Stellantis is recalling more than a half-million of its largest Ram trucks because of bad information in owner’s manuals that has prompted concerns about “wheel separation.”
If owners remove and reattach the wheels or have that done during servicing and the instructions in the owner’s manual are followed, the worry is that the lug nuts might be overtightened, according to the company. That could potentially compromise the wheel studs and lead to wheel separation.
The company, which formed in January from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group, said it is unaware of any related injuries or accidents.
“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.”
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The recall affects more than 510,000 2012-21 Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickups and 4500 and 5500 cab-chassis vehicles 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.
Anyone with questions can call (800) 853-1403.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence. Become a subscriber.