Ram is recalling nearly 130,000 examples of the 1500 pickup due to issues with the self-canceling turn signals. As recalls go, this one is a minor safety issue with any legitimate risks being mitigated by an attentive driver. However, it does put the affected vehicles out of compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). It likewise doesn’t help the brand improve its reputation for reliability after Ram was forced to recall over nearly 1.3 million pickups over electrical gremlins just last month.
To be fair, many automakers have seen a lapse in quality in recent years with electrical issues being the primary issue. But Stellantis brands (which includes Ram) are among those developing a bad reputation for them.
The previous recall impacted the ABS module. Failed units not only disabled anti-lock braking, they also nullified the vehicles’ electronic stability control (ESC). Ram stated that the problem could be remedied via a software update and would not require any hardware to be replaced.
Meanwhile, the turn-signal issue is alleged to stem from the steering column control module. The mechanism that cancels the turn signal as the steering straightens out the wheels may not function properly. The recall report stipulates that this could lead to situations where drivers are erroneously signaling a turn to other vehicles, potentially increasing the odds of a collision.
Obviously, responsible drivers can simply slap the stalk to end the signaling manually — something motorcyclists have been doing for ages. But the trucks are still out of compliance with federal guidelines and legally have to be recalled.
Impacted pickups were manufactured between March 24th and December 27th of 2023. This means that some 2024 MY vehicles are included. However, the report stipulates that only about 5 percent of the total number should be affected.
The automaker (which is listed as FCA US in NHTSA report, rather than Stellantis North America) will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to inspect and if necessary, replace the steering column control module with a turn-signal lever that “does not have an interference condition.”
As with all formal recalls, work will be conducted free of charge.
All dealers should be notified of the defect by October 8th. But customers likely won’t start seeing letters in the mail until the end of the month. Those disinclined to wait can contact their local dealership or use the NHTSA recall database to lookup their vehicle. Just make sure to have your VIN handy.
[Images: Stellantis]
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