Latest news with #2013to2018
Car and Driver
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
NHTSA Investigating 1.2 Million Ram Trucks for Rollaway Risk After Recall
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into nearly 1.2 million Ram pickup trucks for potential post-recall failures. The investigation covers the Ram 1500 and heavy-duty pickups from the 2013 to 2018 model years that were involved in transmission recalls in 2017 and 2018. NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 vehicle-owner complaints and six death and injury reports following the previous recalls. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a new investigation into 1,187,232 Ram pickup trucks for a potential post-recall failure in the transmission system. The investigation, being conducted by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), is not yet a full recall from the safety administration but does stem from two previous recalls of the same vehicles. According to the ODI, the investigation will review the effectiveness of the remedies in a pair of recalls that occurred in 2017 and 2018. The first was labeled 17V-821 and covered nearly 1,500,000 trucks; the second was labeled 18V-100 and covered a further 180,000. Ram The issue, both then and now, affects a subset of Ram trucks equipped with a column-mounted shifter. According to NHTSA documents in the original recalls, the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system could get stuck in the "open" position, allowing the trucks to be shifted out of park without a key in the ignition or any pressure on the brake pedal. As of this week, NHTSA has received 14 vehicle-owner complaints and six death and injury reports through its Early Warning Program—all of which came after the original recall remedies were performed. There were no fatalities included in those reports. In addition to reviewing the effectiveness of the original remedies, NHTSA hopes the new investigation will uncover the underlying cause of the additional rollaways, along with identifying any other potential root causes affecting the BTSI system. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
1.2M Stellantis Ram trucks under federal review
A massive 1.2 million trucks are under investigation in the US after regulators were alerted to incidents caused by a faulty brake-related safety system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a probe into Stellantis' Ram trucks, including models 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 from model years 2013 to 2018. NHTSA said it received 14 consumer complaints and six reports of deaths or injuries involving failures of the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) system. If the BTSI fails, the vehicle could roll away unexpectedly. The issue is connected to earlier recalls that addressed a problem with the BTSI locking pin. 'Both recalls address a potential condition which can cause the BTSI locking pin to become stuck, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without depressing the brake pedal and/or without having a key in the ignition,' NHTSA said. 'Shifting the transmission out of Park without pressing the brake pedal can result in a vehicle rollaway.' NHTSA announced the recall query on Monday for the trucks equipped with a column mounted shift lever. 'The failures of the BTSI described in the VOQs occurred on vehicles that had all previously been repaired under recall 17V-821 or 18V-100,' the agency shared. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has now opened an investigation to 'review the effectiveness of the 17V-821 and 18V-100 recall remedies, understand the root cause of additional vehicle rollaway incidents, and identify any other possible root cause that may affect the performance of the BTSI system,' the alert said. BTSI is a safety feature in many vehicles designed to prevent the driver from accidentally shifting the transmission out of 'Park' unless the brake pedal is pressed. This system helps avoid unintended vehicle movement or rollaway accidents. The BTSI uses a locking pin to hold the gear shift in the Park position. If this pin becomes stuck or jammed, it may either prevent shifting out of Park or allow shifting out of Park without pressing the brake pedal. When the locking pin fails, the transmission can be shifted out of Park without pressing the brake pedal or even without the ignition key inserted. This increases the risk that the vehicle could roll away unexpectedly. There have been 20 total incidents reported due to issues with the Stellantis trucks, including 12 crashes/fires and 7 injuries. Ram trucks were previously a part of Dodge, but became a standalone brand in 2009. It was integrated into Stellantis in 2021 when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged with Groupe PSA. Last month, the company announced it would bring back a rumbling, gas-guzzling V-8 engine after phasing out the iconic HEMI V-8 from the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup. The automaker now says the big-bodied motor will return in 2026. The brand's top boss apologized for killing the grunting 5.7-liter powerhouse. 'We own it. We got it wrong. And we're fixing it,' Tim Kuniskis, the CEO of the Ram brand, said in an advertisement, showing the executive driving the truck around a racetrack. Kuniskis spoke over the thunderous growl of the truck's iconic firing cylinders. 'You hear that? That's our HEMI. And it's saying, 'We're back.'' For years, Ram raked in huge profits with the HEMI-powered full-size pickup trucks. Last year, the company said it would replace the V-8 with a more efficient and powerful V-6, but the swap also stripped away some of the brand's signature brashness. Fans hated the move.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
1.2m US trucks feared to be driving with dangerous safety lock issue linked to fatal accidents
