According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Chrysler is recalling almost 243,000 of its Ram pickup trucks due to a potential “loss of directional stability.”
The recall impacts the 2008 Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4×4 as well as the 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty models from the 2003–2011 model years. Most of the affected pickups (about 168,000) are from the 2008–2011 model years.
In a July 6 letter posted this week on the NHTSA’s website, Chrysler attributed the problem to a tie-rod fracture, created “due to a weakening of the ball stud,” which could occur with an alignment problem. Such a failure would affect the steering. The company said the problem “tends to occur during low-speed, parking-lot type maneuvers when the customer is making a tight turn.”
Vince Muniga, a Chrysler spokesman, said, “There have been a few minor accidents and one minor injury.”
Last December, Chrysler recalled about 15,000 of its heavy-duty 4500 and 5500 Ram pickups from the 2008–2011 model years for the same problem. In April, the NHTSA responded to complaints of similar failures from owners of other Ram models and then opened a defect investigation.
Chrysler has described the recall as voluntary; however, once a manufacturer is aware of a safety problem, it must inform the agency of its plan for a recall or face civil penalties.
As a Fresno personal injury lawyer, I hope to aid in creating a safer community and hope that the defective products listed in this recall did not affect you.