In one of the largest recall events of 2024, a large automobile company has been forced into a recall of over 1.2 million trucks following the discovery of a malfunction in its ABS breaking system.
Owners of the vehicles, some of which have been in production since 2019, have been urged by the manufacturer to return their car for servicing.
Pickup Trucks
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) issued the recall via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), who discovered the fault.
The fault affects recent Ram 1500 vehicles, specifically the 2019 and 2021–2024 models of the Stellantis vehicles.
ABS Issue
The issue that prompted the recall was a software issue affecting the cars’ anti-lock braking system, or ABS.
The malfunction causes the ABS to switch off the electronic stability control system, an important driver aid.
Crash Danger
Recalls of such magnitude are not taken lightly, and this one was due to the fear that a crash could be caused by the malfunction.
The stability control system is important for helping the car maintain control on uneven road surfaces as it helps to prevent skidding.
Broken Regulation
The NHTSA, in their recall notice, detailed the regulation that had been broken that forced the recall of so many trucks.
The FCA vehicles “fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, ‘Electronic Stability Control Systems.'”
What To Do Next
Ram 1500 owners may be relieved to learn that the fix is relatively simple, as the software just needs an update.
They can either wait for an official recall notice or contact FCA customer service now to arrange the free update.
Global Issue
As the vehicles are not only sold in the US, several other countries will be affected by the recall to various degrees.
In Mexico, 13,419 recalls have been issued, in Canada 158,670, and, outside North America, a further 61,072.
Corporate Reassurance
FCA attempted to reassure their customers, saying that the sensor issue does not mean that the brakes will fail.
They also claimed to be “unaware of any related injuries or accidents.”
League Tables
The recall means that FCA are moving closer to Ford in number of vehicle recalls issued this year.
FCA have now recalled 3,897,071 vehicles in total so far this year, while Ford have recalled 3,964,484.
Worst Performer
Meanwhile, Tesla continues to lead the pack in terms of their recalls issued this year due to various manufacturing faults.
The electric vehicle company has now told customers to return a whopping 4,411,725 vehicles, including 2 recalls of over a million vehicles.
