Ram will notify diesel Ram HD owners about the recall in January 2022.
The automaker announced this week it will recall 222,410 trucks in the U.S., after the NHTSA launched a probe into the matter last month. This issue affects 2019-2020 diesel-equipped trucks across the heavy duty lineup, from the Ram 2500 through the 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs.
Per the NHTSA’s safety report, “A high pressure fuel pump failure may introduce internally failed component debris into the fuel system, potentially causing fuel starvation.” If debris from a defective fuel pump were to block the fuel system, the trucks could unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash. To date, FCA US LLC (now under Stellantis) is aware of 6,399 warranty claims and 495 customer assistance records ranging from August 28, 2018 to September 20, 2021. However, the company said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem.
When the safety agency started looking into defective high pressure fuel pumps, their documents noted the stalling occurred when the trucks were moving faster than 25 mph. The problem, when it occurred, resulted in “permanent disablement of the vehicle.” Drivers may notice a warning light, fuel leak or abnormal engine noise as signs of a problematic high pressure fuel pump.
The recall affects trucks built between October 11, 2018 and November 13, 2020.
Corrective action to address the Ram fuel pump issue (and another recall)
FCA should begin notifying dealers and owners of the problem around January 1. From there, owners can arrange to replace the high pressure fuel pump. Depending on the scale of the problem, the dealer may also update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software and inspect or replace other fuel system components.
This is not the only recall Ram HD owners with the Cummins turbodiesel should know about. Late last month, Stellantis also put out a notice covering over 131,000 trucks for potential fire risk. Find out more about that in the video below.
Owners can contact Stellantis at (800) 853-1403 for more information, or plug their 17-character VIN into the NHTSA’s recall website.
