Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
390–25K
4625–50K
3050–75K
2275–100K
20100–150K
22150K+
179 reports with mileage · 104 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports12 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
283 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2014
Steering
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JANUARY 2014 FOR A RECALL AND MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD. I CALL MY DEALER RIGHT AWAY BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTS. I RECENTLY WENT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY CHECK MY TRUCK AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED OK BUT IT DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED SINCE IN IS ON THE MANDATORY LIST. T…
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I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JANUARY 2014 FOR A RECALL AND MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD. I CALL MY DEALER RIGHT AWAY BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTS. I RECENTLY WENT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY CHECK MY TRUCK AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED OK BUT IT DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED SINCE IN IS ON THE MANDATORY LIST. THERE ARE 186 PEOPLE ON THAT LIST AND THEY ONLY GET A REPLACEMENT PART AFTER THEY INSTALL ONE. THE AVERAGE TURN AROUND TIME FOR PARTS IS 4 DAYS. THAT MEANS THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE TOO WAIT UP TO 2 YEARS BEFORE THERE TRUCK GETS REPAIRED. I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE RIDICULOUS. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND DO A LOT OF TRAVEL IN VERY RURAL AREAS. IF I BREAK DOWN I MIGHT BE STUCK FOR DAYS TO GET OUT AND SAME FOR A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT LIVE UP HERE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10598909
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2014
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 08/25/14*LJ UPDATED 08/28/2014 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10598140
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2014
Steering
I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN JANUARY 2014 AND WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER. THEY SAID TO CHECK BACK IN FEBRUARY. I CALLED IN FEBRUARY AND THEY SAID CHECK BACK IN MARCH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS AREN'T EVEN AVAILABLE. I CHECKED AGAIN IN APRIL, THEY SAID CALL BACK IN MAY WHICH I DID AND MY PARTS WERE ORDERED MAY 1, 2014. IT'S JU…
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I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN JANUARY 2014 AND WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER. THEY SAID TO CHECK BACK IN FEBRUARY. I CALLED IN FEBRUARY AND THEY SAID CHECK BACK IN MARCH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS AREN'T EVEN AVAILABLE. I CHECKED AGAIN IN APRIL, THEY SAID CALL BACK IN MAY WHICH I DID AND MY PARTS WERE ORDERED MAY 1, 2014. IT'S JUNE 9, 2014 AND I CALLED MY DEALER TO FIND OUT WHEN TO BRING MY TRUCK BACK. THEY SAID IT WILL BE A COUPLE MONTHS BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY GIVEN A COUPLE PARTS AT A TIME. FORTUNATELY I'VE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT YOU WOULD THINK FOR A STEERING DEFECT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD MAKE THIS PART A PRIORITY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE NOR THE FAULTY PART HAVE REMOTELY RESPONDED IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIMEFRAME FOR A DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10597070
19,000 miles · Jun 2, 2014
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE TARDER BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS A WARNING BELL THAT SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 15 SECONDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE TARDER BRAKE CONTROLLER. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE TARDER BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS A WARNING BELL THAT SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 15 SECONDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE TARDER BRAKE CONTROLLER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
NHTSA ODI #10595506
21,200 miles · May 23, 2014
Steering
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM STEW HANSEN RAM ON APRIL 3, 2014. DURING THE PURCHASE PROCEDURE, I WAS NOT FULLY INFORMED OF THE EXISTING RECALL N49. IT WAS NOT UNTIL SEVERAL WEEKS LATER WHEN I RECEIVED AN EMAIL NOTICE OF AN OIL CHANGE BEING DUE THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL, AS IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MAINTENANCE NOTICE. I THE…
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM STEW HANSEN RAM ON APRIL 3, 2014. DURING THE PURCHASE PROCEDURE, I WAS NOT FULLY INFORMED OF THE EXISTING RECALL N49. IT WAS NOT UNTIL SEVERAL WEEKS LATER WHEN I RECEIVED AN EMAIL NOTICE OF AN OIL CHANGE BEING DUE THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL, AS IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MAINTENANCE NOTICE. I THEN FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PARTS UNAVAILABILITY. I WAS VERY CLEAR WHEN BUYING THE VEHICLE THAT I WOULD BE TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER TO CA WITH IT THIS SUMMER. I BELIEVE THE DEALER WAS QUITE REMISS IN NOT INFORMING ME OF THE SITUATION PRIOR TO THE SALE. I ALSO BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO SELL A RECALLED VEHICLE THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10593773
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2014
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. RK UPDATED 09/30/14*LJ UPDATED 2/25/2015 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10593732
