigation

It is not clear who the supplier of the pump is but one complaint alleged it was made by Bosch.

As the investigation progresses, additional complaints may surface. – In these investigations, the government will typically ask car companies to turn over warranty claim data so it can get a better sense of how widespread the problem is. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 604,000 vehicles could be recalled as a result of NHTSA’s RAM fuel pump investigation. To do a RAM recall check, bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool and come back to the site when more details become available.

.

Rebecca RandRAM trucks under investigation for stalling issues
Stellantis recalls Ram ProMaster City to fix faulty turn signals

Stellantis recalls Ram ProMaster City to fix faulty turn signals

October 29, 2021 Rebecca Rand , , ,

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 RAM vans with unsecured child car seats

Stellantis recalls RAM vans with unsecured child car seats

October 2, 2021 Rebecca Rand , ,

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

Stellantis recalls Ram trucks with faulty airbag inflators

September 17, 2021 Rebecca Rand , ,

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 recalls multiple RAM truck models over engine fire risk

Stellantis recalls multiple RAM truck models over engine fire risk

August 7, 2021 Vishal Venugopal

Auburn Hills, MI – August 7, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), the parent company of the Ram brand, has issued a recall for 32,002 Ram trucks over an oil level monitoring issue that could result in an engine fire. The affected models include:

  • 2019 – 2020 Ram 3500
  • 2019 – 2020 Ram 4500
  • 2019 – 2020 Ram 5500

The Chrysler recall affects Ram trucks with a Cummins 6.7L High Output engine with multiple part numbers. 

Recall summary

Because of a software issue, drivers may not be warned of low engine oil levels. This can result in oil levels falling below an acceptable level, “deteriorating” important mechanical parts called bearings and increasing the risk of a punctured engine block or an oil leak, both of which can result in a fire.

Risks

Fires are very dangerous. For more information, please see a recent article on a Kia Optima and Kia Sorento recall caused by fire risk.

Warning signs

The manufacturer says that before the engine catches fire, the driver may hear an unusual noise from the engine. As reported, there are some additional warning signs, including:

  • Tire pressure, ABS or the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) warning lights come on
  • A burning or melting odor
  • Smoke from under the hood

Fire safety tips

If you suspect your engine may be on fire, remain calm and follow these steps:

  • Bring your car to a halt
  • Do not open the hood –  oxygen will feed the flames 
  • Get yourself and others away from the vehicle
  • Call the fire department when you are in a secure location

Other Stellantis news

Back in August 2020, the same models were part of a Ram recall over a similar concern, with 32,318 Ram pickups affected.

The company also recently issued a Ram truck recall over a concern that wheels may come off while driving.

The repair

The engine calibration software on the affected vehicles will be updated, free of charge. Owners will be notified by the company by July 30, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 32,000 Ram trucks are part of this recall. As of July 20, 2021, over 6,000 trucks have been repaired. To see if your vehicle still needs to be fixed, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalStellantis recalls multiple RAM truck models over engine fire risk
Stellantis recalls vehicles due to risk of limited visibility

Stellantis recalls vehicles due to risk of limited visibility

July 28, 2021 Mikaela Bolker , ,

Auburn Hills, MI – July 28, 2021  – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – which makes the Ram and Chrysler brands – has announced a recall for 14,096 vehicles due to the limited visibility from faulty front cameras, which augements the risk of a crash when backing up. The recall includes 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks.

The component in question is a “trailer reverse steering control module,” with a part number of 68423566AE.

Recall summary 

Due to a software error, the rearview camera image in the recalled cars fails to display when backing up.

Risks

A lack of visibility when backing up can increase the risk of an accident, leading to a crash or injury.

Warning signs

The first warning sign is the rear view image not displaying on the software when the vehicle is placed into reverse. The second warning sign is when the Electronic Throttle Control warning indicator illuminates on the instrument panel cluster.

Other Ram recalls

In April 2021, Stellantis Chrysler recalled 19,000 Dodge Ram vehicles over concern the vehicles would catch fire.  For more Chrysler recalls, please check out this page.

At the same time, rearview camera recalls are very common. In May, Daimler recalled more than 340,000 Mercedes-Benz cars because of a similar issue. In March, BMW asked drivers to take in 13,858 cars for repair because of a software glitch that made the cameras prone to malfunctioning when the cars were shifted in reverse.

Repair

Owners are set to be notified via mail starting July 30, 2021. The repair is a software fix that takes about 30 minutes and is provided free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

Over 14,000 vehicles are part of this Chrysler recall and as of July 20, 1,398 of them were already remedied.  To check if your vehicle is part of this Ram 1500 recall, use Motorsafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerStellantis recalls vehicles due to risk of limited visibility
Stellantis recalls Ram trucks whose wheel may come off

Stellantis recalls Ram trucks whose wheel may come off

June 14, 2021 Sergio Stephano ,

Auburn Hills, MI – June 14, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – which makes the Ram brand – has issued a recall for 447,985 Ram trucks over a concern that wheels may come off these vehicles while in motion, increasing the risk of an accident.  The recall includes:

  • 2012 – 2021 Ram 3500
  • 2012 – 2021 Ram 3500
  • 2012 – 2021 Ram 4500 
  • 2012 – 2021 Ram 5500 

The affected part is the lug nut with multiple part numbers starting at 06509.

Recall summary

Because of incorrect information provided in the service and owner’s manual, the lug nuts can be tightened excessively. This could break the wheel stud – which is a fastener that “holds on the wheels” – and cause the wheel to come off the car.

Risks

If your vehicle’s wheel were to come off or even become loose, it could translate to a complete loss of control that may turn fatal for the occupants of the car, as well as other motorists.

Complaints

On June 8, 2021, a 2012 Ram 3500 owner from Raceland, Louisiana, reported that 7 out of 8 lug nuts from the right front wheel broke off while driving down the highway. Thankfully, the driver managed to pull onto the shoulder of the road and avoid a serious mishap.

Other Ram recalls

The 2021 Ram 3500, 2021 Ram 4500 and 2021 Ram 5500 were also recently part of a recall to rectify a faulty relay (switch) inside the engine compartment.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the wheel nuts of vehicles and replace them, if necessary, free of charge. They will also update the torque specifications in the owner’s manual. A letter to notify owners is expected to be sent out on July 16, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Nearly half a million trucks are part of this Ram truck recall. To find out  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Sergio StephanoStellantis recalls Ram trucks whose wheel may come off
Stellantis recalls Ram trucks that may catch fire

Stellantis recalls Ram trucks that may catch fire

April 8, 2021 Bojan Popic , ,

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
Recall Lookup
Enter your vehicle(s) below to check the current recall status.

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories