Latest news with #BTSI
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Stellantis' 1.2M Ram Trucks Under Scrutiny for BTSI Failures
Stellantis N.V. STLA is under investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has initiated a recall query involving nearly 1.2 million of the company's Ram trucks. The query targets Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 models from the 2013 to 2018 model years. Per NHTSA, the agency received 14 vehicle owner questionnaire submissions and six reports involving deaths or injuries through its Early Warning Reporting system, all indicating failures in the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) system. A malfunction in the BTSI system could result in the unintended movement of a vehicle due to rollaway vehicles now under review were previously included in recalls intended to fix a defect that could cause the BTSI locking pin to stick. This defect may allow the vehicle's transmission to shift out of the Park position without the need to press the brake pedal or, in some cases, without even inserting the key into the ignition. Such unintended shifting from Park could cause the vehicle to roll away, posing serious safety NHTSA, the current recall query aims to evaluate whether the prior recall fixes were effective, to understand the underlying cause of these continued rollaway events and to determine if other factors may be compromising the proper function of the BTSI separate news, Stellantis is also facing significant production setbacks in Italy. Per the FIM-CISL autoworkers' union, the company experienced a 34% drop in passenger car production during the first half of 2025. Stellantis, which produces well-known brands, such as Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep in Italy, also saw a 16% year-over-year decrease in commercial vehicle output during the same the first half of the year, Stellantis manufactured 221,885 vehicles, including both passenger and commercial models, reflecting a 26.9% decline compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Per the union, all Stellantis car plants in the country are experiencing serious deterioration, with no signs of production recovery expected before the end of the year. STLA carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at better-ranked stocks in the auto space are Strattec Security Corporation STRT, Aisin Corporation ASEKY and Dana Incorporated DAN. While STRT and ASEKY sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, DAN carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks Zacks Consensus Estimate for STRT's fiscal 2025 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 3.49% and 8.11%, respectively. EPS estimates for fiscal 2025 and 2026 have improved 73 cents and 91 cents, respectively, in the past 60 Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASEKY's fiscal 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 6.3% and 62.22%, respectively. EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have improved 34 cents and 47 cents, respectively, in the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DAN's 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 65.96%. EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have improved 26 cents and 11 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Dana Incorporated (DAN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Strattec Security Corporation (STRT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. Unsponsored ADR (ASEKY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Stellantis N.V. (STLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Auto Blog
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
NHTSA Opens Probe Into 1.2 Million Ram Trucks, Find Out Why
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Seems like the first recall may not have been fully effective The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency within the Department of Transportation responsible for automotive safety, has opened a new investigation looking into a Ram defect that may not have been remedied by a previous recall. According to the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), the matter of concern is a risk of rollaway involving 2013-2018 model year Ram trucks that may have been improperly repaired for a problem with the brake transmission shift interlock. 0:30 / -- Skip Ad This specific investigation by the Feds involves 1,187,232 units of the Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 models equipped with the 'old-school' style column shifters next to the steering wheels. According to investigators, the locking pin within the BTSI could get stuck and essentially fail to function, allowing the driver to shift out of park without depressing the brake pedal. More worryingly, the stuck BTSI pin could allow the trucks to be shifted out of park without the key in the ignition. 2018 Ram Power Wagon — Source: Stellantis A multiple-ton pickup truck being able to shift out of park when the brake pedal isn't pressed and/or when the vehicle isn't on can result in a hazardous situation. In its document dated July 3, the NHTSA ODI stated, 'Shifting the transmission out of Park when not having the brake pedal depressed can result in a vehicle rollaway.' Previously, Ram issued two separate recalls to address these concerns, however the ODI says that it opened this probe after it released 20 different reports about this issue, including 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports regarding trucks that have been repaired due to the previous recalls. In addition, the NHTSA says that it is aware of seven reported injuries from six incidents, but no fatalities. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The Federal investigation follows a 2017 recall The investigation follows two recalls affecting these same vehicles that occurred nearly eight years ago during a time when Stellantis didn't exist yet. Back in 2017, the NHTSA issued recall 17V-821, followed by recall 18V-100 in 2018, which aimed to address this issue. According to documents and statements from the NHTSA and Stellantis (then known as Fiat Chrysler Automotive), the recalls revolved around a faulty solenoid, which could overheat and swell, preventing a locking pin in column-shift Rams from functioning and locking out shifting when the brake isn't pressed or the key is not in the ignition. The remedy involved replacing both a bracket and the solenoid attached to it. 2018 Ram Power Wagon — Source: Stellantis 'An FCA US review of field data led to the discovery that Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) may not function properly if subject to specific high-temperature conditions for prolonged periods,' FCA said in 2017. 'The conditions are consistent with those that occur when there is protracted brake-pedal application while a vehicle is idling in park.' According to the ODI, its recall query is 'to review the effectiveness of the 17V-821 and 18V-100 recall remedies,' and '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.' Final thoughts It's a good thing that the NHTSA is taking action. Even if 20 separate reported incidents seem like a small number, you cannot deny that a multiple-ton pickup truck hurling down a hill is a scary and dangerous situation. However, this recall is a major speed bump in Stellantis's road to recovery, particularly for the RAM brand. Although RAM has triggered a frenzy of buyers when it opened the order books for the return of the Hemi V8, its reputation took a massive dip when J.D. Power released the results of the 2025 edition of the U.S. Initial Quality Study, which saw it drop from the top spot to one of the worst. About the Author James Ochoa View Profile
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- 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
7 days ago
- 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.
