Lawsuit alleges that RAM 1500 recalls ‘failed’ to fix steering issues in hundreds of trucks
A recent class action lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler states that a RAM 1500 recall missed the mark in its fix of faulty power steering systems. The news follows a 2023 NHTSA investigation into the power steering units in over one million RAM 1500 trucks and multiple recalls.
Chrysler motioned to dismiss the RAM 1500 lawsuit, citing that the trucks aren’t ‘defective’ and the issues ‘have been repaired’
According to a recent class action lawsuit, Fiat Chrysler’s remedies for problematic power steering systems in RAM 1500 pickup trucks failed to fix the potentially dangerous problems. The brand, on the other hand, asserts that the trucks are fine.
The lawsuit, which plaintiffs filed last year, involves “All persons or entities who purchased or leased a 2013-2024 RAM 1500 vehicle in the United States from an authorized FCA dealership.” Of course, in 2021, FCA merged with the French Group PSA to form Stellantis, but the lawsuit still includes models produced after the merger.
It started with a Chrysler-issued recall of RAM 1500 trucks back in 2016 for the power steering defect. However, that was limited to fewer than 500 trucks, and dealerships replaced the control units.
Since then, another RAM power steering recall popped up, this time naming fewer than 200 units. More troublingly, however, the NHTSA has an ongoing investigation into the RAM power steering issues. That 2023 investigation covers over one million individual trucks.
According to Car Complaints, two of the plaintiffs in the class action suit assert that the power steering systems “fail without warning” during operation. While that doesn’t prevent RAM 1500 drivers from steering the vehicle, it does require more force to steer. If you’ve ever driven an older car without power steering, you have an idea.
Still, the plaintiffs claim that driving the trucks is risky, and owners have to spend an average of $3,000 or $4,000 to remedy the situation themselves. Chrysler, however, thinks that the trucks are fine.
The brand filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, with noteworthy success. At the national level, the claims have been all but dismissed. However, several state-level claims remain from Florida and Pennsylvania.
