FCA US will have to buy back Ram trucks over steering defect

Gorehamj · July 27, 2015

John Goreham
Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com
7/27/2015

In an unprecedented move, NHTSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US (FCA US) have come to an agreement over a recall issue that will result in FCA having to buy back Ram trucks. The affected trucks have a suspension defect that can cause the vehicle to crash. As part of the settlement Ram will buy back customer's trucks if they cannot be fixed. Similarly, certain Jeep vehicles will be covered under a fire recall. Those owners will be allowed to trade in their Jeeps at above market value or be given a financial incentive to get their vehicle repaired.

This is all part of a huge settlement FCA US is making with NHTSA over 11 recalls covering 23 million vehicles. Included is a $105 million dollar fine. NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind commented, saying “Fiat Chrysler’s pattern of poor performance put millions of its customers, and the driving public, at risk. This action will provide relief to owners of defective vehicles, will help improve recall performance throughout the auto industry, and gives Fiat Chrysler the opportunity to embrace a proactive safety culture.”

If you own a Jeep or Ram vehicle and want to see if it is covered, please click here. For details on the NHTSA announcement form the agency itself please see the NHTSA website.

Kyle Soldani · July 27, 2015

Well I guess I made the right move ridding myself of my Durango and not getting a Ram... sheesh!

SnakeEyeSS · July 27, 2015

What years?

Doug_Scott · July 27, 2015

The part that gets me is that you can never get back what you paid for the vehicle. Even a month old takes the price down. In cases like these where there is a serious defect that cannot be repaired, owner should recover what he paid for the vehicle, and the manufacturer take the hit. In this specific case, instead of making them pay NHTSA $105 million fine, have FCA-US take that fine and apply it to the buy back price so the consumer can recoup their losses. If the vehicle cannot be repaired, to me, that means it is a design fault. Design faults are there from day one, consumer should never have been able to purchase the vehicle.

BigBlueLB756 · July 27, 2015

What are they going to do about being "ugly"?

seasled · July 27, 2015

What are they going to do about being "ugly"?

Nothing they can do! , it's like a bad tattoo, your stuck with it!

BigBlueLB756 · July 27, 2015

They'd be the ugliest if it wasn't for T*y*t* and *i*s*n. I can't decide which is the true ugliest.

EC's truck · July 28, 2015

What years?

Buy-backs are for trucks and SUVs affected by three recalls that occurred in 2013 (recalls 13V-038, 13V-527 and 13V-529), that addressed a rear-axle pinion nut that could come loose and cause a loss of vehicle control. Those recalls covered 579,228 vehicles, including 2009-2012 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 trucks, 2009-2012 Dodge Dakotas, 2009 Chrysler Aspen and the 2009 Dodge Durango.

(Source - http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/27/fiat-chrysler-buyback-recall-nhtsa-jeep/)

Ben Girard · July 28, 2015

The part that gets me is that you can never get back what you paid for the vehicle. Even a month old takes the price down. In cases like these where there is a serious defect that cannot be repaired, owner should recover what he paid for the vehicle, and the manufacturer take the hit. In this specific case, instead of making them pay NHTSA $105 million fine, have FCA-US take that fine and apply it to the buy back price so the consumer can recoup their losses. If the vehicle cannot be repaired, to me, that means it is a design fault. Design faults are there from day one, consumer should never have been able to purchase the vehicle.

Agreed 100%, they should buy them back at full price, period.

Smoothbassman · July 28, 2015

Well dang. Just sold my 2009 Ram last year to get the Silverado. Just kept having issues. This defect being one of them.

Jonny5cam · July 28, 2015

LOL, It never ceases to amaze me...It says "DODGE" right on the front, and they still bought it. Dodge, different...There's a reason for everything. And there's a reason that they have always been #3.

Doug_Scott · July 28, 2015

Buy-backs are for trucks and SUVs affected by three recalls that occurred in 2013 (recalls 13V-038, 13V-527 and 13V-529), that addressed a rear-axle pinion nut that could come loose and cause a loss of vehicle control. Those recalls covered 579,228 vehicles, including 2009-2012 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 trucks, 2009-2012 Dodge Dakotas, 2009 Chrysler Aspen and the 2009 Dodge Durango.

(Source - http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/27/fiat-chrysler-buyback-recall-nhtsa-jeep/)

Saw on the local news broadcast last night that this also includes the Jeep Cherokee gas tank location issue. Apparently FCA will install a trailer hitch on those vehicles to protect the fuel tank from rear end collisions. Fuel tanks being compromised in a collision first started when they added a tank to hold fuel in a motor vehicle and will never end unless they stop using volatile fuels.. This particular recall covers 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty and 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, From what I can find online, there have been 13 deaths associated to this issue. Hard to believe that this even qualifies as being more than coincidental. I read that these vehicles are not on the list of vehicles to be bought back.

We will always have the risk of fire from the fuel released due to a collision. The only way we can eliminate that issue is to stop using volatile fuels completely. Even race cars with elaborate fuel cells can catch fire after a collision that ruptures the fuel tank or cell.

parkman · July 29, 2015

Well dang. Just sold my 2009 Ram last year to get the Silverado. Just kept having issues. This defect being one of them.

You definitely made the right call

BOOMER119 · July 30, 2015

I personally think the current Ram 1500 is the best looking full size truck on the market. That being said, I can't get past the quality issue that has plagued Chrysler FOREVER! If I did get one, would lease for sure. Problems with the vehicle at the end of the lease? Bye Bye!!!

Does make me wonder what they're doing for "Buy Backs" on leased vehicles? Turn it in at the end of the lease? Not sure how safe I would feel keeping a leased vehicle for full term with known mechanical issues that could kill me!

parkman · July 31, 2015

I personally think the current Ram 1500 is the best looking full size truck on the market. That being said, I can't get past the quality issue that has plagued Chrysler FOREVER! If I did get one, would lease for sure. Problems with the vehicle at the end of the lease? Bye Bye!!!

Does make me wonder what they're doing for "Buy Backs" on leased vehicles? Turn it in at the end of the lease? Not sure how safe I would feel keeping a leased vehicle for full term with known mechanical issues that could kill me!

Thats what amazes me with so many loyal diehard GM guys leaving for Ram's when the quality is not there historically. I have a distant relative, his parents and in-laws family only bought GM trucks and SUV's for decades (wagons before the SUV's kicked in). He had a '99 Silverado that he bought new it turned 8 years old had over 150,000 miles on it and the transmission goes... Decides then anything made by General Motors is garbage and switches him and his two daughters all into Ram truck drivers and then traded the wifes Suburban in for a Wrangler Unlimited and later on a Durango. Claims they make the best vehicles but trades them in every 2-3 years. Just a longwinded side story.