Safety Recall VB8 – Electric Power Steering Gear – 2019 Ram 1500

November 14, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V812000

Electric Power Steering Gear Can Short Circuit

An intermittent loss of power steering assist may cause an inconsistent steering effort, especially during lower speed maneuvers, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V812

Manufacturer Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

Components STEERING

Potential Number of Units Affected 193

 

Summary

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 1500 trucks. These vehicles may have been built with a contaminated electric power steering (EPS) gear that may short circuit, potentially resulting in an intermittent loss of power steering assist.

 

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 12, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA’s number for this recall is VB8.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Vehicle has a Recall

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Revised December 2019

Dealer Service Instructions for:

Safety Recall VB8 / NHTSA 19V-812 Electric Power Steering Gear

NOTE: No core return required for this campaign.

 

Remedy Available

 

NOTE:  Some vehicles above may have been identified as not involved in this recall and therefore have been excluded from this recall.

IMPORTANT:  Some of the involved vehicles may be in dealer new vehicle inventory.  Federal law requires you to complete this recall service on these vehicles before retail delivery.  Dealers should also consider this requirement to apply to used vehicle inventory and should perform this recall on vehicles in for service.  Involved vehicles can be determined by using the VIP inquiry process.

 

Subject

The Electric Power Steering (EPS) gear on about 190 of the above vehicles may have contamination which could cause a short circuit. A short in the control circuit components may result in an intermittent loss of power steering assist which may cause an inconsistent steering effort, especially during lower speed maneuvers. Inconsistent steering effort can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.

 

Repair

The EPS gear must be replaced on all involved vehicles.

 

Alternate Transportation

Dealers should attempt to minimize customer inconvenience by placing the owner in a loaner vehicle if the vehicle must be held overnight.

 

Parts Information

EPS gear part numbers are specific to the vehicle build plant. Refer to the first digit of the VIN. Order the correct part based on VIN first digit.

 

Parts Return

No parts return required for this campaign.

Render the recalled EPS gear unusable and discard.

 

Special Tools

The following special tools are required to perform this repair:

 

Service Procedure

EPS Gear Removal

 

1. Position the vehicle on a suitable lift.

 

2. Place the ignition in the OFF position.

 

3. Using a steering wheel holder, lock the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock center position to keep it from rotating. This keeps the clockspring in the proper orientation (Figure 1).

 

4. Open the hood.

 

5. Disconnect the Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) wire harness connector (Figure 2).

 

6. Remove the M8 negative battery cable eyelet nut (Figure 2).

 

7. Remove the negative battery cable eyelet and isolate the negative battery cable away from the IBS negative cable terminal (Figure 2).

 

8. Loosen the M6 battery cable clamp with IBS captive nut (Figure 2).

 

NOTE: Do not remove the M6 captive nut, doing so may cause the M6 stud on the battery cable clamp with IBS to break (Figure 2).

 

9. Partially raise the vehicle on an appropriate hoist.

 

10. Remove and save the front tires and wheels.

 

11. For 4×2 vehicles, loosen the left outer tie rod end jam nut (Figure 3).

 

12. Remove and DISCARD the right and left side outer tie rod nuts (Figure 3).

 

13. Using Special Tool 9360 or equivalent, separate both outer tie rod ends from the steering knuckle arms.

 

14. For 4×2 vehicles, remove and discard the left outer tie rod end.

 

NOTE: Removing the left tie rod end will give clearance required to remove the EPS gear from the vehicle.

 

15. Raise the vehicle completely on the hoist.

 

16. If Equipped, remove the front skid plate.

 

17. Remove and DISCARD the steering column intermediate shaft lower pinch bolt (Figure 4).

 

18. Separate the steering column intermediate shaft from the EPS gear shaft.

 

19. Disconnect the two electrical connectors located at Electric Power Steering (EPS) gear (Figure 5).  

 

20. Remove and save the two EPS gear mounting bolts (Figure 6).

 

21. For 4×2 vehicles, turn the EPS gear steering shaft to the full right turn position.

 

NOTE: Turning the EPS gear to the full right turn position will give clearance required to remove the EPS gear from the vehicle.

 

22. Remove the EPS gear then render it unusable and discard.

 

NOTE: No other vehicle components need to be removed to gain clearance for EPS gear removal.

 

EPS Gear Installation

 

1. For 4×2 vehicles, if the tie rod ends are installed on new EPS gear, remove and save the left tie rod end from the new EPS gear.

 

2. For 4×2 vehicles, turn the new EPS gear steering shaft to the full right turn position.

 

3. Position the new EPS gear to the front crossmember.

 

4. Install the two EPS gear mounting bolts and tighten them to 180 N·m + 90° turn (133 ft. lbs. + 90° turn) (Figure 6).

 

5. Connect the two electrical connectors at EPS gear (Figure 5).

 

6. For 4×2 vehicles, center the steering gear by turning the EPS gear steering shaft from lock-to-lock, counting the turns. Then turn the steering shaft half the turns that are required to go lock-to-lock.

