May 15, 2017―Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling 1.3 million Ram trucks because of a software problem that may be tied to at least one death and two injuries. The affected vehicles are the 2013-2016 Ram 1500 and 2500 pickups, and 2014-2016 Ram 3500 pickups.
The problem could disable side airbags from deploying and seat belts from tightening in a rollover accident. If there is a significant impact on the truck's underbody, Fiat Chrysler said the truck's safety system could incorrectly conclude that a sensor underneath the truck has failed. If a sensor does fail, the truck's safety system is designed to suppress the airbags from deploying and seat belts from tightening when they are not supposed to.
The driver should be alerted to this problem by a instrument cluster warning light, the company said. If the light comes on, drivers should then turn the truck off, and then turn the key back into the on/run position to verify that the light is no longer on. They should also follow instructions on their recall notice.
The recall covers about 1 million pickups in the United States and another 270,000 in foreign countries.
