For the second time in three months, Ram is recalling 340,000 2500 and 3500 trucks equipped with Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel engines. This comes on the heels of its previous recall for the same issue exactly three months ago. There have been six reports of fires so far. 

Didn’t Ram just issue a recall for engine fires in November?

The problem in November was a result of transmissions building up pressure and heat. This causes fluid leaks which can lead to fires. Back then there were 16 reports of fires, including one minor injury. Since 2019 there have been 10 safety recalls for Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks. 

The recall today has a different cause but the same result. Intake heater grid relays are overheating. “In rare instances, this condition may pose a fire risk,” from the Stellantis announcement. 

What do heater grids do in a Ram Cummins engine?

Heater grids work to enhance the ignition of the diesel fuel-air mixture for startups and better performance in cold ambient temperatures. The relays control the heater grids. Over 340,000 trucks, including 2021 to 2023 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis trucks. 

Ram warns owners not to park in or near structures due to the potential fire risk. With the six reported fires, Stellantis says it is not aware of any injuries or accidents. Five of them occurred while the truck was driving, and one after the truck was turned off. 

Didn’t Ram issue a recall over heater grids last year?

Though this is the second fire-related recall for the 6.7-liter Cummins, it is the third recall over heater grid relays. There were two recalls for the previous generation Cummins heater-grid relays. The first was issued in March 2021 for 20,000 2500 and 3500 trucks. In October, a second recall involved 130,000 trucks, with an additional 280,000 Cummins-powered trucks looped in the following month. 

Last year there was also a recall related to the 6.7 Cummins. This one was for issues with engine control modules essentially crashing. ECM replacements are under warranty, as are these latest recalls. 

And the 6.7 Cummins has not been without its problems. When the new version of the engine debuted in the all-new Ram 1500, it switched to the new twin-piston CP4.2 Bosch fuel pump. It replaced the Bosch CP3 high-pressure fuel pump. Cummins used it in other Cummins applications as well, according to Diesel World.

Are 6.7-liter Cummins engines having problems?

But the CP4.2 lasted only two years before Cummins switched back to the CP3 in 2021. Still, earlier Ram trucks were stuck with the problematic CP4.2. In November 2021, Ram issued a recall to replace all of the CP4.2-equipped Cummins engines with the CP3.

All of these Ram recalls pale in comparison to the recall in December for over 1.4 million trucks. This involved tailgates not closing properly from misaligned latches. The concern was that when tailgates opened at speed, cargo could spill out potentially causing hazards for vehicles coming up on the cargo in the road. Trucks from 2019 to 2022 are part of this recall. 

Owners will be notified next month. If you have concerns about your Ram truck, you can go to its recall website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Make sure you have your VIN handy to plug in for more information, or you can call 1-800-853-1403.