Ram Truck Rollaway Problems Linked to Multiple Injury Reports: NHTSA

Nearly 1.2 million previously recalled Ram trucks with defective transmissions may not have been adequately repaired to address the rollaway risks.

Federal highway safety officials have launched an investigation into 1,187,232 Ram pickup trucks, following reports that transmission defects may allow the vehicles to shift out of park without the key in the ignition or the brake pedal engaged.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Ram pickup truck investigation on July 3, citing 14 consumer complaints and six injury incidents linked to a faulty brake transmission shift interlock system that may remain in the “open” position, potentially allowing the vehicle to roll away unexpectedly. 

The impacted vehicles are equipped with a brake transmission shift interlock system, a standard safety feature in automatic transmissions designed to prevent the gear shifter from moving out of “park” unless the ignition is on and the brake pedal is pressed.

However, if the system fails, officials indicate that the vehicle may roll away unexpectedly, posing risks of crashes, injuries to pedestrians, or property damage.

Many of the vehicles now under investigation were previously recalled for the same safety issue, involving the brake transmission shift interlock system. A 2017 recall affected nearly 1.5 million Ram trucks, followed by a 2018 recall involving an additional 180,000 vehicles, both citing concerns that the system could fail and allow unintended vehicle movement.

The latest incidents involve model year 2013 through 2018 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 trucks equipped with a column-mounted shift lever—the same models that were subject to those earlier recalls. Notably, the vehicles in the new complaints had already received the recommended repairs.

According to the 2017 recall documentation, the defect involves the interlock system overheating when the brake pedal is held for extended periods. The heat can cause the plastic housing to expand and degrade internal grease, resulting in the locking pin becoming stuck in the “open” position and disabling the safety mechanism.

In response, NHTSA has opened a new recall query to evaluate the effectiveness of the previous repairs and to determine whether a new fix is needed. Officials are also examining whether additional factors may be contributing to the continuing rollaway risks.

Consumers can review the original Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) reports at www.NHTSA.gov.

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