Heavy Duty Recall: Ram Rescinding 131,000 Pickups Over Fire Risk
Ram has been subjected to numerous investigations over the last few years, especially in regard to its heavy-duty diesel pickups. We can throw another item onto the list, as the manufacturer has opted to recall 131,177 HD trucks from the 2021 and 2022 model year.
While we recently covered an investigation launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to assess whether reports citing that late-model HD pickups using the 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel had motive issues, the current recall appears unrelated. The former investigation is centered around slightly older trucks and a loss of motive power presumed to be the result of defective fuel pumps that could warrant a recall. This issue is a full-blown recall surrounding a potential fire risk originating from an issue with the solid-state heater intake grid relay.
But it’s still another smudge on the record of Cummins-equipped Rams, with the company acknowledging at least 10 fires stemming from the issue.
Sadly, Stellantis doesn’t have a solution. Everyone’s best guess is that the unit is subject to shorting out in a manner that’s agreeable to engine fires. But Ram is currently working with the supplier to identify what exactly is going on with the electrical equipment and how it can be remedied.
Affected vehicles include select Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 HD pickups utilizing the 6.7-liter diesel from Cummins — all from the 2021 and 2022 model years. Stellantis said it would be notifying dealers and owners starting December 3rd. Though we have no way of knowing whether or not an effective solution will have been introduced by then.
Those curious to learn whether their truck might be affected should contact the Stellantis customer service line at 1-800-853-1403. The automaker’s internal code for the recall is Y76 and you’ll need it to speed up the process. One could also visit the NHTSA website, call its Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or text the recall campaign number to 1-800-424-9153. The NHTSA recall code is 21V798 but you can also use your Vehicle Identification Number.
[Image: Stellantis]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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At first, I thought, "What is a heater intake grid relay?" Turns out it's an "intake heater grid relay", which sends power to an engine intake heater, used to warm the incoming air on cold starts in cold weather: https://tfltruck.com/2021/10/ram-recall-intake-heater-relay-fire-risk-news/ Can you fix the wording, Matt? If you don't live in a cold climate and don't need the intake heater, you might be able to unplug the relay temporarily.
From the commentary on fires resulting from liquid fuels vs electrical fires it is fairly obvious that many folks on both sides of the argument do not understand nor have they personally had experience with fighting fires from either or both. I have and I personally know that the energy release from an electrical source that cannot be de-energized (such as a battery) that causes ignition of surrounding materials is much, much more dangerous and requires more than just removal of one leg of the "fire triangle" to mitigate. The first thing a fire department does in a house fire is pull the electric meter to de-energize the electricity to the dwelling to avoid the continued source of energy to the fire. Cooling and/or oxygen deprivation using water, Halon, CO2, foam, etc. that work with Class "B" liquid fuels or Class "A" fires will not be effective if energy is continued to be supplied by electrical sources. "Whatabouting" gasoline/diesel vehicle fires in comparison to EV fires is a frivolous exercise.