Chrysler (aka FCA US) is recalling More than 1,271,294 model year 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups. The second-row seat-belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed.
“Some 2019-2026 MY Ram 1500 vehicles may have been built with second-row seat belt buckle anchors not properly attached to the body structure, which may result in reduced occupant restraint capabilities. FCA US told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mandatory safety defect recall filing that NHTSA made public this morning.
“The suspect period began on February 17, 2018, when the first 2019 MY vehicle was produced, and ended on April 27, 2026, when the last vehicle was produced with a seat belt buckle anchor not properly attached to the body structure. Vehicle production and service records were used to identify the suspect period. Similar vehicles not included in this recall have no repair orders related to this condition, were built after the suspect period, or were confirmed to have properly attached seat belt buckle anchors prior to release from plant control,” FCA said.
FCA US said it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to inspect and, if necessary, attach the second-row seat belt buckle anchor to the body structure. This recall is not related to a part defect but rather a vehicle assembly issue where a second-row seat belt buckle anchor may not have been secured to the vehicle. The remedy will be to ensure that the second-row seat belt buckle anchors are properly affixed to the body structure. FCA US will begin notifying owners on or about 18 August 2026.
Chronology
- On 20 January 2026, Transport Canada notified FCA Canada Inc. of a customer concern related to a second-row seat-belt buckle anchor which may not have been fastened to the body structure properly on a 2025 RAM 1500 vehicle.
- On 26 February 2026, the FCA US LLC (“FCA US”) Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (“TSRC”) organization opened an investigation related to a second-row seat-belt buckle anchor which may not have been fastened to the body structure properly on some 2019-2026 MY RAM 1500 vehicles.
- From February 2026 to July 2026, FCA US TSRC met with FCA US engineering and manufacturing to review the issue, understand the failure mode, and to determine the suspect population.
- On July 15, 2026, the FCA US TSRC organization recognized a vehicle build issue existed on certain vehicles related to a condition that can lead to reduced occupant restraint performance of the second-row seat-belt buckle potentially resulting in a noncompliance with FMVSS No. 210.
- On July 23, 2026, FCA US determined, through the Vehicle Regulations Committee, that a noncompliance to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210 exists in certain vehicles.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Ram 2019-26 Model-Year Seat-Belt Recall on ~1.3M!
Chrysler (aka FCA US) is recalling More than 1,271,294 model year 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups. The second-row seat-belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed.
“Some 2019-2026 MY Ram 1500 vehicles may have been built with second-row seat belt buckle anchors not properly attached to the body structure, which may result in reduced occupant restraint capabilities. FCA US told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mandatory safety defect recall filing that NHTSA made public this morning.
“The suspect period began on February 17, 2018, when the first 2019 MY vehicle was produced, and ended on April 27, 2026, when the last vehicle was produced with a seat belt buckle anchor not properly attached to the body structure. Vehicle production and service records were used to identify the suspect period. Similar vehicles not included in this recall have no repair orders related to this condition, were built after the suspect period, or were confirmed to have properly attached seat belt buckle anchors prior to release from plant control,” FCA said.
FCA US said it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to inspect and, if necessary, attach the second-row seat belt buckle anchor to the body structure. This recall is not related to a part defect but rather a vehicle assembly issue where a second-row seat belt buckle anchor may not have been secured to the vehicle. The remedy will be to ensure that the second-row seat belt buckle anchors are properly affixed to the body structure. FCA US will begin notifying owners on or about 18 August 2026.
Chronology
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.