In mid-March of 2022, Dodge and Ram announced a safety recall affecting over 3270,000 vehicles. The recall pertains to faulty electronic stability control (ESC) warning lights that may fail to illuminate as intended. Even if the ESC system is malfunctioning or experiencing trouble, the warning lights may not turn on to alert the driver of this potentially dangerous issue. Here’s what Dodge and Ram consumers should know about this latest safety recall.
Warning Light Issue May Increase Risk of Crash
At the center of this safety recall lies a faulty ESC warning light that may fail to illuminate to alert drivers of a malfunctioning ESC system. ESC technology is designed to stop vehicles from slipping sideways while turning by automatically applying the brakes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ESC technology can reduce the likelihood of rollover crashes and potentially save lives. However, when the warning light fails to illuminate, the driver will not know that there is an issue with the ESC system, making them more vulnerable to a crash.
Makes and Models Impacted by This Recall
So far, over 370,000 Dodge and Ram vehicles have been impacted by this ESC warning light recall. Affected makes and models include 2021-2022 Dodge Durango SUVs, 2019-2022 Ram 2500 pickup trucks, and 2019-2022 Ram 3500 cab chassis trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) below 10,000 pounds. Without a functioning ESC warning light system, these vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. These safety standards require all ESC-equipped cars and trucks to have a functioning warning light to protect drivers’ safety.
Next Steps for Affected Customers
Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge and Ram, announced that it would begin to contact affected customers on April 29, 2022. Once a customer receives notification, they can take their vehicle to the dealership to receive an update of the ABS module software, which should fix the warning light issue. Affected customers can obtain this recall repair free of charge. In the meantime, Dodge and Ram consumers should recognize that their vehicles’ ESC warning lights may fail to illuminate, even if the ESC system is malfunctioning.
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