Category Archives: Stellantis

Jeep Safety Alert: Clutch Failures Could Result In A Vehicle Fire

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Jeep is a well-known brand in the automotive industry for producing powerful off-road vehicles. However, in December 2022, Jeep’s Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (TSRC) investigators began to receive reports of vehicle fires in certain Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler vehicles. It was found that the fires were related to pressure plate failures, which led to overheating and eventual fires.

An investigation was opened, and it was discovered that the trend of vehicle fires related to failed clutch assemblies was found in vehicles built after Recall 21V-028. In this recall, Chrysler repaired certain 2018-2021 Jeep Wrangler and 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions because the clutch pressure plate could overheat and fracture.

In January, FCA received inspection details of a 2023 MY Jeep Wrangler vehicle built after the Recall 21V-028, which experienced a complete clutch failure. FCA US identified 26 customer assistance records, 36 warranty claims, and six field reports potentially related to this issue for all markets with dates of receipt ranging from July 5, 2021 to January 12, 2023.

In February 2023, FCA US determined, through the Vehicle Regulations Committee, to conduct a safety recall of the affected vehicles. The recall expands and replaces the previous recall 21V-028. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V-028 will need to have the new remedy completed.

The remedy is currently under development, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in April. In some circumstances, the operator may smell a clutch burning odor and/or clutch slippage before the failure, and may receive cluster warning message. It is important for owners to pay attention to any warning signs and immediately bring their vehicles in for repair.

This is not the first time Jeep has had to issue a recall. In recent years, Jeep has had to recall various models due to issues such as faulty airbags, faulty brake systems, and faulty fuel pumps. While recalls can be inconvenient for owners, they are necessary to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers on the road.

Jeep has always prided itself on producing high-quality, durable vehicles that are built to withstand rugged terrain. However, as with any machine, there is always the potential for failure. It is important for Jeep owners to stay informed about any recalls or issues with their vehicles and to promptly bring them in for repair.

In conclusion, Jeep’s recent recall of certain Gladiator and Wrangler vehicles is a reminder of the importance of vehicle safety and the need for regular maintenance and inspection. The remedy for this recall is currently under development, and owners should pay attention to any warning signs and bring their vehicles in for repair as soon as possible.

Ram Trucks: Potential Fire Risk in Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel Engines

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Chrysler will be contacting the owners of certain Ram trucks that are equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines, due to a potential fire hazard that may arise from an electrical short in the heater grid relay located in the engine compartment. The issue was brought to the attention of the FCA Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (TSRC) organization in October 2022, after the detection of a potential trend of engine compartment fires in vehicles that were built after the recall 21V-798.

According to FCA, there have been six customer assistance records, three warranty claims, and six field reports that may be related to this issue. As a result, the company has identified the potential risks associated with the short circuit and has initiated the recall of affected vehicles to address the issue.

NOTE: Ram truck owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall repair has been completed to avoid any potential fire hazards. It is important for owners to take this recall seriously and to get their vehicles repaired as soon as possible to ensure the safety of vehicle occupants and nearby property.

The FCA US, LLC’s number for this recall is 13A, and the NHTSA campaign number is 23V-060. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798.

If you own a Ram truck that has been repeatedly repaired for the same issue, you may be eligible to take advantage of your state’s lemon law. The lemon law is designed to protect consumers who purchase defective vehicles, such as Ram trucks, and provides them with legal recourse to seek a refund, replacement or monetary compensation from the manufacturer.

Under the lemon law, the manufacturer is given a certain number of attempts to fix the same problem before the vehicle is considered a “lemon.” If the repairs are unsuccessful, the manufacturer may be required to buy back the vehicle or replace it with a similar one. The exact details of the lemon law can vary by state, so it’s important to check the laws in your specific location to understand your rights and options.

If you believe that your Ram truck may be a lemon, document all the repairs and contact an attorney who specializes in lemon law cases. They can review your case and help you navigate the legal process to get the compensation or resolution that you deserve. Remember, the lemon law is there to protect you, so don’t hesitate to explore your options if you believe that you have been sold a defective vehicle.

Stellantis RAM 2500 & 3500 Truck Problems

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Transmission Fluid Leak May Cause Fire In Certain Stellantis Trucks

Chrysler’s parent company, Stellantis has issued a recall for certain 2020-2022 Ram 3500 and 2020-2023 Ram 2500 heavy-duty diesel trucks because of a problem that could result in an engine compartment fire. These trucks are equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines and 68RFE transmissions.

According to the defect report, a build-up of heat and pressure inside the transmission may result in transmission fluid being expelled from the dipstick tube. If the fluid comes in contact with an ignition source within the engine compartment, it could result in a vehicle fire. Stellantis is still working on a fix for this problem. Chrysler’s number for this recall is ZA3 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-835.

In the past two years, Stellantis’s Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 trucks have experienced a high number of recalls.

Owners Are Advised To Park Outdoors Due To Fire Hazard

It began in February 2021, when an investigation was opened into engine compartment fires in certain 2021-2022 Ram 2500, 3500 pickup trucks and 2021-2022 Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. An electrical short within the solid-state intake heater grid relay could result in a fire, even when the ignition was turned off. Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles until the problem has been fixed. Approximately 131,000 vehicles were affected by this recall.

