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

Chrysler Ram trucks recalled for driver side mirror issue

Pleasanton, CA – November 17, 2020 – Fiat Chrysler (NYSE:FCAU) has recalled 19,075 Ram trucks, due to an issue with the driver side mirror. The mirror glass may detach from the backing plate such that it may no longer show a reflection of what’s behind. The recall includes 2020 Ram 2500 and Ram 1500 luxury heavy-duty pickup trucks.

Recall summary  

The backing plate holds the mirror glass in place. In recalled trucks, the mirror glass was not adhered to the backing plate properly, due to a manufacturing error. This limits the visibility for the driver and may result in a crash.

Recalled trucks fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, “Rear Visibility.” Specifically, the “mirrors must be mounted according to certain specifications, and must provide the driver with a specified minimum field of view.”

Risks 

Side rear view mirrors are critically important for safe driving, particularly if an object is blocking the rear window view. They help drivers enter traffic and safely change lanes. If these mirrors are not functioning properly, the driver may not see other vehicles, pedestrians or physical objects. All of these conditions increase the risk of an accident.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to replace the glass in the driver side mirror. The recall begins on November 27 and the repair is free of charge. The estimated repair time is 30 minutes, but plan for additional time for check in and check out.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?Over 19,000 vehicles are included in this Ram truck recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandChrysler Ram trucks recalled for driver side mirror issue

FCA recalls Jeep and RAM vehicles for seat belt malfunction

Pleasanton, CA – July 27, 2022 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE: FCAU) has remedied issues with 1.119 vehicles including the 2019-2020 RAM 1500 pickup that was dealing with front seat belt issues. Additionally, 26 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 16 have been removed from the recall. One group of these 2019-2020 RAM 1500 pickups was remedied in 2020, 4 groups in 2021, and 1 other group was remedied in 2022 due to these seat belt locking issues.

Pleasanton, CA – Sept 25, 2020 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE: FCAU) has recalled 2,114 SUVs and pickup trucks, and SUVs whose front seat belts may not lock properly during a crash, putting drivers and passengers at risk of injury. The recall includes:

  • 2020 Jeep Gladiator pickups
  • 2019 Jeep Wrangler SUVs
  • 2019-2020 Ram 1500 pickups
  • 2019 RAM 2500 pickups

Recall Summary  

Ever wondered why seatbelts sometimes “lock” up if you yank them too hard? This is a design feature that is meant to make the belt easy to pull over your body and comfortable to move around under but will firmly hold you if you crash. In these recalled Jeeps and Rams, a connection part called the “wave disc” may be misshapen, causing the seatbelt to have a much weaker hold on the driver and front seat passenger.

Chrysler first noticed the problem this July when a seatbelt held the crash dummy less forcefully than it was supposed to during a crash test. A part in the seat belt retractor wasn’t formed correctly, weakening the whole seat belt system.

Chrysler is not aware of any complaints, injuries, or deaths relating to this problem.

Risks

If you’re riding in a pickup truck or SUV and you crash, wearing a functioning seat belt will reduce your risk of injury by at least 60% and your risk of dying by at least 65%. A malfunctioning seat belt may not protect you and could increase your risk of getting hurt.

The repair

Owners will be notified about the recall starting on November 17 and Chrysler will replace the faulty seat belt retractors for free. The repair, however, is not yet available. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 2,000 vehicles are part of this Chrysler recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle identification number look-up tool.

Rebecca RandFCA recalls Jeep and RAM vehicles for seat belt malfunction

RAM recalls pickups for engine fire risk

Pleasanton, CA – Aug 28, 2020 – Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) (NYSE: FCAU)  has recalled 32,318 Ram pickups for an engine oiling issue. The recall includes:

  • 2019-2020 Ram 3500 heavy duty trucks
  • 2019-2020 Ram 4500 commercial trucks
  • 2019-2020 Ram 5500 commercial trucks

Recall summary  

The vehicles in questions are equipped with 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engines. A software problem can starve engine parts of oil as the car warms up. This could damage the engine and the related parts and cause a fire.

Risks

Car fires kill over 300 people a year on average and injure over a thousand, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Their report blames at least 20% of vehicle fires between 2009 and 2017 on equipment failures.

FCA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have not received any reports of injuries or deaths resulting from the Ram software problem. 

Fire safety tips

If you suspect your engine is on fire:

  • Stop your car someplace safe. 
  • Do not open the hood. Oxygen will rush in and feed the flames. 
  • Get yourself and others away from the vehicle, at least 100 feet. 
  • Call the fire department at 911 when you are in a secure location.
  • Do not return to the vehicle for any reason.

The repair

The fix is a free software update that a dealer will upload to your vehicle. The new software will make sure that plenty of oil is sent to the engine as the car warms up. The repair should take less than half a day, and is currently available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 32,000 vehicles are included in this Fiat Chrysler recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandRAM recalls pickups for engine fire risk

RAM 1500 pickup trucks recalled for faulty floor mats

Pleasanton, CA – August 27 2020 – FCA US LLC (NYSE:FCAU) has recalled 160,229 Ram 1500 trucks that operate with adjustable pedals. The driver side floor mats may prevent the accelerator pedal from returning to an idle position, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2019 and 2020 Ram 1500 pickup.

Recall summary  

The vehicles equipped equipped with all-weather floor mats and adjustable accelerator pedals. Due to a design issue, the mats may prevent the pedal from returning to idle position after the driver accelerates. This recall does not effect the RAM 3500, 4500 or 5500 this time.

