Safety officials have opened a new investigation into nearly 1.2 million Ram trucks, spanning the 2013 through 2018 model years across the 1500 through 5500 lineup, following reports that a previously addressed brake defect may not have been fully fixed.
What the Defect Involves
According to NHTSA, the issue centers on a solenoid within the brake shift interlock system. Under certain conditions, the solenoid can overheat and swell, causing it to jam the mechanism’s locking pin. When that happens, the truck can potentially shift out of park without warning, allowing the vehicle to roll away unexpectedly.
Why Regulators Are Revisiting the Issue
Stellantis previously addressed the defect through recalls issued in 2017 and 2018, which involved replacing the affected solenoid and its mounting bracket. However, NHTSA says complaints related to the rollaway issue have continued, with some reports tied to injuries and deaths. That pattern is what prompted regulators to reopen scrutiny of whether the earlier fix adequately resolved the underlying problem.
What Could Happen Next
If NHTSA’s investigation determines the original recall repair was insufficient, a new and potentially broader recall could follow. In the meantime, owners of affected Ram trucks built between 2013 and 2018 can check whether their vehicle already received the earlier recall repair by entering their VIN into NHTSA’s online lookup tool.