 

7. Slide the intermediate shaft onto the EPS gear shaft and install a NEW intermediate shaft pinch bolt. Tighten the pinch bolt to 55 N·m (41 ft. lbs.) (Figure 4).

 

8. Install the new tie rod ends to the new EPS gear if not already installed.

 

9. Clean and dry the tie rod end studs and the tapers in the steering knuckle arms. Then install the tie rod ends into the steering knuckles.

 

10. Install NEW tie rod end to knuckle nuts. Tighten the nuts to 30 N·m + 90° turn (22 ft. lbs. + 90° turn) (Figure 5).

 

11. If Equipped, remove the front skid plate. Tighten the bolts to 18 N·m (13 ft. lbs.).

 

12. Partially lower the vehicle from the hoist.

 

13. Install the front tires and wheels. Tighten the lug nuts to:
    • Coned Nut 176 N·m (130 ft. lbs.).
    • Flanged Nut 190 N·m (140 ft. lbs.).

 

14. Lower the vehicle from the hoist.

 

15. Loosen the M6 battery cable clamp with IBS captive nut (Figure 2).

 

NOTE: Do not remove the M6 captive nut, doing so may cause the M6 stud on the battery cable clamp with IBS to break (Figure 2).

 

16. Install the negative battery cable eyelet on the IBS M8 stud (Figure 2).

 

17. Connect the IBS wire harness connector. Make sure there is no stress on the wires (Figure 2).

 

18. Install and tightening the M8 negative battery cable eyelet nut to 16 N·m (12 ft. lbs.) (Figure 2).

 

NOTE: The M8 negative battery cable eyelet nut has a higher torque than the M6 battery cable clamp with IBS nut and can break the IBS free if the M6 nut is tightened first.

 

NOTE: Avoid rotating the IBS during tightening of the M8 nut in order to avoid contact between the wire harness connector receptacle and the battery.

 

19. Tighten the M6 battery cable clamp with IBS nut to 6 N·m (53 in. lbs.) (Figure 2).

 

20. Install a battery charger. Verify that the charging rate provides 13.0 to 13.5 volts. Set the battery charger timer (if so equipped) to continuous charge.

 

NOTE:  Use an accurate stand-alone voltmeter.  The battery charger volt meter may not be sufficiently accurate.  Voltages outside of the specified range will cause an unsuccessful flash.  If voltage reading is too high, apply an electrical load by activating the park or headlamps and/or HVAC blower motor to lower the voltage.

 

21. Connect the wiTECH micro pod II to the vehicle data link connector.

 

22. Place the ignition in the “RUN” position.

 

23. Open the wiTECH 2.0 website.

 

24. Enter your “User id” and “Password” and your “Dealer Code”, then select “Sign In” at the bottom of the screen. Click “Accept”.

 

25. From the “Vehicle Selection” screen, select the vehicle to be updated.

 

26. From the “Action Items” screen, select the “Topology” tab.

 

27. From the “Topology” tab, select the “EPS” module icon.

 

28. Select the “ Functions” tab.

 

29. Select “Clear Steering Pull Compensation”.

 

30. Follow the screen prompts to complete the task.

 

31. Click “View DTCs”, select “Clear All DTCs”, click “Continue” and then click “Close”.

 

32. Place the ignition in the “OFF” position and then remove the wiTECH micro pod II device from the vehicle.

 

33. Remove the battery charger from the vehicle and close the hood.

 

34. Place the truck on an alignment rack and set the toe alignment per specifications published in DealerConnect Service Library. Tighten the tie rod end jam nuts to 90 N·m (66 ft. lbs.).

 

NOTE: Follow the alignment rack manufacturer’s instructions to complete the alignment.

 

35. Road test the vehicle to verify steering wheel is centered.

 

36. Return the vehicle to the customer or vehicle inventory.

 

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1 Affected Product

Vehicle

 

 

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12 Associated Documents

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-19V812-7199.pdf 1392.616KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-1

RCLQRT-19V812-6581.PDF 211.239KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19V812-8855.PDF 211.143KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-2

RCLQRT-19V812-0210.PDF 211.324KB

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V812-6902.PDF 213.992KB

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V812-5869.pdf 244.182KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – 11/21/2019 New Safety Recall Advanced Communication – VB8

RCMN-19V812-6598.pdf 99.883KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – 11/15/2019 New Safety Recall Advanced Communication – VB8

RCMN-19V812-5046.pdf 97.787KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-19V812-3365.pdf 1392.731KB

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Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V812-3251.pdf 515.963KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2020-3

RCLQRT-19V812-0934.PDF 211.431KB

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ISSUED Renotification Notice

RCRN-19V812-7798.pdf 137.01KB

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V812&docType=RCL

 

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