Risks 

There are several situations in which the floor mat issue can cause a crash. First, if the car is moving at a high speed, the stuck accelerator pedal would prevent the car from slowing down as expected. This may cause the driver to run a light or hit another vehicle from behind.

Secondly, during traffic congestion, the repeated use of the accelerator pedal increases the risk of the floor mat problem occurring. The risk of a crash is also higher if the floor mat is moved out of position when the driver enters and exits the vehicle.

What to do if the accelerator pedal is stuck

If you feel that the accelerator pedal is stuck, DriverEd.com recommends: 

First, shift your pickup into neutral. Then, apply the brakes to begin to slow your vehicle down. Always, keep your eyes on the road and look for a way out.

If possible you should warn other drivers by blinking and flashing your hazard lights. Attempt to drive the car safely off the road. once you have come to a complete stop turn off the ignition.

The repair

The dealer will notify owners and modify the floor mat, so that the mat does not interfere with the accelerator pedal. The recall begins October 16, and is free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 160,000 vehicles are included in this Ram truck recall. To see if your truck is one of them, use MotorSafety’s vehicle identification number (VIN) lookup tool and get help scheduling a repair with dealer today.

Ken BoydRAM 1500 pickup trucks recalled for faulty floor mats

Fiat-Chrysler recalls Grand Cherokees and RAM 1500s with stalling risk

Pleasanton, CA – Aug 14, 2020 – Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE: FCAU) has recalled 58,016 SUVs and pickup trucks that may stall on the road. The recall includes:

  • 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs
  • 2014-2018 Ram 1500 pickup trucks

Recall summary  

The recall stems from an issue inside these vehicles’ diesel engines. The car uses a magnet-coated wheel to keep the engine in sync. The magnetic material, however, may chip off, causing the engine to get out-of-sync and stall. 

Fiat-Chrysler started looking into the issue in March. As of July 31, Chrysler had identified 13 customer complaints (which Fiat-Chrysler calls “CAIRs”), 1,020 warranty claims, and six field reports related to these failing magnetic wheels. 

Risks

Stalling in moving traffic can raise the risk of crashes, injuries, or worse. Vehicles may not be able to react in time and could ram a stalled car from behind. Even if the driver safely gets to the shoulder, they are still at risk of being hit. 

If your car stalls, turn on the emergency hazard lights. If you can do so safely, try to shift into neutral and maneuver your car to the side of the road. Call  your roadside assistance provider and be sure to stay in the car. The shoulder is very  dangerous for pedestrians.

The repair

Fiat-Chrysler will offer a free software update that will keep the car from stalling in the case that the magnetic wheel is damaged. Chrysler will notify owners of the recall on October 2. The repair should take less than half a day.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 58,000 vehicles are part of this Chrysler recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFiat-Chrysler recalls Grand Cherokees and RAM 1500s with stalling risk

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

Chrysler: Leaking Transmission Fluid Poses Fire Risk in Recalled RAM Trucks

re: NHTSA campaign 20V043000

Laguna Hills, CA – February 6, 2020 – Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 – 2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 Pickup vehicles equipped with six-speed automatic (68RFE) transmissions.

This recall involves power train components. These vehicles are equipped with six-speed automatic (68RFE) transmissions that are susceptible to wear and tear from thermal loading. Heat can cause transmission fluid to leak from the dipstick tube.

The potential number of units affected is estimated at 84,202.

The defect

The affected vehicles are equipped with defective transmission assemblies that are prone to being damaged due to thermal stressors. Chrysler has not specified what specific aspect of the transmission or vehicle itself makes this possible.

A build-up of heat and pressure inside of the transmission can cause transmission fluid to be expelled from the dipstick tube.

Transmission fluid is flammable, and this loose liquid can come in contact with other ignition sources, such as the turbocharger, and start a fire in the engine compartment.

The possibility of fire increases the risk of injury and death on part of the operators and also can result in costly damage to the vehicle’s internals. In addition, sufficient amounts of transmission fluid can damage mechanical or electronic components even if no fire is started.

This defect is known to have resulted in engine compartment fires several times, and one minor injury was recorded, according to Chrysler. No warranty claims have been made in relation to this issue.

Timeline of events

On December 4, 2019, Chrysler’s US Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance (VSRC) group opened an investigation following reports of 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks suffering from engine compartment fires.

Believing a defective part was responsible, VRSC analyzed fire patterns, damaged components, witness statements and other aspects of each event in order to determine trends related to these incidents.

Chrysler engineering soon conducted their own tests to duplicate the issue as it was reported in the field, and on January 9, 2020, engineers believed they had found the root cause of the issue: the transmission in these vehicles was being overloaded due to temperature and pressure changes.

Upon receiving these test results, Chrysler manufacturing plants conducted a review of records to determine the size of the recall population. It was determined that only the transmissions in 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks were susceptible to leaking.

With the risk confirmed and the size of the recall population determined, Chrysler began planning a process for the voluntary recall and replacement of parts, and on January 24, 2020, they submitted a notice of recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

On February 3, 2020, this notice of recall became public.

The solution

Chrysler will notify owners of 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks of the recall and the danger associated with leaking transmission lines.

The company will soon ship out replacement parts to authorized dealers and train them in the remedy process, which involves reprogramming the powertrain control system.

Once the remedy process is available, dealers will replace the transmission valve body separator plates and reprogram the control module, free of charge.

This is a voluntary recall, however, owners of the affected units are advised to exercise caution when operating their vehicles. The recall is expected to begin on March 14, 2020. This date is subject to change.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

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About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyChrysler: Leaking Transmission Fluid Poses Fire Risk in Recalled RAM Trucks