Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) has announced a recall affecting approximately 80,629 units of its popular 2014 to 2019 Ram 1500 (DS) and 2014 to 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2) vehicles. The recall is related to an issue with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine, which could result in the engine stalling while driving.
The specific problem identified is the potential delamination of the crankshaft position sensor tone wheel. This component plays a crucial role in synchronizing the fuel injector pulses and camshaft timing within the engine. If the tone wheel becomes delaminated, it can lead to a loss of synchronization, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly.
The consequence of an engine stall can be severe, as it may result in a sudden loss of motive power, potentially leading to a vehicle crash. The stalling issue can occur without any prior warning, posing a significant safety risk to drivers, passengers, and other road users.
Vehicles Affected:
- Ram 1500 (DS) – Specifically, 58,393 units manufactured between June 12th, 2013, and December 13th, 2019, are included in the recall.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2) – The recall encompasses 22,236 units produced between December 19th, 2012, and October 13th, 2019.
Recall Chronology:
- On May 9th, 2023, the FCA US Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (“TSRC”) organization opened an investigation into 2014-2019 MY Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 MY Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles built with 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engines with tone (“reluctor”) wheels that have insufficient bond between the magnetic coating and the tone wheel body.
- During May 2023, FCA US TSRC conducted an analysis of stall patterns and vehicle history and determined that the affected vehicles were equipped with the Gen II 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine and the crankshaft tone wheel was the origin of the stalls.
- As of June 1st, 2023, FCA US is aware of 10 customer assistance records, 611 warranty claims, and three field reports potentially related to this issue for all markets with dates of receipt ranging from September 29th, 2015, through May 23rd, 2023.
- As of June 1st, 2023, FCA US is not aware of any accidents or injuries potentially related to this issue for all markets.
- On June 1st, 2023, FCA US determined, through the Vehicle Regulations Committee, to conduct a voluntary safety recall of the affected vehicles.
To address the issue, Stellantis dealers will provide a free update to the powertrain control module software. This update will help maintain vehicle propulsion and prevent engine stalling. The company is actively working on notifying affected owners, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 28th, 2023.
Owners of the recalled vehicles are advised to contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403 for further information and to schedule the necessary repairs. Stellantis has assigned the recall the identification number 66A, which indicates that it is an expansion of a previous recall (20V-475).
In addition to contacting the automaker, owners can also reach out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit the official NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov for more details regarding this recall.
