ZB8 Tailgate May Open While Driving – 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, & 3500

December 8, 2022 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 22V904000

Tailgate May Open While Driving

An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V904

Manufacturer Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)

Components STRUCTURE

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,234,657

 

Summary

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.

 

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC’s number for this recall is ZB8.

 

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.nhtsa.gov.

 

Check if your Vehicle has a Recall

 

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New Safety Recall Advanced Communication – ZB8

FCA US LLC (FCA US) has announced a safety recall on certain 2019-2022 (D2) Ram 3500 Pickup, 2019-2022 (DJ) Ram 2500 Pickup, 2019-2022 (DT) Ram 1500 Pickup and 2019-2022 (DX) Ram Truck (Mexico) vehicles.

 

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL

Some of the above vehicles may have been built with one or both tailgate strikers misaligned. Misaligned tailgate strikers may cause a failure to properly latch the tailgate. An improperly latched tailgate may result in an unintended tailgate opening while driving or stationary.

An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, potentially creating a road hazard to operators and occupants of other vehicles and can cause such vehicles to crash without prior warning.

 

SERVICE ACTION

FCA US will conduct a voluntary safety recall to inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust if necessary. The remedy for this condition is not currently available. Dealers will be notified of the launch of this safety recall by way of established communication methods. This recall is estimated to launch in 1st Quarter of 2023.

 

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December 2022

Dealer Service Instructions for:

Safety Recall ZB8 / NHTSA 22V-904 Tailgate Latch Alignment

Remedy Available  

2019-2022 (D2) Ram 3500 Pickup

2019-2022 (DJ) Ram 2500 Pickup

2019-2022 (DT) Ram 1500 Pickup

 

NOTE:  For 2019, this recall applies only to the above vehicles without Tailgate Warning Lamp (sales code LAN), or Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist (sales code XH5) or Multifunction Tailgate (sales code MWK).

For 2020 – 2022 vehicles, this recall applies only to the above vehicles without Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist (sales code XH5) or Multifunction Tailgate (sales code MWK).

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 toapply to used vehicle inventory and should perform this recall on vehicles in forservice.  Involved vehicles can be determined by using the VIP inquiry process.

 

Subject

The tailgate on about 1,234,650 of the above vehicles may have been built with one or both tailgate strikers misaligned. Misaligned tailgate strikers may cause a failure to properly latch the tailgate. An improperly latched tailgate may result in an unintended tailgate opening while driving or stationary.

An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, potentially creating a road hazard to operators and occupants of other vehicles and can cause such vehicles to crash without prior warning.

 

Repair

Check tailgate function, and adjust the tailgate strikers as needed.

 

Parts Information

No parts are required to perform this service procedure.

 

Parts Return

No parts return required for this campaign.

 

Special Tools

No special tools are required to perform this service procedure.

 

Service Procedure

A. Inspect Tailgate Operation

NOTE: The goal of this repair is the eliminate tailgate binding and minimize the force required to fully latch the tailgate. Fitting the tailgate for flushness is secondary to the ensuring the tailgate has no binding.

 

NOTE: Assure that no component, equipment, tonneau cover or debris is inhibiting proper tailgate operation.

 

1. If the vehicle has a tonneau cover, fold it back away from the tailgate. Make sure no tonneau rail or seal is touching the tailgate.

 

NOTE: The intention of the test at Step 2 is to see if the strikers hold the tailgate up after it is unlatched.

 

2. Test the tailgate function by:

• Unlatch the tailgate by pressing the handle.
• Hold the tailgate upright for a few seconds to prevent the auto drop.
• Allow the gate to free fall.
• Lift the tailgate to the upright position, but do not latch it.
• Allow it to free fall again.
• Repeat this test a 3rd time.

 

3. Does the tailgate fall open on its own?

• If yes, the strikers are adjusted properly and not dragging. Close the recall and claim the appropriate labor time.
• If no, continue with Step 4.

 

NOTE: While adjusting strikers, keep flush in mind but always prioritize closing efforts.

 

4. Make sure up / down position of both strikers hits the center of the latch opening. This can be seen visually by bringing the tailgate up to the striker on each side. A striker binding on the top or bottom latch opening can bind and prevent it from opening. This can most easily be reviewed from inside the box as seen in Figure 1 and Figure 2. Adjust each striker up/down if required to center it to the latch.

 

5. Adjust the strikers fore/aft to ensure good closing effort.

 

6. Secure the striker:
   • For DJ and D2 vehicles, 34 N·m (25 ft. lbs).
   • For DT vehicles, 49 N·m (36 ft. lbs).

 

7. Repeat the inspection in Step 5.

 

8. Repeat the test at Step 2 to confirm that the tailgate drops freely.

 

9. Return the vehicle to the owner.

 

NOTE: Notify the customer that tonneau cover binding could give the customer a false appearance that the tailgate is latched, and to always pull back on the tailgate after closing to insure it’s latched securely.

 

Owner Notification and Service Scheduling

All involved vehicle owners known to FCA are being notified of the service requirement by first class mail.  They are requested to schedule appointments for this service with their dealers.  A generic copy of the owner letter is attached.

 

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Chronology :

• On July 27, 2021, the FCA US LLC (“FCA US”) Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (“TSRC”) organization opened an investigation as a result of information provided by the FCA US Proactive Sensing Group related to potential incidents of some 2019-2021 MY Ram 1500 tailgates opening while driving.
• From July 29, 2021, to August 16, 2022, the FCA US TSRC organization continuously monitored field data for potentially related incidents.
• From November 29, 2021, to November 7, 2022, FCA US TSRC regularly reviewed field data with FCA US Engineering to determine whether any underlying trend existed and to understand the potential suspect vehicle population of any such trend.
• On August 16, 2022, the FCA US TSRC organization incorporated into its investigation a vehicle build issue on certain vehicles related to the tailgate unintentionally falling.
• As of November 22, 2022, FCA US has identified 15 customer assistance records, 736 warranty claims, and 101 field reports potentially related to this issue for all markets with dates of receipt ranging from June 25, 2019, to November 8, 2022.
• As of November 22, 2022, FCA US is not aware of any accidents or injuries potentially related to this issue for all markets.
• On December 01, 2022, FCA US determined, through the Vehicle Regulations Committee, to conduct a voluntary safety recall of the affected vehicles.

 

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12 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
RAM	1500	2019-2022
RAM	2500	2019-2022
RAM	3500	2019-2022

 

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7 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-22V904-6414.pdf 645.227KB

RCAK-22V904-6414

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-22V904-2829.PDF 216.051KB

RCLRPT-22V904-2829

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – NSRAC re New Safety Recall Advanced Communication – ZB8

RCMN-22V904-7823.pdf 50.231KB

RCMN-22V904-7823

 

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-22V904-9676.pdf 551.29KB

RCRIT-22V904-9676

 

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Recall 573 Report – 12/22/22

RCLRPT-22V904-4915.PDF 216.053KB

RCLRPT-22V904-4915

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-22V904-8835.pdf 175.503KB

RCONL-22V904-8835

 

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Recall 573 Report – 12/22/22

RCLRPT-22V904-5816.PDF 216.053KB

RCLRPT-22V904-5816

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=22V904&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2023-01-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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