Recall “Fix” FAILS—Massive Safety Risk

recall

A truck designed to haul mountains has been rolling away unexpectedly—even after a fix was supposed to make it safe—leaving a trail of lawsuits, investigations, and a question that haunts America’s driveways: can you trust your gear shifter more than your Great Aunt Edna at Thanksgiving?

At a Glance

  • Over a million Ram trucks are under investigation for rollaway risks, even after safety recalls.
  • Multiple people have been injured or killed following the “fix” intended to stop trucks from shifting out of park.
  • The NHTSA is scrutinizing whether the original recall remedy actually worked—or made things worse.
  • The outcome could reshape how automakers handle recalls and how millions view their own parked vehicles.

Danger Lurking in Park: How Ram Trucks Got Here

In the world of pickup trucks, nothing is supposed to move unless you say so—especially when the gearshift is in “park.” Yet, between 2013 and 2018, millions of Ram trucks rolled off the line with a flaw in their brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system. This system is the vehicular equivalent of a bouncer at a nightclub: you don’t leave unless you follow the rules. But a glitch meant that sometimes, the bouncer nodded off, letting trucks roll out of park with no brake pedal pressed. This wasn’t a minor oopsie. By 2017, FCA (now Stellantis) had to recall a massive fleet, thinking a quick fix would keep these heavyweights in their place. The recall was meant to keep families, pets, and garden gnomes safe from unexpected truck migrations.

But the story didn’t end with a recall sticker and a handshake. After these “fixes,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started hearing troubling things: 14 complaints rolled in, reporting six injuries or deaths after the supposed solution. It was as if the trucks got together and decided to rebel—a vehicular uprising, one driveway at a time. Owners found themselves facing not just a mechanical mystery, but an existential question: when you park a Ram, is it really parked?

The Recall That Wouldn’t Die: What Went Wrong After the “Fix”?

When a vehicle recall happens, you expect the crisis to dissipate like a bad smell after a thunderstorm. Ram’s recall, however, has stuck around, stubbornly clinging to headlines and court dockets like dog hair on a suit. NHTSA’s new investigation focuses on nearly 1.2 million trucks, zeroing in on whether the post-recall repairs actually did anything to stop the rollaways. The timeline is as tangled as a family reunion seating chart: fixes rolled out in 2017 and 2018, but by 2025, a fresh set of complaints and heartache has brought federal regulators back for a second look.

Truck owners aren’t just frustrated—they’re anxious. The whole point of driving a Ram 3500 is to feel like the king of the road, not to worry that your chariot might slip the leash and flatten your mailbox. Dealers are caught in the middle, fielding a flood of questions and bracing for more work if another recall is announced. Stellantis, for its part, is staying mum while NHTSA does its detective work. As of July 2025, no new recall has been announced, but the tension is thick enough to stall a V8.

Who Pays the Price: Fallout for Owners, Industry, and the Law

The ripple effect of these rollaway incidents extends far beyond the unlucky few whose trucks made an unscheduled journey. Ram owners are left wondering if they’ll have to park on a hill and use a boulder for a wheel chock. Dealers, already swamped with service calls, must juggle customer nerves and legal risk. Stellantis faces not only the threat of further recalls but also a bill that could make a hedge fund manager sweat—especially if class action lawsuits multiply.

Regulators are using this case as a testbed for the future: can federal oversight force automakers to get recall remedies right the first time? The broader industry is watching closely, knowing that if Ram’s fixes are found wanting, everyone’s recall playbook might need a rewrite. Even insurance companies are on edge, tallying the cost of unexpected rollaway claims and wondering what other time bombs might be ticking under the hoods of America’s most trusted rides.

Expert Views: What the Pros and Watchdogs Say About Fixing the Unfixable

Automotive experts are raising their eyebrows higher than a lifted suspension, pointing out that modern vehicles are so complex that even the best-intended recalls can fall short. Legal analysts smell blood in the water, noting that if a manufacturer’s fix doesn’t stick, the courtroom could become very busy—and very expensive. Scholars and consumer advocates are urging for more transparency, stronger remedies, and a lot more humility from automakers when things go sideways after a recall.

Meanwhile, owners and industry insiders both agree on one thing: parking should not feel like a gamble. As the NHTSA probes deeper, the entire sector is bracing for what comes next. Whether Ram’s fix will ultimately get the job done, or if the world’s most popular pickups will remain America’s most unpredictable, is a question that keeps everyone—from regulators to truck owners—on the edge of their seats.

Sources:

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