Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) is recalling almost 300,000 pickup trucks from specific states after discovering road salt exposure can cause potentially dangerous corrosion.
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The manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) they will recall 270,254 2009-2012 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks built between May 28, 2008 and January 31, 2012. Specifically, they are recalling those trucks ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
The affected vehicles were built at FCA’s Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Michigan and the St. Louis Assembly Plant in Fenton, Missouri.
FCA engineers began investigating the issues on May 1, 2017 following a customer complaint of a detached fuel tank strap. Throughout the summer and early fall of 2017 engineers analyzed the extent of the problem, specifically how far a full fuel tank lowers with the front fuel tank strap disconnected from the frame.
Further investigation found the overwhelming majority of cases originating in the “salt belt states;” those states which frequently use road salt to mitigate icy road conditions. Road salt exposure can corrode the strap, letting the fuel tank drop and contact the ground.
FCA will notify owners and dealers will bolt a bracket reinforcement to the frame, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 27, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is U04. Chryslers owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
The manufacturer of your vehicle is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide the loss value of your recalled vehicle, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to help you.
Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.