Today, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling more than 1 million Ram pickup trucks in the U.S. and more than 200,000 in Canada. This recall is voluntary because of a computer error that is potentially affecting the side air bags and seat belts of the car. The error could cause accidents since it prevents the airbags from deploying when necessary.
As reported by USA Today, the automaker states that one casualty, two injuries, as well as two accidents, may be associated with the issue. Other details of the accidents were still not released and provided. The company's announcement is just focused on the said recall. The affected Fiat Chrysler pickups are certain 2013 to 2016 Ram 1500 and 2500 trucks and 2014 to 2016 Ram 3500 trucks.
According to the company, those customers who own pickup trucks under the said models will be advised when they may schedule a certain service. This includes the reprogram of their computer system and modules. Aside from the recorded vehicles in US and Canada, there are also 21,668 cars in Mexico and 21,530 cars elsewhere in the globe that are also part of the company's recall.
The problems appear to arise from the vehicles’ roll-rate sensing software, as reported by Slash Gear. This application is originally designed to deploy the side curtain airbags and lock the seat belts in position during a rollover. Since the main issue is related to the safety of the driver and passengers, the company is surely rolling out a plan in order to fix this issue. And maybe, their first move is this recall.
In fact, a Fiat Chrysler investigation has already identified the "population of vehicles equipped with modules featuring certain types of sensors. If the affected pickup vehicles experience a “significant underbody impact,” the computer modules could possibly conclude the sensor has failed and activate an apparatus of cluster warning light. In that case, the drivers can reset the whole system by turning the vehicle off and turning it back on.
