The Ram truck rollaway saga isn’t over just yet. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new investigation into more than 1.1 million Ram trucks that may still be at risk of rolling away, even after a recall fix was supposedly completed. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it is. This latest probe centers around the same issue that triggered two previous recalls, and now there’s growing concern that the original remedy may not have worked at all.
Ram Trucks At Risk: Which Models Are Involved?
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is taking a second look at 2013–2018 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with column shifters—not the rotary dial that gets all the hate. These vehicles were already recalled under campaigns 17V-821 and 18V-100 to fix a brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) issue that could allow the truck to shift out of park without the brake pedal being depressed.
If your Ram has had this fix done—or even if you think it hasn’t—it might be time to double-check everything before parking on an incline.
Here’s where it gets sketchy: owners are now reporting that even after receiving that fix, their trucks can still shift out of park without touching the brake—or worse, without the key in the ignition at all. That’s a serious problem if you’re parked on any kind of slope or near people, property, or traffic.
Injuries Reported Despite Completed Recalls
According to the NHTSA, 14 vehicle owner reports and 6 Early Warning Reports linked to injuries have surfaced related to the supposed post-recall “fix.” All the affected vehicles had the repair done. So far, there have been seven reported injuries across six separate incidents. No fatalities have occurred yet, but this is the kind of defect that doesn’t need a big body count to raise alarms—especially when we’re talking about multi-ton trucks that can cause serious damage if they get loose.
Ram Responds As NHTSA Steps In
When asked for a statement, a Ram spokesperson said the company is “cooperating with NHTSA,” but offered no additional comment. That’s a standard response in these early-stage investigations. If the ODI finds a pattern or widespread failure, a new recall could be issued–again.
And no, you don’t need to be an engineer to understand why a 6,000-pound truck—or even a 9,000-pound Ram dually—unexpectedly rolling away is a nightmare scenario. Especially if the engine’s off and the power brakes are non-functional. That’s the kind of problem you don’t want to discover the hard way.
Stellantis Can’t Catch A Break
This fresh Ram probe comes just days after the NHTSA opened a similar investigation into Dodge Dart models that were recalled for a different rollaway issue. That one involves faulty shift cable bushings, not the BTSI system. But the takeaway is the same: Stellantis is under pressure for alleged recall fixes that didn’t stick.
If your Ram has had this fix done—or even if you think it hasn’t—it might be time to double-check everything before parking on an incline. Here’s hoping the third time’s the charm.
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