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Ram pickup trucks’ dilemma: wheels can fall off

James Raia

Stellantis, the new owner of Fiat-Chrysler, has made a dubious announcement — the wheels of more than a half-million of its Ram pickup trucks can fall off.

As such, the manufacturer announced 510,000 Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickups and Ram 4500 and 5500 cab-chassis vehicles from 2012 to 2021 and mostly from North American have been recalled.

More than 500,000 Ram pickup trucks have been recalled because the wheels can fall off.
More than 500,000 Ram pickup trucks have been recalled because the wheels can fall off.

More than 500,000 Ram pickup trucks have been recalled because the wheels can fall off.

Ram Pickup Trucks Have Loose Nuts

The trucks in question have dual rear wheels and flanged lug nuts.

Stellantis said some service and owner’s manuals had the wrong torque specifications for tightening the lug nuts that hold the wheels to the hubs. If the nuts were tightened too much, the wheel studs could be damaged and the wheels could come off.

The manufacturer, which uses the slogan “Grab Life,” called the issue “wheel separation.”

The Ram 1500 is among many pickup trucks receiving poor grades by Consumer Reports.
The Ram 1500 is among many pickup trucks receiving poor grades by Consumer Reports.

Stellantis formed its current roster in January from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group. It said it’s unaware of any related injuries or accidents. The company detailed the only affected vehicles would be those that have had wheels removed for service.

“There is no component defect and torque applied during vehicle assembly is within specification, so the recall condition may only be present in vehicles that have been subject to wheel-removal as part of a service or upfit procedure,” according to a news release.

“Dealers are currently in possession of correct service instructions, and production vehicles are now being delivered with updated owner’s manuals. The campaign is limited to vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels and flanged lug nuts.”

The recall affects trucks in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and an estimated 104 vehicles elsewhere.

The company, which plans to correct service and owner’s manuals and inspect and replace wheel studs as needed free of charge, said it would inform customers when service is available.

Article Last Updated: June 22, 2021.

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