NHTSA Probes More Than 1.2 Million Ram Trucks for Potential Brake-Related Rollaway Defect

Image via Stellantis

Safety officials are digging deeper into over a million Ram trucks, fueled by fresh reports of these beasts rolling away thanks to a pesky brake glitch—one that might’ve slipped through the cracks during past fixes. We’re talking 2013 to 2018 models, nearly 1.2 million of ’em, from the burly 1500 all the way up to the hulking 5500.

The feds at NHTSA aren’t messing around. They’re scrambling to figure out if those earlier recalls—yeah, the ones in 2017 and 2018—actually did the trick. The problem? A wonky solenoid in the brake shift system that gets too hot, swells up like a bad sunburn, and jams the locking pin. Next thing you know, your truck could bail out of park without warning, just cruising off like it’s got a mind of its own. Not ideal.

Stellantis, Ram’s big boss, thought they’d nailed it by swapping out the dodgy solenoid and bracket. But guess what? Complaints keep rolling in, some even tied to deaths and injuries. Now regulators are sweating bullets, wondering if there’s yet another gremlin lurking in the system.

What’s next? If they sniff out another flaw, brace yourself for another recall, maybe even bigger this time. Truck owners sweating bullets can punch their VIN into NHTSA’s lookup tool to see if their ride got the memo last time. Better safe than sorry, right?

By Eve Nowell

Eve Nowell is a writer and contributor at The Auto Wire, covering automotive industry news, vehicle launches, and major developments shaping the future of transportation. Her work focuses on making complex industry topics easier to understand, including manufacturer strategy, regulatory changes, and emerging technology across the auto market. Eve is especially interested in how innovation, consumer demand, and shifting policies are reshaping what drivers can expect from automakers in the years ahead. At The Auto Wire, Eve brings a detail-driven approach to reporting and a passion for delivering clear, informative coverage for both enthusiasts and everyday readers. Topics Eve covers include: Automotive industry news New vehicle announcements and launches Market trends and manufacturer strategy EV developments and technology Automotive policy and regulation

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