A massive 1.2 million trucks are under investigation in the US after regulators were alerted to incidents caused by a faulty brake-related safety system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a probe into Stellantis' Ram trucks, including models 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 from model years 2013 to 2018. NHTSA said it received 14 consumer complaints and six reports of deaths or injuries involving failures of the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) system. If the BTSI fails, the vehicle could roll away unexpectedly. The issue is connected to earlier recalls that addressed a problem with the BTSI locking pin. 'Both recalls address a potential condition which can cause the BTSI locking pin to become stuck, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without depressing the brake pedal and/or without having a key in the ignition,' NHTSA said. 'Shifting the transmission out of Park without pressing the brake pedal can result in a vehicle rollaway.' NHTSA announced the recall query on Monday for the trucks equipped with a column mounted shift lever. 'The failures of the BTSI described in the VOQs occurred on vehicles that had all previously been repaired under recall 17V-821 or 18V-100,' the agency shared. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has now opened an investigation to 'review the effectiveness of the 17V-821 and 18V-100 recall remedies, understand the root cause of additional vehicle rollaway incidents, and identify any other possible root cause that may affect the performance of the BTSI system,' the alert said. BTSI is a safety feature in many vehicles designed to prevent the driver from accidentally shifting the transmission out of 'Park' unless the brake pedal is pressed. This system helps avoid unintended vehicle movement or rollaway accidents. The BTSI uses a locking pin to hold the gear shift in the Park position. If this pin becomes stuck or jammed, it may either prevent shifting out of Park or allow shifting out of Park without pressing the brake pedal. When the locking pin fails, the transmission can be shifted out of Park without pressing the brake pedal or even without the ignition key inserted. This increases the risk that the vehicle could roll away unexpectedly. There have been 20 total incidents reported due to issues with the Stellantis trucks, including 12 crashes/fires and 7 injuries. Ram trucks were previously a part of Dodge, but became a standalone brand in 2009. It was integrated into Stellantis in 2021 when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged with Groupe PSA. Last month, the company announced it would bring back a rumbling, gas-guzzling V-8 engine after phasing out the iconic HEMI V-8 from the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup. The automaker now says the big-bodied motor will return in 2026. The brand's top boss apologized for killing the grunting 5.7-liter powerhouse. 'We own it. We got it wrong. And we're fixing it,' Tim Kuniskis, the CEO of the Ram brand, said in an advertisement, showing the executive driving the truck around a racetrack. Kuniskis spoke over the thunderous growl of the truck's iconic firing cylinders. 'You hear that? That's our HEMI. And it's saying, 'We're back.'' For years, Ram raked in huge profits with the HEMI-powered full-size pickup trucks. Last year, the company said it would replace the V-8 with a more efficient and powerful V-6, but the swap also stripped away some of the brand's signature brashness. Fans hated the move. 'Ram will lose me as a customer,' a truck-lover said in a Reddit post after Ram announced the HEMI was dead. 'What a sad day.' Ram posted massive losses after moving on from the aggressive engine. Sales for the brand slumped more than 18 percent in 2024. Ram's struggles contributed to a sales flop for its parent brand, Stellantis, which reported a 70 percent slash in profits last year. But the engine's revival has sparked hope for a comeback. Kuniskis recently said he expects the HEMI to represent 25 to 40 percent of Ram 1500 sales in 2026.
The Drive
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Feds Investigating 1.2 Million Ram Trucks That Might Roll Away Despite Past Recall
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a new probe into an estimated 1,187,232 Ram trucks that might be at risk of rolling away. As the federal agency's Office of Defects Investigation explains, the concern is with a post-recall remedy on certain 2013-2018 model year Rams. These trucks previously had a 'fix' performed to address a brake transmission shift interlock problem, though as the NHTSA's open recall query states, that remedy may have failed. And before you go pointing fingers at the maligned Ram transmission dial shifter, this specifically involves trucks with the column shifter. In these Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 models, the BTSI locking pin could get stuck, allowing the transmission to shift out of park without depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, they could be bumped out of park without the key in the ignition. Ram previously issued recalls 17V-821 and 18V-100 to address these concerns, but the NHTSA has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury reports related to trucks that had the recall remedy performed. There have been seven reported injuries from six incidents, but no fatalities. Still, that's more than enough to prompt action. The Drive reached out to Ram for comment on the feds' open query, to which a spokesperson responded, 'We're cooperating with NHTSA.' You don't need me to tell you why a 6,000-pound truck—or, heck, even a 9,000-pound dually—might be dangerous in a downhill runaway scenario. It's doubly concerning if it can occur without the vehicle's engine on, as its power brakes won't function properly. Here's hoping they get the issue fixed for real this time. This news also comes less than a week after the NHTSA launched a similar probe into a post-recall remedy on Dodge Darts. Those cars are supposedly still having problems with rolling away, too, though it's not a BTSI problem; it's an alleged shifter bushing failure issue. It seems like Stellantis just can't catch a break. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
