Fiat Chrysler adds another 660K trucks to recall

February 11, 2019 – Fiat Chrysler is recalling 660,000 heavy-duty trucks worldwide because a loose nut can cause a loss of steering control, in addition to a previously announced recall on light-duty trucks.

The new recall covers Ram 3500 pickups from 2013 through 2017, as well as 2500 pickups and 3500 Chassis cabs from 2014 through 2017.

The company says it’s aware of eight crashes and one injury that could be related.

Fiat Chrysler doesn’t have a date yet for owners to be notified. Dealers will inspect a steering linkage nut. If it’s properly tightened, it will be welded to a sleeve to keep it in place. If it’s loose, a steering assembly will be replaced.

The company says about 63,000 vehicles in Canada will be subject to the recall, on top of the roughly 574,000 trucks in the U.S., plus some in Mexico and outside North America.

The recall comes after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in December began investigating steering failures on some Ram trucks. The agency opened the probe after getting two complaints from owners that the linkage between the steering box and the front wheels can come apart.

Owners with questions can call (800) 853-1403 or find out online if their vehicles are included in the recall.

The Ram brand also is recalling another 194,000 light-duty trucks in the U.S. because the brake pedals can fall off.

Covered are certain 2019 Ram pickups with adjustable brake pedals. More than one third are still at dealers and will be fixed before they’re delivered. The 2019 Ram Classic is not affected.

Adjustable brake pedals are activated by a switch in the cab and powered by an electric motor. Fiat Chrysler says an investigation found that if people move the pedals to their rear-most position, the brake pedal can detach.

The company says it doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries. It’s urging people not to adjust pedals until the trucks have been fixed and to never adjust pedals while driving.

Fiat Chrysler doesn’t have a date for notifying owners. Dealers will install a fastener and spacer to restrict travel of the pedals and fix the problem.

News from © The Canadian Press Enterprises 2019