More Ram trucks recalled over tailgate issue

Almost a year ago

Fiat Chrysler recalled roughly 1.6 million Ram trucks

over an issue with the locking power tailgate. The actuator limiter tab for the power locking mechanism could fracture, which would permit the actuator’s lock-rod control to move beyond its limits. That would pull the locking rods open, thereby allowing the tailgate to open at any time. The 2018 recall covered

Ram 1500

,

2500

, and

3500

pickups from the 2015 to 2017 model years, with the five-foot-seven and six-foot-four beds and the power locking tailgate option. Trucks with eight-foot beds, and those with manual-locking tailgates, were excluded.

The

trucks with eight-foot beds have been added to the recall

as of earlier this month, putting 410,351 more trucks in the pool.

According to Consumer Reports

, Ram redesigned the locking assembly on the other two shorter bed sizes for trucks built after August 2, 2017, which was the end of the 2017 model year. But the eight-foot long-bed trucks didn’t get the redesigned part until April 2, 2018 for some reason, making all eight-foot-bed pickups from the 2015 model year to April 1, 2018 part of the recall equation.

FCA

says it’s not aware of any accidents or injuries because of the issue. The company plans to notify owners on June 28. The

paperwork filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

doesn’t advise owners to stop driving the trucks, but nor does it instruct owners on how to address the problem in the meantime. Sounds like bungee cords might be the go.

The fix is estimated to take 30 minutes at the

dealer

and entails removing the tailgate cover and installing a stop block to prevent the locking actuator’s pivot arm from traveling too far. FCA says it will reimburse owners for any other

repairs

made to address the problem.

Meanwhile, owners can contact

Fiat

Chrysler Automobiles customer service at 800-853-1403, and refer to FCA’s number for this recall, V44. The

NHTSA

campaign number is 19V-347. Last year’s recall comes under FCA number U74, and NHTSA campaign number 18V-486.

Ram’s not alone on this field. The

NHTSA continues to investigate

the 2017

Ford

Super Duty pickups for a similar issue.