FCA Recalls more than 1M Trucks for Airbag Problems
Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) made news recently after announcing a recall affecting over 1 million pickup trucks for a problem potentially connected to at least one death and two injuries.
The manufacturer announced May 12 it would recall 1,021,279 2013-2016 Dodge Ram 1500, 2013-2016 Dodge Ram 2500 and 2014-2016 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup trucks for a software error that can disable side airbags in a rollover crash. The recall covers vehicles sold outside of the United States, including 216,007 trucks in Canada, 21,668 trucks in Mexico and 21,530 trucks outside of North America.
FCA submitted a safety recall report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 9, which was posted online May 15, 2017. The manufacturer stated the affected trucks are equipped with Occupant Restraint Controllers (ORC) which deploy rollover side curtain airbags and seatbelt pretensioners. The ORCs’ roll rate sensors determine when to deploy the airbags and pretensioners.
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Per a Reuters report, a “significant underbody impact” such as the vehicle striking road debris or driving off road before rolling over could cause the ORC to generate an error code. That code disables the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners, increasing truck occupants’ crash injury risks.
The safety recall report identified Plymouth, Michigan based Robert Bosch LLC as the ORC’s manufacturer.
FCA released its internal chronology showing they began investigating the issue on Dec. 21, 2016 after learning of litigation involving a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 that rolled over without deploying airbags or seatbelt pretensioners.
The manufacturer formed a working group including their own investigators as well as agents with U.S. Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance, which inspected and tested the ORCs and how they interacted with safety systems in various environmental tests. Their engineers determined ORCs could generate the error code in very specific circumstances, disabling the safety measures.
The company said by April 28, 2017, they knew of two injuries and one death possibly related to the faulty ORCs.
FCA will notify owners and dealers will update the ORC software free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 23, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is T25. Concerned owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
If you own a warrantied vehicle, its manufacturer is legally compelled by the warranty terms to fix any problem covered. If the dealership refuses to repair your warrantied vehicle, contact the manufacturer immediately. If the manufacturer doesn’t remedy the problem, they are in violation of the warranty’s terms and a lawyer may be able to assist 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.