Side curtain Air Bag May Not Deploy Properly

In November 2021 an airbag recall was issued for a small number of 2021-2022 RAM 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks. The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) assemblies in these vehicles were manufactured with a low gas mass that would result in an airbag non-deployment or slow deployment or a high gas mass that could result in aggressive airbag deployment and an increased risk of occupant injury in certain crash scenarios.

Stellantis RAM Electrical Problems

Stellantis issued three more recalls before their most recent for transmission fluid leaks that could cause fires. In March 2022, approximately 370, 000 Dodge Duango, RAM 2500, and Ram 3500 trucks were repaired for an electronic stability control (ECS) indicator light that could fail to illuminate during a control problem, increasing the risk of a crash.

In June 2022, certain 2022 Ram 1500, 2500 pickup trucks, and 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs, experienced a radio software problem that could prevent the rear view image from displaying. These vehicles failed to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for rear visibility.

In August 2022 a misaligned capacitor inside the ECM of certain 2022 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 trucks, could cause an electrical short, and a loss of drive power.

If your vehicle is experiencing repeated problems it could be a Lemon. Know your Lemon Law Rights. If you have any questions about your rights and the California Lemon Law, please call our office at 1-888-395-3666 and get some great Lemon Law advice!

Stellantis Safety Defects And Recalls

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Stellantis is a global automaker and the owner of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM brands in the US. In the last year, they have issued numerous recalls affecting millions of vehicles. During this time, the company is also subject to ongoing investigations by the U.S. government automobile safety regulators.

Below is a summary of the Stellantis recalls in 2022.

Fuel Pump Failure (22V-767)
Models Affected: 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines.
A high-pressure fuel pump failure could introduce internally failed component debris into the fuel system potentially causing the engine to stall due to fuel starvation.

Front Seat Belt Pretensioner Could Fail (22V-766)
Models Affected: 2022 Ram 1500, Jeep Gladiator, and 2021 Jeep Wrangler vehicles.
An incorrectly welded micro gas generator (MGG) may lead to a pretensioner system failure that could fail to restrain an occupant during an accident.

Internal ECM Short May Cause Loss of Power (22V-642)
Models Affected: 2022 Ram 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 2500, and 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L turbo diesel engines.
The engine control module (ECM) may have been built with a misaligned capacitor that can short-circuit, resulting in an internal loss of communication.

Rearview Camera Image May Not Display (22V-638)
Models Affected: 2020-2021 Jeep Wrangler, RAM 1500, and 2021 Jeep Gladiator
A software error could prevent the rear view image from displaying. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for rear visibility.

Tail Light Side Marker May Not Illuminate (22V-544)
Models Affected: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles.
The tail light side marker assemblies may be damaged and not illuminated.

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Sensor Battery May Fail Prematurely (22V-504)
Models Affected: 2022 Chrysler 300, 2022 Dodge Challenger, and 2022 Dodge Charger
According to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) , all vehicles must be equipped with a tire pressure monitor system that detects”when one or more of a vehicle’s tires is significantly under-inflated and illuminates a low tire pressure warning telltale. The tire pressure system in the suspect vehicles may not detect low tire pressure. If the TPMS light illuminates because the battery in the sensor prematurely discharges, it could mask an actual low tire pressure condition, possibly resulting in tire failure.

Vehicle Rollaway Because Of ABS Malfunction (22V-426)
Models Affected: 2018-2019 Dodge Durango, and 2018-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee
A malfunctioning antilock-brake system (ABS) module may illuminate the brake lights, and allow the vehicle to start and shift out of Park without the brake pedal being applied.

Rear view Image May Not Display (22V-407)
Models Affected: 2022 Ram 1500, 2500 pickup trucks, and 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs
The radio software may prevent the rear view image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, “Rear Visibility.”

High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (22V-406)
Models Affected: 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 RAM 1500
A high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.

Stuck EGR Valve May Cause Loss Of Power (22V-284)
Models Affected: 2021 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines.
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may stick open, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.

Seat May Not Secure Properly (22V-181)
Models Affected: 2021-2022 Pacifica and 2021 Voyager
The second-row seat-to-floor mounting latch may bind and stick open, preventing the seat from properly securing to the floor.

Missing Weld From The Seat Back Frame To The Child Seat Tether Anchorage (22V-180)
Models Affected: 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee
These vehicles may have been built with a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child seat tether anchorage. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, “Child Restraint Anchorage Systems.”

Steering Assembly Bar Could Bind (22V-154)
Models Affected: 2021-2022 Dodge Durango and 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles.
The steering gear rack bar may have been insufficiently hardened during manufacturing, possibly allowing it to bind within the steering rack. The problem could result in a loss of steering control.

ESC Light May Not Indicate Malfunction (22V-140)
Models Affected: 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2019-2022 RAM 2500, and 2019-2022 RAM 2500
An ABS control module software issue could prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction light from illuminating during certain conditions.