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2014
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) HAD SURPASSED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY; HOWEVER THEY DECLINED TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME FR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) HAD SURPASSED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY; HOWEVER THEY DECLINED TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. RK
NHTSA ODI #10588387
24,343 miles · May 7, 2014
Electrical System
I PURCHASED A 2012 RAM TRUCK FROM MELLOY DODGE WITH 14,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD IT A YEAR AND IT WAS A TOP OF THE LINE TRUCK. SO, IT IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY PLUS THEY SOLD ME AN EXTENDED PLATINUM WARRANTY. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I WENT TO GET IN MY TRUCK IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WOULD NOT STA…
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I PURCHASED A 2012 RAM TRUCK FROM MELLOY DODGE WITH 14,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD IT A YEAR AND IT WAS A TOP OF THE LINE TRUCK. SO, IT IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY PLUS THEY SOLD ME AN EXTENDED PLATINUM WARRANTY. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I WENT TO GET IN MY TRUCK IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WOULD NOT START. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOWED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE POWER MODULE WENT OUT ON THE TRUCK. THE SERVICE WRITER THEN CALLED ME TO SAY THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON ONE OF THE POSTS UNDER THE ENGINE SO THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I MUST PAY IT OUT OF POCKET. I NEVER DID ANYTHING TO THAT TRUCK. I WOKE UP AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THE DEALER FOUND ANY EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF COVERING THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. PLUS, I PURCHASED THE TRUCK FROM THEM USED. THE SCRATCH ON THE POST WAS PROBABLY THERE ALL ALONG. THEY LOOKED FOR A REASON TO GET OUT OF COVERING THE TRUCK UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH SUCH DISHONEST, UNETHICAL PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE OR FAIR. IT IS DISHONEST. I AM VERY UPSET I HAD TO PAY AN ALMOST $1000 REPAIR DUE TO THIS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET BY WITH TREATING CUSTOMERS LIKE THIS AND BEING DISHONEST IN THE WAY THEY DEAL WITH CUSTOMERS. I DID TRY TO CONTACT THEM TO RESOLVE THIS TO NO AVAIL. I WONDER IF NEXT TIME I HAVE A REPAIR, IF THEY WILL FIND A BOGUS EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF HONORING THEIR WARRANTY AND DOUBLE PLATINUM TOP OF THE LINE WARRANTY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! WHAT GOOD IS A WARRANTY? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587155
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2014
Steering
IN DEC. OF 2013 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE #R49 FROM CHRYSLER CONCERNING THE LEFT TIE ROD ON MY 2012 DODGE TRUCK. ON THE 2ND OF JAN. 2014 I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN FOLSOM CALIF. FOR AN APPOINTMENT, I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED. AS OF THIS WRITING (7 MAY 2014) THE PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE…
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IN DEC. OF 2013 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE #R49 FROM CHRYSLER CONCERNING THE LEFT TIE ROD ON MY 2012 DODGE TRUCK. ON THE 2ND OF JAN. 2014 I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN FOLSOM CALIF. FOR AN APPOINTMENT, I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED. AS OF THIS WRITING (7 MAY 2014) THE PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND I AM # 50 ON THE DEALERS LIST FOR REPAIRS. I'VE CALLED THE DEALER 6 TIMES, MFG. 3 TIMES, AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND HAVE HAD NO SATISFACTION IN GETTING A RESOLUTION. IT WILL BE A COLD DAY BEFORE I PURCHASE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587107
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2014
Steering
2012 DODGE RAM 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND SHE WOULD BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST, AS THE DEALER WAS ONLY RECEIVING 1 PART PER WEEK. *JB
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2011, to October 7, 2014, and equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Information Center option. The affected vehicles have a steering wheel wiring harness that may rub against the driver air bag module retainer spring.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: This abrasion may result in an electrical short that could cause driver's frontal air bag to unexpectedly deploy. Inadvertent deployment of the air bag may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, repair as necessary, and secure the steering wheel wiring harness. Additionally, protective caps will be added to the air bag retainer spring ends. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R36.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Diesel
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 2500 4X4 and 3500 4X4 trucks, 2008-2012 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis, and model year 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about February 27, 2014, Chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about April 14, 2014. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N49.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
2012 Dodge RAM 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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