Recall Alert: 2019 Ram 1500 Has Faulty Safety Software

Rams are known for their stubborn attitude. In the case of the 1500, the pickup truck might as well be known for its stubborn tendency… to be recalled.

The latest recall now involves the latest-gen 2019 and 2020 model years. According to Ram, both versions might have faulty safety software that might affect the vehicles’ airbags and seatbelt pretensioners.

In a press release last Friday, parent company FCA says a software bug might prevent the occupant restraint modules from properly resetting during engine start. The restraint module governs both the airbags and the pretensioners, and they might in turn fail to work properly or deploy in the event of an accident.

The recall includes about 343,000 Ram 1500 trucks built from Oct. 2017 to May 2019. One third of the trucks are still in dealerships, while the 2020 models are preproduction versions owned by Ram. The vast majority (295,981) are located in the US, Canada accounts for 38,884 units, while Mexico has 1,817. The remaining 6,100= trucks can be found outside North America.

Some of the affected trucks might display an instrument panel warning light alerting owners to the fault. According to FCA, the potential for restraint module failure is “highly remote”, and a software fix should be available by the end of this month.

To know if your 1500 is part of the recall, you can enter the vehicle’s VIN at NHTSA’s website, or call FCA’s customer service hotline at 1-800-853-1403.

The safety software fault is the latest in a series of recalls to hit the 1500. Last year, 2014-2018 models faced a cruise control issue, while a million trucks from 2015-2017 had defective tailgate locks that might cause the tailgate to drop suddenly.

And just last month, owners of EcoDiesel 1500s from 2014-2016 are due to receive up to $3,000 cash compensation as part of FCA’s $400 million settlement due to alleged emissions cheating.