Ram Pickup Truck Fuel Pump Failure; NHTSA Investigates

 Ram Pickup Truck Fuel Pump Failure; NHTSA Investigates

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) continues to investigate why high-pressure fuel pumps have been failing in 2018-2020 Ram pickup trucks.

The federal agency received at least 22 reports from consumers who bought Ram pickup trucks as well as two field reports. The problem has been detected mostly in Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 heavy-duty trucks with 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engines. However, Johnson Attorneys Group has recently learned that the 2021 Ram 1500 may also be experiencing fuel pump problems.

The NHTSA announced back in October that some 600,000 vehicles could be affected by the fuel pump problem. However, there is no current recall for the fuel pump at this time as the investigation is ongoing. Federal investigators are working with Stellantis, the parent company of Ram to confirm what leads to the problem. Also, they need to identify what models are affected and if this is a safety defect that requires a recall.

Trucks with diesel engines require these high-pressure fuel pumps in order to atomize diesel fuel properly and provide efficient combustion. If the fuel pump fails it can cause the vehicle to stall or it won’t start.

According to documents released by the NHTSA, all failures reported to date happened at speeds over 25 mph.

So far there are no collisions or injuries related to the fuel pump issue.

Additionally, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) issued warranty bulletin D-19-02 in November 2019 to replace the Cummins engines and faulty fuel pumps. The automaker called this a “fast feedback program.”

Owners having fuel pump issues may have difficulty getting repairs done due to shipping slowdowns and Covid-19 issues that affect the manufacture of these parts. Some owners have had their vehicle in the shop for weeks or months waiting for a new fuel pump to be delivered.

California Lemon Law Attorney James Johnson

If you purchased a Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 5500 pickup truck with fuel pump issues or other defects that could be a major safety issue, it may be time to call for help. Also, if your vehicle is in the shop for 30 days or more, you may have a cause for legal action.

California Lemon Law Attorney James Johnson will review your case and let you know if it qualifies as a lemon. Read on about other Ram trucks and issues that may qualify them as a lemon. 

Also, we recommend that you obtain an invoice for all repairs and recall visits from the dealership. These documents will support your potential case. Should the vehicle experience repeated issues or become a safety risk, these documents support the Lemon Law Claim. Contact us for a free case review at 800-558-1087.

 

James Johnson ESQ