Car News

Ram Expands Recall for Tailgate Lock Flaw

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has expanded a 2018 tailgate recall on Ram pickups to cover an additional 220,000 trucks in Canada.

In the original recall issued in July 2018, FCA Canada contacted the owners of more than 260,000 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickups sold between 2015 and 2017 to fix power-locking tailgates that could fall open unexpectedly. The new recall adds model years 2013, 2014, and 2018. The safety campaign does not affect the new-generation Ram 1500 introduced as a 2019 model.

While most recalls take into account the safety of the person operating the vehicle, the fear associated with this problem is that failed tailgate locks could open while the truck is driving and dump cargo onto the road and cause a crash involving following vehicles. However, FCA told Automotive News it's not aware of any injuries or crashes related to the tailgate flaw.

FCA's fix is to modify the tailgate locking mechanism; owners will be notified by mail.

This is the third notable recall FCA Canada has issued on Ram pickups since the beginning of 2018. In January of that year, it notified the owners of nearly 300,000 trucks that the transmission shifter interlock could fail and let the truck be shifted out of park without pressing the brake pedal; and in February 2019, FCA recalled 80,000 trucks to fix potential steering failures.