Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is recalling approximately 58,000 vehicles with the company’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 due to possible engine stalling. The recall will affect 2014 to 2018 Ram 1500 models (produced from June 13th, 2014 to March 7th, 2018) and 2014 to 2016 Jeep® Grand Cherokee (produced from June 9th, 2014 to March 29th, 2016).
According to documents sent to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from FCA, some of the above vehicles may have been built with magnetic material attached to the tone wheel which provides a signal to the crankshaft position sensor. If this signal material is lost, the engine loses its ability to synchronize injector pulses and cam timing. This loss of crankshaft position can result in an engine stall, as well as a loss of the ability to restart the engine. A loss of motive power can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Chronology :
- On March 5th, 2020, FCA US LLC (“FCA US”) Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance (“VSRC”) organization
opened an investigation based on information from the FCA US Quality group that some 3.0-liter diesel vehicles
may be experiencing stalls, possibly due to tone wheel failures. - In March and April 2020, FCA US VSRC met with FCA US Powertrain Quality and FCA US Powertrain
Engineering to review claim information associated with diesel tone wheel replacements where a loss of
motive power was alleged in order to investigate failure modes and identify potentially affected components. - In May and June 2020, FCA US VSRC continued to meet with FCA US Powertrain Engineering and was able to
acquire and analyze returned warranty parts in a continued effort to identify the potential root cause and affect
production periods. - As of July 31st, 2020, FCA US has identified 13 CAIRs, 1,020 warranty claims, and six field reports relating to
this issue. - As of July 31st, 2020, FCA US is not aware of any accidents or injuries relating to this issue.
- On August 6th, 2020, FCA US determined, through the Vehicle Regulations Committee, to conduct a voluntary
safety recall of the affected vehicles.
FCA will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost. FCA has a longstanding policy and practice of reimbursing owners who have incurred the cost of repairing a problem that subsequently becomes the subject of field action. To ensure consistency, FCA, as part of the owner letter, will request that customers send the original receipt and/or other adequate proof of payment to the company for confirmation of the expense.
FCA will notify owners, and dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 2nd, 2020. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-2002. FCA’s number for this recall is W58.
Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov.
