Diesel Ram Trucks Recalled for Fire Risk
Owners should park outdoors and away from structures or other vehicles until the free fix is available and complete
Ram is recalling over 130,000 heavy-duty trucks with 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engines because an electrical fault may cause a fire even when the vehicles are turned off. The recalled vehicles include Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups, and 2500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis trucks from the 2021 and 2022 model years.
The problem is due to a faulty electrical connection in a heating element, and is similar to an earlier recall issued in March for a smaller number of trucks. According to documents provided to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ram does not yet have a repair for this issue. Until a fix can be performed, these trucks should not be parked inside garages, near structures, or close to other vehicles. Ram will notify owners when they can take their trucks in for a free recall repair.
The manufacturer told NHTSA it is aware of seven fires, zero injuries, and zero crashes related to the recall.
Photo: Ram Photo: Ram
The Details
Vehicles Recalled
• 2021 to 2022 Ram 3500 pickup trucks manufactured between Aug. 5, 2021, and Oct. 8, 2021
• 2021 to 2022 Ram 2500 pickup trucks manufactured between Aug. 3, 2021, and Oct. 8, 2021
• 2021 to 2022 Ram 3500 cab chassis pickup trucks manufactured between Aug. 12, 2021, and Oct. 7, 2021
• 2021 to 2022 Ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis pickup trucks manufactured between Aug. 13, 2021, and Oct. 8, 2021
The problem: An electrical short in the vehicle’s intake heater grid relay may cause a fire, even if the vehicle is turned off.
The fix: The manufacturer is still developing a remedy for this recall. In the meantime, owners are advised to park vehicles outdoors, away from structures and other vehicles. Ram will contact owners when the repair is available, and dealerships will perform it free of charge.
How to contact the manufacturer: Owners of affected vehicles can contact Ram at 800-853-1403.
NHTSA campaign number: 21V798. Ram’s own number for this recall is Y76.
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.
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