NHTSA Investigates 1.2 Million Ram Trucks for Incomplete Recall Fixes

Another Round? NHTSA Investigates Ram Truck Recalls Yet Again

In response to worries that earlier recall repairs might not have worked, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a new inquiry into almost 1.2 million Ram pickups. The brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system, an essential safety element intended to stop unwanted vehicle movement, is at the heart of the problem.

For this identical problem, Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) US, first issued two separate recalls:

Recall 17V-821 (2017)
Recall 18V-100 (2018)

Both proceedings focused on a defective solenoid in Ram pickups with column shifters that were manufactured between 2013 and 2018, including the 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 models.

The Issue: Poor Repairs or Inaccurate Cause?

A flaw that allowed the truck to shift out of park without applying the brake or even with a key in the ignition was the focus of the initial recalls. This occurred because the BTSI’s solenoid may overheat and swell, impairing the proper operation of the locking mechanism.

NHTSA is now worried that Stellantis’ solution, which required swapping out the solenoid and its mounting bracket, might not have been effective or, worse, might not have addressed the underlying problem at all. Although there isn’t a fresh recall as of yet, 1,187,232 Ram pickups may be impacted by the government inquiry.

Now, what should owners of Ram trucks do?

You may be affected if you own a Ram 1500–5500 truck manufactured between 2013 and 2018 and had it serviced during one of the two prior recalls. What you can do is as follows:

Find out if your car was implicated, check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Keep an eye out for NHTSA and Stellantis updates.
As a precaution, never park on a slope without using the parking brake.

Why This Matters: Safety and Accountability

This most recent investigation highlights a more general problem in the ecosystem of auto recalls: Do recalls actually address the issues they are supposed to? As car systems becoming increasingly complicated, recalls that are not handled correctly could endanger everyone on the road, not just drivers.

Final Thoughts

This inquiry is an important reminder that maintaining long-term safety through recall compliance involves more than merely sending out a notification. Over a million cars nationwide might be impacted by a major new recall if NHTSA determines that Stellantis’ prior fixes were inadequate.

As this story progresses, we’ll keep an eye on developments and offer updates.