FCA Recalls 410,000 More Ram Pickups For Tailgates That Can Suddenly Drop Down
Fiat Chrysler has expanded a recall of Ram pickups because their power-locking tailgates could suddenly drop open at any time.
Every 2015 through 2017 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 with the power-locking tailgate is affected, including certain 2018 models.
Ram pickups with manually locking tailgates are not affected.
Fiat Chrysler has now recalled every Ram pickup truck from the 2015 through 2017 model year equipped with the remote tailgate lock in the United States, according to a new filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The latest recall expands a July 2018 recall that addressed more than 1.1 million Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickups with the short (five-foot seven-inch) and medium (six-foot four-inch) beds equipped with the power-locking tailgate. Now, FCA is recalling 410,351 more trucks like these with the long eight-foot bed, including 2018 models built on or before April 1, 2018. A total of 1,559,588 trucks in the U.S. have a defective latch in which a broken tab can allow the electric actuator's locking rod control to "overtravel" and pull on the locking rods just as a person would if using the handle to manually open the tailgate. If this happens, the tailgate isn't just unlocked-the latch is completely open, which would let the tailgate drop open "at any time," according to FCA.
FCA said it found at least 127 warranty claims and 67 owner reports of the defect on the long-bed models through April 29. Almost an entire year has passed since the first recall of the short- and medium-bed trucks when FCA had cited more than 5600 warranty claims and nearly 200 owner reports for this same defect. Tellingly, FCA began installing a "revised" locking assembly on the short- and medium-bed trucks after it built the final 2017 models (August 2, 2017) but chose not to do the same for long-bed trucks until April 2, 2018, the first date these models included the new part.
The recall for the long-bed trucks won't begin until late June. As of April 16, FCA dealers have repaired 58 percent of the short- and medium-bed trucks. A NHTSA investigation is still pending on 2017 Ford Super Duty pickups for tailgates that can open unexpectedly.
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