2014 Ram 3500 LaramieFiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced a massive set of recalls for its Ram pickups due to defects in certain trucks’ steering wheel assembly and air bag installation. A total of 1.73 million Ram pickups are affected over three separate recalls.
The largest recall affects 1.3 million 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups and 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs. These trucks may have steering wheel wiring harnesses that wear due to contact with a spring, FCA says. The defect may cause the driver-side air bag to deploy, sometimes signaled by the air bag warning light illuminating.
FCA says it is aware of two injuries related to this defect but no accidents so far. The automaker will inspect all recalled vehicles and fix the problem by tying back the wiring harness and installing protective caps on the air bag retainer spring ends.
The second recall affects nearly 200,000 2013-2015 Ram 3500s and 2014 Ram 2500s. These trucks’ bracket welds need to be repaired in order to avoid diminished steering response. No injuries have been reported with this issue but the automaker says it is aware of a minor accident caused by the defect.
The final recall affects nearly 188,000 2014 and 2015 Ram 1500 Quad Cab pickups. These trucks are being recalled to make an adjustment to the side-curtain air bags in order to reduce the risk of passengers in the back seat being ejected during a rollover.
FCA is mailing all affected truck owners to schedule a repair at no charge. However, to see if your truck is affected right now, you can enter its VIN at safercar.gov.
The company made headlines earlier this year when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration levied a $105 million penalty in July after an investigation found FCA had mishandled 23 recalls over several years.
