Ram 2021-23 Pickups and Cab Chassis Recalled for Fires

FCA USA is recalling 2021-2023 model year Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine because an electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off. More than 300,000 Ram pickup are involved and they all have the safety defect, according to a filing just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The problem period began on 3 August 2020, when production of Ram 2500 vehicles, equipped with the Relay began, and ended on 1 February 2023, when FCA US LLC no longer built vehicles with the defective relay. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798. (autoinformed.com on: Ram Recalls 1.3 Million Pickups for Sudden Tailgate Openings) 

Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC’s number for this recall is 13A. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes NHTSA recall number 21V-798. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Chronology

• On October 10, 2022, the FCA US Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (“TSRC”) organization reopened an investigation into 2021-2023 MY Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500/4500/5500 Cab Chassis trucks as a result of a detection of a potential trend of engine compartment fires in vehicles built after the Recall 21V-798 (FCA US No. Y76) clean point.
• From October 2022, through January 2023, TSRC analyzed fire patterns, witness statements, and vehicle histories to confirm the events were trend-related.
• During December 2022 and January 2023, FCA US Engineering conducted root cause analysis, including an assessment of the potential involvement of the heater grid relay.
• As of February 2023, FCA US identified six customer assistance records, three warranty claims, and six field reports potentially related to this issue for all markets with dates of receipt ranging from July 2022 to January 2023.
• As of February 2, 2023, FCA US is aware of zero accidents and zero injuries potentially related to this issue for all markets.
• On February 2, 2023, FCA US determined, through the Vehicle Regulations Committee, to conduct a voluntary safety recall of the affected vehicles.