The software glitch temporarily disables the rollover side curtain airbag and seatbelt pretensioner during a rollover caused by underbody impact, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA).
The recall affects:
- 1.02 million Dodge Ram 1500 and 2500 pickup trucks from model years 2013-16
- 2014-16 Ram 3500 pickups in the U.S.
- 216,007 vehicles in Canada
- 21,668 in Mexico
- 21,530 outside the NAFTA region
General Motors recalled 4 million cars in September 2016 over a similar problem, in which defective seat belts and faulty airbags failed to deploy due to a glitch in the car’s computer system which led to at least one death. That action affected GMC, Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet vehicles from model years 2014-2017.
An investigation into the new Dodge Ram recall began in December after the manufacturer was notified of a lawsuit in which a 2014 Ram 1500’s airbags failed to deploy properly during a rollover crash.
The recall will officially begin June 23, and dealerships will reprogram computer modules in affected vehicles to fix the problem free of charge.
In the meantime, Fiat said if a software code error comes up via a warning light, the driver can temporarily fix it by turning the truck off and on again, which makes the restraints functional again. If the light goes off the vehicle is working properly, according to Fiat.
Ram customers will be notified when they can schedule the software fix at their local dealership, and can call FCA’s Customer Service at (800) 853-1403 to get more information. They can also visit the NHTSA recall website and enter their VIN to see if their pickup is affected by the recall.
Source: USA Today